Cupping therapy is an ancient practice used for thousands of years to promote wellness and healing and the benefits of cupping therapy are many.
People request cupping for many reasons, including headaches, stress relief, congestion, muscle tension, back pain, and digestion issues. Below we’ll explore how cupping works and 8 benefits that may surprise you.
1. May Reduce Physical and Mental Stress
You may think of stress as being something that is “out there” happening to you. But in reality, what you feel as “stress or anxiety” is your body and mind reacting to stressors. The great news is that you can influence how you respond to stress by activating your parasympathetic nervous system.
Activities like exercise, laughing, playing, talking with a trusted friend, and cupping therapy can all activate this stress-reducing part of your brain. Activating the parasympathetic switches your body from a fight or flight state to a “rest, relax, and recover” state.
When activated, it reduces your blood pressure, resting heart rate, and stressful feelings. It also increases the ease with which blood flows, delivering oxygen and nutrients where they’re needed for healing.
Many of the benefits of cupping therapy result from this activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, initiating relaxation and a greater ability to adapt to stress.
2. May Release Toxins
The negative pressure (suction) involved in cupping encourages your cells to release toxins they may be holding onto, like:
- Bodily fluids
- Inorganic substances
- Bacteria
- Metabolic waste (mostly damaged, dead and dying cells)
Once released, these toxins travel out of your body through your lymphatic and circulatory systems.
3. Brings Oxygen in the Area
After releasing toxins, fresh nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood flows into the area. Oxygen-rich blood is critical for cellular health and can promote overall cellular wellbeing.
4. May Improve Blood Circulation
Although cupping is not a treatment for any medical condition, it can ease the effects of circulatory-related issues because it increases blood flow to the area. You might choose to explore the benefits of cupping in addition to medical treatment.
5. May Support Your Body’s Natural Healing Processes
Better blood flow also means the cells have what they need to function at their best, so the benefits of cupping therapy can extend to faster healing in areas that may not have adequate blood before cupping.
6. May Clear Congestion
Congestion is the build-up of phlegm and mucous and fluid in the sinuses, lungs, and other airways. You may have allergies, or perhaps you inhaled smoke or vapor, irritating the airways. These can cause blockages and inflammation that lead to airway constriction, making it hard to breathe.
The suction from cupping can help the body naturally break up this phlegm so the body can release it more easily through coughing and drainage. The increase in oxygen-rich blood can also support airway muscles as they heal and restore normal function.
7. May Support Digestion
Cupping on the abdomen may improve digestion. This is in part due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which lets your body know it’s okay to relax and digest. The release of toxins and increased blood flow also helps the body move fluid and solids more easily through the gut.
Observational studies have shown that cupping therapy with acupuncture may help eliminate some forms of bowel obstruction.
8. May Ease Muscle Tension and Related Pain
Tension in the backs of the thighs and the lower back can lead to ongoing discomfort in your lower back. A combination of Therapeutic yoga and cupping can relieve this tension.
Cupping may change muscle structure to alleviate areas of tension while therapeutic yoga can reduce pain by improving how your joints, muscles, and other tissues work together during movement.
Experience the Benefits of Cupping Therapy for Yourself
Cupping therapy is not intended to treat or manage any disease. But our clients can’t say enough good things about how it has supported their individual wellness goals. Like many things in life, cupping therapy is something you have to try for yourself and see how you feel.
We encourage you to experience your fullest health potential and live your best life possible by booking an appointment with Fermata Integrated Health.
