1. What is cupping therapy?
Cupping therapy is an alternative medicine in which special cups are put on your skin for few minutes to create suction. It helps to reduce pain, inflammation, improve blood flow and aids muscle relaxation.
2. How is cupping therapy performed?
In cupping therapy, special cups are put on your skin for few minutes to create suction. The cups are heated by fire using alcohol and herbs. When these heated cups are placed on the skin, the air inside the cup creates a vacuum. This vacuum draws the skin and muscle upward into the cup. After the cups are removed, cupped areas are covered with ointment and bandages.
3. Does cupping therapy pose any risk?
There are few side effects of cupping therapy like
- dizziness, light-headness
- nausea, vomiting
- skin irritation, pain
- skin infection
- scarring of the skin
4. In what diseases is cupping therapy useful?
Cupping therapy is useful in following diseases
- acne, shingles
- facial paralysis, cough, dyspnea
- lumbar disc herniation, cervical spondylosis
- rheumatic diseases, blood disorders
- hypertension, migraine
- depression, anxiety, varicose veins
- allergies and asthma
5. Is cupping therapy same as hijama?
There are two types of cupping methods- dry and wet cupping. Wet cupping is a type in which blood is drawn by local suction from a small skin incision. Hijama is also known as wet cupping which requires skin incision unlike dry cupping.
Cupping Therapy is an alternative therapy originated in China. This therapy involves placing the cups suctioned on the skin and helps in facilitating the healing process through blood flow. Cupping increases the blood flow and relieves the muscle tension, which improves the overall blood flow and reduces the pain and also promotes cell repair. People use Cupping Therapy to complement their care for a host of issues and conditions. Cupping Therapy was originally performed using animal horns and later on the “cups” that are made from bamboo and then ceramic are being used. The suction was created through the heat. The cups were then heated with fire and applied to the skin. As they cooled, the cups drew the skin inside.
Modern Cupping Therapy uses glass cups that are ball-shaped and open from the one end. There are two types of Cupping Therapies performed today:
Before undergoing Cupping Therapy, please make sure you are aware of eligibility criteria and consult a Cupping therapy Practitioner to know all the risks and benefits of this procedure.