What is Cupping?
Cupping has been around for thousands of years. It can be traced back to ancient Chinese medicine as a way to remove stagnation in the body and to promote the flow of Qi. Pronounced “chi”, Qi is defined by the free flow of vital energy that circulates the body and the environment around us. Any stagnations can cause imbalance within the body.
It has only recently become popular in the last few years as athletes have started adding this to their healing process.
So, what is it?
While most soft tissue therapies involve increasing pressure to an area, cupping works to do the opposite. It uses negative pressure to lift tissue away from your body. This can be done through suction or heat, which results in a vacuum within the cup.
The effect of this is increased blood flow, and loosening of fascia. These all result in encouraging the body to heal.
Cups can be placed almost anywhere, however they are most commonly used around the neck and back.
Cupping often leaves circular bruises in the area. This is what is commonly associated with cupping. This usually goes away in about 5-10 days.
What can cupping help with?
Cupping helps a number of conditions, which include, but are not limited to:
- Back pain and stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Chronic neck pain
- Reduced range of motion
- Arthritic pain
- Gastrointestinal issues
Because of these benefits, it is no wonder it has become more popular, especially in the athletic community. Many athletes who experience sore muscles will also use this therapy in order to speed up the muscular rejuvenation process.
If you are interested in trying cupping, talk to Dr. Jaci or Dr. Amanda to find out if this is the right therapy for you!