Cupping therapy
Cupping therapy is a traditional therapy that has been employed worldwide for thousands of years. Special cups are placed on the skin for a few minutes and a vacuum suction causes your sink to rise and redden as your blood vessels expand. This negative pressure decompresses the skin and soft tissue that lie beneath, and is thought to help with a number of symptoms such as muscular tension/pain relief.
At True Calm we use Silone Cupping where the cup is pressed onto the skin and a vacuum is created, or Plastic Cupping where a pump is used. In this version the amount of vacuum can be controlled more. Both can be static or slide.
How does it feel?
Cupping generally is a relaxing technique. The sensation that is experienced is a lifting of the skin. After the cups are removed a feeling of warmth and redness where the localised blood is drawn to the area can be felt. Sometimes there may be mild bruising/discoloration due to broken blood vessels under the skin. This is more likely to occur in areas of tension/congestion. This is not necessarily painful like a usual bruise, but may feel more similar to how you might feel after a deep tissue massage. - mild soreness, with over all relief in presenting symptoms.
How can it help? What is the evidence?
Cupping may help with…
Releasing scar tissue and fascial adhesions.
Reducing painful trigger points.
Improve localised circulation, blood and lymph circulation.
Relieve pain.
Promote mobility and range of motion.
Improves mature scars.
Stimulate the immune system by with artificial local inflammation.
Activates Heme oxygenase-1, a gene that plays a critical role in the prevention of vascular inflammation.
According to some studies (1&2) cupping is thought to alleviate symptoms by promoting peripheral (close to the skin) blood circulation and improving immunity. Some studies show that cupping may help in managing pain, by altering pain processing, increases pain threshold and using counter-irritation to reduce pain.
Although there is a growing body of research, it is thought that more quality research is needed to support cupping, as a evidence base technique to demonstrate the mechanical effects and the effect it has on healing.
Saying that I have found personally and in practice that it can have good results. Please feel free to contact us at True Calm if you have any questions about this modality and how it my help you.
Resources:
1, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411018300191
2, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290117302042