SOHMA Integrative Medicine

We offer the best of Eastern & Western medicine without using drugs or surgery

Cupping Therapy

Cupping Therapy and How it Can Help with Back and Neck Pain

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With athletes and celebrities popularizing Cupping Therapy in the mainstream, many people are beginning to ask more about what Cupping Therapy is and whether it can help them with their physical or mental problems. 

Cupping Therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been around for thousands of years. In the west it is seen as a form of alternative medicine in which a cup is placed on the skin and air is pumped out of it. This will cause the soft tissue to get sucked into the cup, stretching the skin, muscle and fascia. Promoting circulation and aiding the recovery process.

You may be wondering how this is beneficial? Today we are going to talk about how this process helps with back pain and neck pain.

Increased Blood Circulation

Many people may not understand how important proper blood circulation is when it comes to recovery. As we need good circulation to remove toxins from our body and sometimes the organs designated to do this job need a little bit of help. Through no fault of our own sometimes our lifestyle will burden the lymphatic system just by living in a big city. Where we are constantly being exposed to smoke, chemicals and heavy metals.

When the soft tissue is being pulled and stretched into the cup the body will respond by increasing blood circulation to the area being treated. The sudden increase in flow will flush out stagnated toxins and attract immune cells. The increase in oxygenated blood can help with cell repair and help form new connective tissues. An additional benefit is the reduction of inflammation which can help with pain management and cut down the time needed for a natural recovery.

Neck Pain

Many people suffer from neck pain, and for most neck pain is mild and often goes away on its own or with simple treatments. For those with chronic neck pain however, you may need something more than just “taking it easy”. 

Neck pain can be caused by a number of reasons, some more serious than others these include:

  • Poor Sleeping Position
  • Whiplash
  • Extended Periods of Time Arching Your Neck
  • Grinding/Gritting Your Teeth
  • Poor Posture
  • Repetitive Motion
  • Muscle Strain

As previously stated, Cupping causes vasodilation which increases flow of blood to the area that is being treated. When the soft tissues become stretched it loosens muscle knots relaxing the neck. The reduction in swelling due to the increased circulation makes Cupping Therapy an effective form of reducing chronic neck pain. 

Back Pain

Much like neck pains, back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons. Most common being Muscle strains and sprains. Back pain caused by sitting for extended periods of time has become more common in recent times.Due to the difference in size it is more common to injure your back doing everyday things like picking up your child. Or in some cases coughing or sneezing. 

Back pain may take longer to heal depending on the severity of the injury. Cupping Therapy is usually done as often as twice per week. Though depending on the color of the mark left by the cup, treatment may be adjusted.

Cupping Therapy can be used to treat pain, reduce scar tissue in muscles, and reduce swelling and muscle knots. We are here to aid you in recovering the natural way. Cupping Therapy is only one of many treatments we offer.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

5 Questions to Ask Prior to Cupping Therapy

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What is Cupping Therapy?

This first question is a freebie, Cupping Therapy is a Traditional Chinese therapy in which cups with negative pressure are placed on the skin. The negative pressure causes a suction to occur on the skin which pulls on the skin, muscle and fascia up into the cup. This action brings fresh oxygenated blood into the injured tissue. While at the same time pulling out old toxins and stagnant blood from the soft tissue, it is then recirculated and filtered out of the body.

Now that you are more acquainted with cupping therapy, there are a few questions you may have before going through with Cupping Therapy. Today I’ll be answering 5 of the more commonly asked questions patients ask prior to Cupping Therapy.

Does It Hurt?

Quite possibly the most common question asked before Cupping Therapy is whether it’s painful. No, it doesn’t really hurt. The truth is every patient experiences Cupping differently so it is difficult to give an absolute answer. Some patients feel the pulling of the soft tissue is uncomfortable and not very pleasant. On the other hand there are patients who find the experience soothing and relaxing like getting a massage. Depending on the stagnation of the tissue being treated you may experience some soreness. If for some reason you do feel pain, let the therapist know as they may need to adjust the strength of the suction on the cup in order to make the therapy more comfortable.

What are those Marks?

Once you are done with your Cupping Therapy session you’ll notice round marks left behind from the cups. Some people think they are bruises however, these marks can tell you how stagnated the treated tissue was. With darker marks meaning there was more stagnation. These marks can take one to two weeks to clear up depending on your body’s stagnation as well. Staying well hydrated can shorten the time for the marks to fade.

How do I Prepare for Cupping Therapy?

Firstly you should be hydrated. Cupping works with your lymphatic system to get rid of toxins and cellular waste from your body. In order for this to work properly plenty of water is required. Avoid shaving, exfoliating or anything else that can make your skin sensitive. Having sensitive skin can increase discomfort during a Cupping Therapy session and can cause you to have an overall poor experience. 

Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes as once a Cupping Therapy session ends your skin may feel sensitive.

How Many Sessions do I Need?

It depends on the specific needs and goals of the patient. Cupping Therapy has an immediate effect on patients, and effects can last for days after. If you are just looking to detoxify, a single session every month may be enough. On the other hand an active and athletic person may require more frequent sessions. Feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA if you would benefit from frequent Cupping Therapy sessions.

Is Cupping Therapy Safe?

For the vast majority of patients, yes. It is unusual and rare for Cupping Therapy to cause any serious problems. Side effects are limited to the marks left behind after Cupping Therapy though in extremely rare cases skin infections can occur. Precaution is necessary if you have suffered from recent cardiac arrests, have been fasting for long periods of time or if you are pregnant.

If you still have questions regarding Cupping Therapy be sure to ask your therapist at SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach CA if Cupping Therapy is right for you.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Does Cupping Remove Toxins?

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Cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine dating back thousands of years. It has been used to help in recovery, relieving pain, reducing inflammation and  promoting an increase of blood circulation in the area being treated. With Cupping gaining popularity in the mainstream with athletes and celebrities using it as part of recovery, many people wonder what Cupping is and what it does for you. Today we’re going to talk about how Cupping removes toxins from the body and why it is important.

How Does it Work?

Cupping works by setting a cup directly on the back, shoulder, neck, arms or legs, once the cup is applied to the skin suction begins. The suction pulls up on the skin, muscle and fascia stretching the tissue. This will draw fresh oxygenated blood from the surrounding tissue to the muscle being treated, flushing out the localized area and increasing blood flow. This results in increased recovery, and a round mark left by the cup. This marking is harmless and usually lasts between a couple hours to a week. The marks can actually tell you about the condition of the area being treated based on the color after a Cupping session. Cupping practitioners use this type of therapy to help with a variety of ailments such like:

  • Fever
  • Headaches
  • Leg Pain
  • Cramping
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Poor Appetite
  • Lower Back Pain

Feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA for more information about Cupping Therapy or read our blog where we have more articles about the benefits of Cupping Therapy.

Removing Toxins

Of course we have organs within our bodies to deal with and remove toxins already, but living in modern, metropolitan cities we sometimes overwork our natural system. A buildup of toxins can appear in our bodies because of a poor diet, stress and since we live in a large city we are constantly being exposed to toxins and pollutants such as smoke from cigarettes, cars and wildfires, chemicals and heavy metals.

When the body is overloaded with toxins it can prevent the production of hemoglobin in your blood by damaging your enzymes which can accelerate aging. This can also lead to a lack of energy, making you feel sluggish and lower your protection against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress happens when there is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidants. Which can lead to pain, swelling and in extreme cases diabetes or cancer.

Increased Blood Flow

With skin, muscle and other soft tissues being pulled into the cup due to suction, this will naturally increase blood circulation to the area being treated. The increased flow will flush out any stagnated toxins in the blood as well as attract immune cells to the treated area. The increased oxygenated blood can then assist with cell repair and help new connective tissues form. By focusing the blood flow to affected areas it helps your body’s lymphatic system to remove built up toxins. The lymphatic system includes organs like the spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. 

This increased blood flow has the added benefit of helping reduce inflammation which will help with pain management and reduce the amount of time needed for the body to naturally repair itself.

We are here to help you recover naturally, Cupping Therapy is just one way we try to achieve this. The final decision to improve your life is ultimately up to you. 

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

What are the Benefits of Using Cupping?

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If you are not yet familiar with cupping, allow me to introduce you to this therapy which has been used by celebrities and professional athletes alike. Today we’ll go over a little bit of Cuppings history as well as the benefits cupping therapy provides. 

You may be asking, what is Cupping? How is it beneficial?

Like many alternative wellness practices, Cupping has been around for thousands of years and can be traced back to traditional Chinese medicine. In recent history Cupping has been popularized in the west by Olympic athletes as well as professional football players when reporters noticed circular marks on the back and shoulders of these athletes.

Cupping is known as a form of alternative medicine, in which localized suction is applied to the skin in order to stretch the tissue and increase blood flow. This will draw fresh oxygenated blood to the targeted area. The suction also stretches the fascia which are layers of tissue around the muscles. Many who use Cupping regularly have seen noticeable improvements when suffering from various conditions such as:

  • Fever
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Poor Appetite
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Cramping
  • Knee/Leg Pain
  • Headaches
  • Mental Health

Now that you are a little more familiar with cupping, here are a few of the benefits of using Cupping.

Increased Circulation

Sometimes due to our lifestyle choices our organs designed to remove toxins from our body need some help in order to keep up. 

As stated previously by having the skin and muscle be stretched into the cup, your body will naturally increase blood flow into the treated tissue. The increase in circulation can then flush stagnated toxins as well as attract immune cells. Increased immune cells and blood flow can then assist with cell repair and help new soft tissue to form. The additional blood flow can also help reduce inflammation which has the added benefit of reducing healing time of aches and pains.

Mental Health

Cupping has the ability to help you relax during the treatment, this feeling of relaxation will continue on after the Cupping session is done. This can help insomnia by improving the quality of sleep as well as how long you can remain sleeping through the night. Sleep helps with physical and mental recovery, poor sleep can lead to poor physical recovery. When you are not feeling physically well then it becomes difficult to fall asleep.

Cupping therapy can soothe the parasympathetic nervous system when the therapist slides the cups across your exposed skin, these are the nerves that manage the organs that help cleanse the body of toxins. When the parasympathetic nervous system is engaged it will encourage relaxation, it will then help alleviate stress and eases anxiety.

Pain Management 

Many athletes use Cupping as a form of pain relief for chronic pain. This is not exclusively for elite athletes who push their bodies to the limit of human capabilities though. Shoulder pain and lower back pain can affect anybody regardless of whether you are an office worker or representing your country at the olympics.

When using Cupping to mitigate pain the stretching of the muscle in the cup soothes can soothe the overactive muscles causing pain. As Cupping promotes blood circulation this can bring with it endorphins which are a naturally occurring pain reliever your own body creates. Resulting in pain reduction and an elevated mood.

Scar Tissue and Varicose Veins

The final benefit I want to talk about is Cupping has the ability to reduce scar tissue, stretch marks and varicose veins. The increased blood flow aids your body in flushing out toxins and helps remove excess fluid. It can also help break down scar tissue adhesion, this helps reduce the appearance of scarring even when the cup isn’t being applied directly over the scarred tissue.

Varicose veins look like swollen and bruised veins just under your skin, usually appearing on your feet and legs. They occur when the valves within the vein do not work properly which leads blood to congest within them and the vein itself to swell. Cupping’s ability to bring an increased flow of fresh oxygenated blood into the problem areas, you may notice the the varicose vein begin to lose their color after only one session, though for longer lasting results you may need multiple sessions.

Feel free to ask us any questions you may have about Cupping therapy, our helpful staff is always willing to help with any concerns you may have about cupping therapy. Our goal is to provide healing and wellness in the most natural way possible.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.