Cupping Therapy

Cupping Therapy

From antique cupping bowls to medical textbooks, artefacts reveal evidence that cupping therapy was practiced as medicine in ancient China, Egypt, Greece, India, Rome and Turkey. Indigenous practitioners around the world have used forms of cupping to draw out illness from the body for centuries. People molded oxen horn, bone, metal and bamboo into cups to create a vacuum to encourage blood flow and ultimately healing.

Cupping was categorized with similar diverting forms of therapy like bloodletting. The central idea was to provoke self-healing. Today, increasing blood circulation decongests tissue and stimulates the neighboring organs, strengthening the immune system. Cupping can be used to ease muscles and treat headaches, tense backs, and disturbances to circulation. Other common uses include tightening connective tissues, removing scar tissue and stretch marks, and even calming acne. Many naturopathic practices and wellness salons perform cupping vacuum to treat fatty tissues, detox the body and encourage metabolism.

The most important cupping zones can be found on the back. Basic cupping follows reflex zones of the skin. According to naturopathy, a reflex treatment of diseased internal organs is possible through the reflex arches (bows). Thanks to the embryonal development of the human being, each skin zone corresponds to a specific internal organ. These connections will be used during cupping. If a specific skin zone is irritated, this irritation will travel through the nervous system to the organ and initiate a healing process. The self-healing power of the body will be activated or reinforced.

Before you start cupping, you need to study, practice, and then discuss this therapy in depth with clients. You’ll apply carrier oil to stimulate blood circulation on the area of skin to be cupped. Then, place cupping bowls on the skin. This creates a vacuum so cups stick to skin. This process irritates the skin inside of the cup, encouraging blood and lymph flow, releasing blockages and tension, and cleansing.

Blood circulation of the nearby tissue will be affected by the suction effect which is good for the corresponding system whether digestive, metabolic, nervous, gynecological, musculoskeletal, respiratory or circulatory. Cupping releases aches, pain and tension. Cupping is not painful, and should create a pleasant feeling of warmth.

Cupping is also good for treatments on the face and can be used for anti-aging effects to tighten flabby skin. Cupping stimulates metabolism in the fibroblasts and in the connective tissue cells which increases the production of collagen und elastin with the help of enzymes. Both are responsible for elasticity and tautness of the skin.

You can use cupping jars made from glass or plastic. Plastic cups are easier to clean, disinfect and use. It is important to know that the cuppings should not be used on big arteries like carotid. Be very careful using it on the stomach directly over the intestines.

Cupping has been practiced as alternative medicine for over 3000 years. Techniques can treat a wide range of illnesses and disorders, reducing pain, promoting relaxation, treating respiratory issues, improving digestion and boosting skin health. From allergies to varicose veins, mental disorders to fertility issues, learn more about the healing power of cupping at the British Cupping Society.

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