Actress Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and singer Lady Gaga all swear by it! Known as cupping, the ancient Chinese therapy is one Hollywood trend that practitioners believe could benefit you too! So what's it meant to do?
"To relieve muscular tension, tightness, and even nowadays we use it for cosmetic purposes. It has good results in removing cellulite," explained Hyundo Kim, Lac, of the National University of Health Sciences.
Kim said cupping works by increasing blood flow and circulation.
"Chi is the energy that actually makes our body feel alive and if there's a chi blockage or stasis, which is where the pain is occurring in the body," he said.
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Glass cups are heated up to create a suction effect on the skin promoting healing.
"Pretty much what we do is when things get blocked up we help it move," explained Cupping student David Mayer.
"It feels good. It doesn't hurt," added patient Reuben Guerrero.
Patients can expect immediate pain relief that lasts several days.
"It definitely increases circulation of chi energy, so your body feels good and healthy" Kim said.
Just watch out for the tell-tale red marks it can leave! We're told those will fade over a week or two.
Experts say cupping is often done together with acupuncture for maximum benefit, but those who are afraid of needles can still benefit from cupping alone.
Additional Information:
Cupping refers to an ancient Chinese practice in which a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (by using change in heat or by suctioning out air), so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup. When the cups are moved along the surface of the skin, the treatment is somewhat like Gua-Sha (literally, sand scraping), a folk remedy of southeast Asia which is often carried out by scraping the skin with a coin or other object with the intention of breaking up stagnation. In some cases, a small amount of blood letting is done first, using a pricking needle, and then the cup is applied over the site. This technique is said to promote blood circulation, remove stasis, and alleviate swelling and pain. It is employed especially when there is a toxic heat syndrome and for a variety of acute ailments. Traditional cupping used cups made of animal horns, metal, bamboo, and pottery.
MODERN CUPPING: During the 20th century, new glass cups were developed. The introduction of glass cups helped greatly, since the pottery cups broke very easily and the bamboo cups would deteriorate with repeated heating. Glass cups were easier to make than the brass or iron cups that were sometimes used as sturdy substitutes for the others. Also, by using glass, the skin can be seen within the cup and the degree of response could be evaluated more easily. The glass cups are depressurized using fire to heat up the air within the cup, just prior to placement. Today, cupping is mainly recommended for the treatment of pain, gastro-intestinal disorders, lung diseases (especially chronic cough and asthma), and paralysis, though it can be used for other disorders as well. The areas of the body that are fleshy are preferred sites for cupping. Following are some ailments cupping can be used to treat: (Source: http://www.itmonline.org/arts/cupping.htm)
Respiratory Diseases
- Chronic bronchitis and asthma
- Pediatric bronchitis and acute bronchitis
Digestive Diseases
- Dysentery, early morning diarrhea, and acute and chronic gastritis
- Pediatric indigestion
Pain Syndromes
- Shoulders, headaches, migraines, and loins
- Soft tissue injury
Gynecological Disorders
- Infertility and irregular menstruation:
- Uterine cramps