Cupping dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus from 1550 B.C., describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy for treating fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual problems, and other ailments.
The Egyptians introduced cupping to the ancient Greeks who used it as a cure for almost every illness. In traditional Chinese medicine, it's closely linked to acupuncture. The Islamic Prophet Muhammad also recommended cupping in his writings, where he called it hijama.
Cupping involves placing small cups on troubled areas of the body and creating suction to pull the tissue up slightly. This may help relax muscles and tissues, relieve pain, and trigger the body's natural healing processes.
During cupping therapy, a therapist applies small, round cups made of glass, plastic, bamboo, or clay to the troubled area. Traditionally, this therapy uses sets of four, six, or 10 cups.
Therapists commonly apply cups to the back, chest, buttocks, and abdomen. The face may be treated, too. Cups remain in place for five to 20 minutes.
Dry cupping therapy
Dry cupping is simple and is the preferred method in the West because it's easy to do and doesn't involve blood. The therapist just applies the cups to your skin, compressing them with their hands, a pump, or a flame if using glass cups. (They may apply lotion first). They leave the cups in place for 5-10 minutes. You can have this therapy done as often as once or twice a week.
Dry cupping therapy
Cupping is used to help treat arthritis and varicose veins, fibromyalgia, back and body pain, as well as high blood-pressure and blood disorders such as hemophobia and anemia, migraines, anxiety, asthma, even allergies and depression.
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Massage cupping therapy
Massage cupping is when a KM therapist applies oil to the skin and moves the cups with weak suction. Massage cupping is also called dynamic cupping, gliding cupping, and moving cupping.
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Flash cupping therapy
Flash cupping is when a practitioner uses quick suctions of light to medium pressure for less than 30 seconds at a time. This is also called empty cupping. Flash cupping is suitable for people who should not use dry cupping, such as children.
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Magnetic cupping therapy
Magnetic cupping is when a practitioner uses cups with magnets inside often to treat conditions affecting knees or other large joints.
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Herbal cupping therapy
Magnetic cupping is when a practitioner uses boils an herbal solution, soaks bamboo cups, and applies the slightly cooled cups to the skin.
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Herbal cupping therapy
Magnetic cupping is when a practitioner uses boils an herbal solution, soaks bamboo cups, and applies the slightly cooled cups to the skin.
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Water cupping therapy
Magnetic cupping is technique using cups partially filled with warm water. The practitioner also places burning cotton wool in the cup before applying the cup to the skin.
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Aquatic cupping therapy
This treatment is performed underwater, where muscles may be stretched more. This type of therapy is often used for musculoskeletal problems or rehabilitation.
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Cupping is NOT Recomended for:
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Pregnant women: During pregnancy, cupping should not be applied to the lower back and the lower and upper abdomen to avoid the risk of early contractions. Cupping also should be avoided during the first trimester.
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Children under 4 years old and older adults: Very young individuals and older adults have a greater risk of severe marking and blistering.
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Anyone on blood-thinning medications: These people could experience excessive bleeding or bruising with this therapy.