5 Reasons to Try Cupping Therapy

Whether you’re surfing the internet, watching your favorite drama on television, or clicking through a story on your phone or tablet, you’d be hard-pressed to escape the numerous advertisements for over-the-counter pain medicines or the latest new prescription drug.

 While it’s true that relieving and managing pain are major preoccupations, there’s a good reason – more and more Americans are fighting a frustrating battle from the daily burden of pain. Getting relief is even more challenging if you don’t want to turn to medication. But do you really have a choice? Absolutely, says the highly skilled licensed massage therapists at Stamford Spine in Stamford, Connecticut. Think cupping therapy.

Cupping therapy explained

Chances are you’re familiar with chiropractic care, massage therapy, or even therapeutic exercise, but not cupping therapy. Let’s unpack what it is and what transpires during a session so you can consider reasons to try cupping therapy.

Cupping is a type of treatment or therapy to address inflammation, pain, or sore muscles. Many people got a sneak peek into cupping therapy back in 2016 during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics when American swimmer Michael Phelps showed signs of cupping on his body. However, he’s far from the first athlete to use it. In fact, cupping can trace its roots back to Egyptians and Macedonians around 5500 years ago as well as to traditional Chinese medicine.

The Chinese word “ba guan” translates to the act of “pulling out jars,” which is a visual description of how cupping works. There are two main types of cupping – wet and dry. Regardless of the variation used, cupping therapy ultimately triggers the relaxation of connective tissue and increases blood flow to the surface.

A specially-trained provider, such as a chiropractor, massage therapist, or acupuncturist, places cups on the patient’s skin. The number of cups, where they’re placed, and how long they remain in place until they’re put in another area depends on the patient’s treatment plan. The typical cupping session lasts 15-60 minutes or so depending on the issue being addressed. Patients return for additional therapy sessions as needed.

 Although cupping sessions shouldn’t be painful, patients may experience some skin tightness during the procedure resulting from the suction. After treatment, patients may feel slightly sore and may experience bruising at the treatment sites.

 While cupping is more widely known in the world of professional athletes, you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from cupping therapy. Let’s look at five reasons to check out cupping therapy.Resets balance in the body

1. Many people believe that cupping therapy restores balance to the negatives and positives within the body, known as yin and yang in Chinese philosophy. The theory is that this realigning or resetting within the body boosts the body’s resistance to pathogens and releases toxins.

1. Triggers natural healing

The underlying benefit of cupping therapy for many patients is its role in increasing blood flow. The suction created by the cups during treatment does two important things – it draws fluid into the treated area, and it expands and breaks open tiny capillaries under the skin. When the capillaries break, the body’s natural healing process swings into action by increasing blood flow in the treatment area to perform natural healing.  

3. Reduces inflammation and pain
Pain and inflammation are telltale signs that something is amiss and isn’t working optimally. When cupping therapy triggers the body’s natural healing powers, it also sets up a perfect storm for naturally reducing pain and inflammation.

 4. Noninvasive or narcotic way to address neck and back pain

Similarly, perhaps the best reason to try cupping therapy is that it’s a noninvasive treatment option to reduce or manage back and neck pain without the use of pain medications or narcotics.

 If you count yourself among the 60-80% of Americans that experience back pain and 20-70% that experience neck pain, you’re all too aware of the challenges and frustrations involved in getting relief from your pain. Cupping therapy may offer relief.

5. Complements chiropractic care and massage therapy

As if sheer pain relief weren’t enough, cupping therapy is versatile and can be used as a standalone treatment option, as well as part of a treatment plan that includes chiropractic care and massage therapy. Essentially like massage therapy and chiropractic care, cupping therapy resets imbalances in the body that can result in pain, inflammation, and muscle tightness.

If you suffer from pain and inflammation and want to know if cupping therapy is right for you, contact us at Stamford Spine in Stamford, Connecticut. Schedule your appointment online or call us today.