Cupping therapy is one of the oldest practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dating back at least 2,000 years. The method involves heating the air inside small glass cups and placing the inverted cups on a part of the body, usually the back. As the cups cool, suction against the skin is created, which can loosen muscles, boost blood flow and sedate the nervous system, which also makes it an ideal treatment for high blood pressure. Overall, cupping is believed to promote mental and physical relaxation and well-being. Athletes and Hollywood stars use cupping as a secret weapon to improve health and performance.

Similar to the procedure of acupuncture, the cups are usually placed on the five meridian lines down the back. By targeting these paths through which life energy, or qi, flows freely throughout the body, cupping operates to open them up, thus causing a smoother and more free-flowing qi. The vacuum formed by cupping causes the skin and surface muscle layer to be gently drawn into the cup. This is a relaxing and relieving sensation for most people. Once suctioned, the cups are left in place for about 10 minutes before removal. Any marks left behind are not painful and only last for a couple of days; they indicate that stagnation and toxins have been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface for elimination.

According to research studies published in BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine, more than 50 diseases or symptoms have been treated with cupping. Aside from pain-related ailments, other maladies include respiratory conditions, anxiety, migraines, rheumatism, acne and even cellulite. The benefits go deeper than physical relief, though, as mental relaxation is a frequent advantage of this modality. While it is one of the lesser-known treatments in TCM, cupping can provide a pleasant and effective experience.

 

Kelli Doremus is an editoral assistant for Natural Awakenings for Chicago’s Western Suburbs and a freelancer writer living in Chicago.