Have you ever watched a sporting event, noticed athletes having round marks on their back and shoulders, and wondered what they are?
While many assume they’re bruises, they resemble a “hickey.” This is because they’re not caused by an accident. Instead, they’re the resulting mark from cupping therapy. Cupping therapy has become incredibly popular amongst athletes in recent years. However, cupping therapy is over 1000 years old. This ancient technique uses heat or a pump to create negative pressure in a cup. Then, the cup is placed on the skin. The skin, muscle fibers, fascia, and other soft tissue are pulled into the cup. This has various benefits, and today, we’re going to over 3 benefits of cupping therapy.
Benefit #1 Managing Pain
It is estimated that millions of Americans deal with chronic pain. That is roughly 20% of all adults in the country. Many people ignore the early back, shoulder, or neck pain signs. Assuming they just “slept wrong” or sitting awkwardly at the office. Often, people assume the pain will go away on its own, and in some cases, it does. Typically, the longer you wait to get the pain treated, the longer it takes to recover.
Cupping may be the solution many people need. Cupping may cause vasodilation, which promotes better circulation. When the soft tissue is pulled into the cup, the body reacts by increasing blood flow to the treated area. This brings fresh, oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood in while flushing out any stagnation.
Cupping therapy can also help with inflammation. Inflammation or swelling is a natural response by the body to an area that has been injured or damaged. The swelling keeps the muscles from moving to reduce the possibility of further hurting the tissue. Unfortunately, this same pressure can result in pain. The increased blood circulation through cupping therapy can help reduce this inflammation, which helps to minimize pressure and ultimately enables you to manage your pain.
Benefit #2 Reduces Stress
Stress is a common reaction we’ve had for as long as we’ve existed. However, in our modern society, stress has become a dangerous response. Stress is often called “the silent killer.” This is because nothing harms you when you cannot release your stress. Stress is known to cause a large amount of symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- High Blood Pressure
- Physical Pain
- Insomnia
- Indigestion
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Tension
And many more. To help combat the increasing stress of daily life, consider cupping therapy.
Cupping therapy has been shown to increase dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters or chemical messengers can improve your mood and reduce anxiety. They’re also the neurotransmitters your body needs to provide natural stress relief.
Another way cupping therapy helps with managing your stress is by improving your ability to sleep and the quality of sleep. If your body is tense and in pain, getting comfortable is challenging, leading to less sleep. After a cupping therapy session, you should feel more relaxed and less tense. Making it easier to get comfortable allows you to fall asleep sooner and have fewer issues remaining asleep through the night. A good night’s sleep is when the body works on healing both body and mind.
Benefit #3 Improves Recovery
Many athletes need to be in their best physical condition. This is why they often use cupping therapy as part of their recovery. We’ve mentioned the increased blood circulation, which is key in promoting recovery. You need oxygen to repair any injury, and the increased blood flow from cupping provides it to the treated areas. This stimulates proper and standard healing at the cellular level.
In many people, cupping therapy can drain excess fluids and toxins and loosen adhesion in connective tissue. This can be caused by repetitive motion, physical trauma, infection, or surgery. Because cupping causes vasodilation, it can help reduce muscle stiffness and pain. With less pain, you can focus on other recovery exercises and stretches needed for recovery.
Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine
Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask 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 to better health.
