Cupping was a trending topic recently because so many Olympic athletes, including Micheal Phelps, showed up to their events with telltale cupping marks on their bodies:
A nation's interest was piqued! So when our local news station, WMTW News 8 called that morning, I knew exactly what they were calling about. Yes of course I'd be available to talk about cupping! That evening, this segment aired on the 6 o'clock news:
For those who are curious to know more about cupping, I'll share some more information with you here:
Cupping has been used traditionally in many cultures, including Egyptian and Greek cultures, and is discussed in the Koran where it is called Al-Hijaamah.
Cupping works by creating a suction between the skin and the cup. This is done either with heat or with a vacuum device like you saw in that clip. Cups can either be left in place for 5-15 minutes, or moved around the back in a massage-like fashion.
Like acupuncture, cupping works by stimulating the body's own healing mechanisms. Cupping creates a bruise, which causes your body to bring more blood to the area to clean up the bruise. This increases circulation and warms the area, helping muscles to relax. For athletes like Michael Phelps, this helps to move lactic acid out of the muscles so they can recover from their training sessions more quickly.
Cupping is used for all kinds of issues, not just muscle pain. It is also used for upper respiratory issues like frequent colds and chronic bronchitis. It is used for digestive issues like diarrhea and gastritis, and for gynecological issues like menstrual cramps.
A technique called "flash cupping" is used for facial paralysis and bell's palsy. With flash cupping the cups are just placed and then removed quickly over and over again on the face.
Cupping is used with children for things like food allergies, environmental allergies, cough, and sinusitis.
Cupping is not for everyone. People with blood clotting disorders or very weak constitutions should not get cupping. Cupping is contraindicated on the low back and abdomen during pregnancy, and when there are open sores on the skin.
Remember, cupping may leave some bruises, but it is a safe and effective healing modality!