THE BENEFITS OF MODERN CUPPING THERAPY
Negative Pressure
Unlike regular massage techniques where you are pressing into the tissues, cups create a vacuum and lift the skin. This creates a negative pressure and allows for separation of adhered tissues. It also draws out interstitial debris trapped within the tissues. Think residue from an old injury or trauma.
Stimulate Vasodilation
Vasodilation is where your blood vessels dilate; they open. This allows for fluids (blood and lymph) to move through or into an area of the body. This is especially helpful for people with adhesions and scar tissue that may reduce fluid flow.
Enhanced Fluid Exchange
Cups act as a vacuum drawing the fluids of the body to the site where the cup is placed or moving. This can be used to draw fluids to an area that may be dehydrated or ischemic (lack of blood flow).
Additional Benefits
- Cups can help reduce inflammation
- Cause microtrauma (not tissue damage) to breakup scar tissue
- Alleviate excessive pressure on sensory organs in the skin and superficial tissues (pain reduction)
- Help clear congestion in the sinus and chest cavities
PRECAUTIONS FOR CUPPING THERAPY
Due to the way cups can affect the body, this therapy can be very dehydrating. It is heavily advised that you hydrate well before and after receiving this type of work.
WHAT ARE CUPS GOOD FOR?
- Decreasing recovery time
- Improving lymphatic drainage
- Decreasing scar tissue
- Swelling/fluid retention
- Poor circulation
- Myofascial restrictions
Contraindications for Modern Cupping Technique:
- Cupping on or over varicose veins
- Cupping over skin lesions or inflammation
- Cupping over orifices, or eyes
- The patient has cancer
- The patient has organ failure – Renal, hepatic or cardiac
- The patients has a pacemaker
- The patient has hemophilia or similar bleeding disorder
WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM CUPPING THERAPY?
Really, any human can benefit from cupping work! But specifically:
- Athletes (maintenance and recovery work)
- Pre and post op. patients
- People with fibromyalgia
CUPPING MARKS ARE NOT BRUISES
Cupping marks are not bruises, they mark where stagnation in the tissues has occurred (usually from an old injury or trauma). These marks tend to get lighter as the sequence of treatment sessions progress. Cupping marks will not always occur and do not need to occur for the therapy to be effective.