Cupping Therapy

What is cupping?
Cupping therapy is a method of using suction to pull or move stagnant fluids and blood out of an injured area.  Either glass or plastic cups are placed on the skin for up to 15 minutes to create the desired affects.  In this simple way cupping reduces pain and relaxes tight painful muscles. 

How does cupping work?

 For Injuries:
Cupping works by creating circulation over areas that have become stagnant due to injury, or disuse.  When muscles are damaged by an injury fluids and blood build up during the inflammatory phase of the injury.  Sometimes the body is unable to properly move these fluids out after the inflammatory phase is over.  This causes blood and fluid retention locally and results in pain and stiffness.  Cupping can promote the blood and fluid circulation and relieve the pain. 

For Immunity:
At the early stages of a cold or when mucus and fluids have congealed in the lungs causing chronic coughs cupping can alleviate these symptoms.  In these instances cupping therapy is applied directly to the back, over the lungs.  The increased circulation caused by the cupping can help the immune system quickly destroy colds and dry out the excess fluid in the lungs.