Cupping Therapy
So Gwyneth Paltrow was recently voted the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by People Magazine and her timeless beauty and grace only improves as she gets older. She credits in part Cupping to her being able to cope with the loss of her dad and guiding her to a “new level” in life. Gwyneth has been a long time advocate of Oriental medicine and acupuncture and she and her husband Chris Martin of Coldplay regularly do it together. Another celebrity who has explored the benefits of Cupping is Jennifer Aniston…
So what exactly is Cupping?
Dating back to the Ancient Egyptians, the Chinese and the Middle East, Cupping in simplistic terms isan alternative medicine form in which cups are placed on the skin to create suction.
Using either a glass cup or bamboo jar a suction is created on the body and allowed to sit for about 10 minutes. It is said that Cupping stimulates blood flow, lymph and Qi to affected areas.Cupping also relieves swelling; and greatly enhances an acupuncture treatment, though it can be used alone. It provides relief for back pain and stiffness from injury and can clear chest congestion.
There are various forms of Cupping Therapy:
1. Dry cupping (suction only)
During both types of cupping, a flammable substance such as alcohol, herbs, or paper is placed in a cup and set on fire. As the fire goes out, the cup is placed upside down on the patient's skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum. This causes the skin to rise and redden as blood vessels expand. The cup is generally left in place for five to 10 minutes.
2. Wet cupping (combination of suction and controlled medicinal bleeding)
During wet cupping, a mild suction is created using a cup that is left in place for about three minutes. The practitioner then removes the cup and uses a small scalpel to make superficial skin incisions. Then he or she performs a second suction to draw out a small quantity of blood. After the procedure, the site may be covered with an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent infection. The skin's appearance generally returns to normal within 10 days. Cupping therapy supporters believe that wet cupping removes harmful substances and toxins from the body to promote healing.
Supporters of the therapy believe that such things as :
* High Blood Pressure
* Migraines
* Anxiety and Depression
* And even Fertility and gynaecological disorders can benefit from the use of Cupping and that Cupping promotes a feeling of general well being and relaxation.
Cupping is also great for reducing inflammation and pain throughout the body.
Generally considered safe especially when practiced by skilled, trained professionals the side effects of cupping are:
* Mild discomfort
* Burns
* Bruises
* Skin Infections
* The sensation of cupping has been described as an “upside down’ massage, where the skin and muscles are being pulled up rather than rubbed down.
However, It is important to note that as with most alternative treatments research is limited and more studies are needed before claims of success can be either proved or disproved.
To find out more about this interesting treatment which is also being effectively used to treat cellulite go to:
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