What if I told you there is a therapeutic practice which dates as early as 3000 BC and is still used today to treat conditions such as asthma, back and shoulder pain, arthritis, fatigue, anxiety, weight loss and migraines to name a few? This ancient practice has a long-standing history of treating many common disorders, yet not many people are familiar with it or use it. What is this treatment? It is called cupping therapy.
For many years, ancient cultures such as the Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese have used cupping therapy as a method of healing. In fact, some of the oldest texts in the world have documented its benefits and therapeutic purpose. The Ebers Papyrus written by the Egyptians in 1550 BC, describes accounts of using cupping for physical problems and religious ceremonies. In the East, archaeologists revealed evidence from Taoist medical texts that were written by a famous Herbalist named Ge Hong. Hong used animal horns in a cupping style to employ therapy for medical emergencies and illness. The Greeks loved cupping therapy as much as the Chinese and Egyptians. Hippocrates recognized the benefits of cupping when he described his application for pain and internal conditions. Without a doubt, this universal practice spanned throughout different regions of the world from Europe, the Arabian Desert, Middle East, Asia and now presently used here in the United States.
What is cupping and what benefits does it have for you? Cupping is simply a term for a technique which uses glass cups, plastic cups or bamboo jars to create a vacuum on your skin. The practice of cupping employs the use of negative pressure to create a vacuum in the jars. This vacuum on your skin releases the muscle layer, relaxes the nervous system, increases circulation, breaks up scar tissue, promotes the healing response, regulates your body temperature and removes toxins. It really is much like getting a deep tissue massage that pulls out toxins, relaxes your muscles and jump starts your circulation. As a Licensed Acupuncturist and Board-Certified Herbalist, this is one of the best therapies I have in my arsenal for treatments during the fall and winter seasons.
During these seasons, we see a high volume of patients who complain of back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, knee pain, arthritis, bronchitis, cough, respiratory issues and fatigue. In Chinese medicine we look at the body through six phases and its ability to circulate fluids smoothly through each phase. When you’re in a disease process your body does not circulate fluid as it should. We call this poor circulation-stagnation. The stagnation causes congestion in your body which leads to our first phase in disease. We call this the Tai Yang phase. When our body is sensitive to the colder temperature seasons, our body will take a major toll in this phase. Cupping therapy is a wonderful way to balance your body to its appropriate temperature and soften those contractions from the cold before it is too late. Cupping supporters are recognizing these benefits and are growing in numbers.
Hollywood stars and professional athletes have been known to get cupping therapy. They too use cupping therapy for prevention, health, injury and wellness. Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga, Jessica Simpson, Victoria Beckham and Chris Martin all have shared how cupping has helped with various conditions. In fact, you may be familiar with Gwyneth Paltrow’s famous appearance on the red carpet at the Oscars in 2004. Her low-cut top revealed cup marks that left the tabloids asking what happened to her? What happened was the impression left from the cups and the removal of congestion, heat and toxins. This is normal. The color may range from light to dark circles. The discoloration is not painful or permanent. In fact, they will disappear within a few days or up to a week. Oprah’s curiosity was sparked after Gwyneth’s Oscar appearance and so she asked Gwyneth how cupping felt. Gwyneth’s explanation was, “It feels amazing and it’s very relaxing.” That is exactly how it feels. Cupping is deeply relaxing, therapeutic and amazing.
Athletes are enthusiastically incorporating cupping therapy into their training and competing programs. Swimmers, baseball, tennis and football players use cupping therapy to relieve stiffness, address injury and improve performance. One notable athlete displayed her cupping marks in the 2008 Olympics. The Chinese swimmer named Wang Qun revealed her post-therapy marks in Beijing.
Now, you don’t have to be a star or athlete to enjoy the benefits of this therapy. The therapy is unique and can be used for a myriad of ailments for most patients. The only people asked to avoid this treatment are patients with bleeding disorders, edema or skin ulcers. Your acupuncturist will properly evaluate you, take an in-depth history and make appropriate recommendations for you.
Sounds pretty amazing, right? A treatment geared to get you out of pain, is relaxing and feels like a deep massage. Sign me up! Cupping is not limited to treating only pain. You may use cupping for anti-aging and weight loss benefits as well. Different techniques are applied based on the treatment goal for the patient. For example, ridding cellulite is a simple procedure of sliding the cups along the region to assist in the moving of congestion. The side effects include the promotion of circulation for tightening the skin.
Since the Father of Medicine Hippocrates has treasured this treatment, you should too! Undeniably, this therapy has made history with the respected ancient medical systems and is part of every acupuncturists’ arsenal of therapies. Cupping therapy is a valuable approach to treat your body naturally and holistically. Incorporating this holistic approach this fall and winter will relieve you while supporting you for the other seasons to come.