Cupping, nope it’s not for tea. If you watch any sports, especially swimming in recent years you may see some interesting bruises on the athletes. Cupping is a therapy that has been around for more than 2000 years in different forms. It is a type of treatment in which small cups are placed on the body to treat a variety of conditions, including neck and lower back pain.
What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping is a type of treatment in which small cups are placed on the body to treat a variety of conditions, including neck and lower back pain. Cupping is known is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Historically it is used in combination with acupuncture and herbal medicine. In recent years chiropractors and physical therapists have started adopting the therapy to help patients with pain and restricted movement after an injury.
How is Cupping Therapy done?
The cups used in a cupping procedure are usually made of glass or plastic. Other types are made of bamboo, iron, or pottery. At Rising Sun Chiropractic we use a plastic cup and a suction device to create a vacuum and lift the skin. This is known as Air Cupping. This is done to promote changes in blood flow.
There are three types of cupping: “dry,” “air,” and “wet”:
- In dry cupping, the caregiver soaks a cotton ball or other material in alcohol, lights it, and places it inside the cup to remove the oxygen. The cup is then placed on the patient’s body. Removing the oxygen creates a vacuum, which attaches the cup to the skin.
- In air cupping, the cup is placed on the skin and a suction device removes the air from the cup to create the vacuum.
- In wet cupping, the caregiver punctures the skin slightly to draw a small amount of blood, and then places the cup on the patient’s body. The skin is punctured to allow toxins to leave the body.
The cups are placed most often on the back, stomach, arms, and legs. In all of the procedures, the cup pulls the skin upward into a rounded shape.
The cups are left on the skin for several minutes. Several cups can be placed on the skin at the same time, depending on the condition that is being treated. The cups can be left stationary or moved while applied depending on the nature of the injury.
How does cupping help patients?
At Rising Sun Chiropractic we use cupping primarily for nerve entrapments and compressions. Some nerve injuries do not respond to massage based therapies. In these injuries, cupping has been a very powerful tool in treating musculoskeletal and nerve based pain.
In most cupping therapies the goal is to increase blood flow to the areas treated and promote the body’s natural healing response.
There are reports of cupping therapy helps by opening the pores of the skin which allow the body to release toxins.
In a review of studies on cupping, researchers found that it was more effective than medication in relieving back and neck pain.
The doctors at Rising Sun Chiropractic use cupping exclusively for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders but other conditions that cupping is said to help include:
- Respiratory (breathing) problems, such as bronchitis, asthma, and congestion
- Arthritis
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Swelling
- Headaches
- Herpes zoster
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Infertility
What are the side effects of cupping therapy?
The placement of cups on the skin can cause the following side effects:
- Bruises (this is the most visible effect)
- Soreness/discomfort
- Burns (caused by hot cups)-we do not provide this style of cupping at Rising Sun Chiropractic.
- Skin infections-most commonly associated with wet cupping, which we do not provide.
Certain patients should not have a cupping procedure, including people who have:
- Underlying health conditions
- Inflamed skin
- A high fever or convulsions
- Blood thinners medication
As with any treatment or therapy cupping is used in cases where your injury has been thoroughly evaluated and it has been determined to be a therapy that would benefit your care. If you would like to have a consultation about how cupping may help you call today.