August 25, 2014

Can Cupping Massage Help Your Injuries or Pain? What exactly is Cupping Massage? Cupping massage is the application of silicone, plastic or glass cups on your body for the purpose of creating suction. The vacuum (strong suction) created by the cups is used for healing purposes for muscular injuries, aches and pains. Massage cups are used externally on the body on most areas such as arms, legs, back and also joints. The suction pulls blood towards the cup which increases blood flow and brings relief to areas of tightness or stagnation. Massage cupping can feel either mildly uncomfortable or really good on tight, sore muscles depending on the pressure that is applied by the therapist. Cupping massage (a.k.a suction therapy), is one of the oldest and most globally practiced medical treatments in human history! It was first popularized in Egypt dating back 3,500 years, where its use is seen repeatedly throughout hieroglyphic records. Therapeutic Benefits of Cupping The negative pressure caused by cupping therapy releases rigid tissue, drains excess fluids and loosens muscle knots. Toxins and stagnation are brought to the surface of the skin and are then flushed out by the lymphatic system. Similarly, injured tissue is repaired faster by bringing fresh blood, nutrients and oxygen to affected areas by the negative pressure. Lastly, the strong suction of the cups pulls soft tissues from underlying structures, thereby loosening adhesions. While the cups are on the skin, the pore expands and discharges some of the waste and toxins in the blood. One may wonder what is cupping massage’s effect on the lymphatic system? In reality, it has many similar benefits to Lymphatic Drainage Massage. Stationary Cupping Stationary cupping is done by placing and leaving one or more cups on a specific area of your body. The cups create a vacuum and the suction then draws the skin up. This suction causes blood to rush to the area, thereby increasing local circulation. If the cups remain in place for long enough, dark cirlces will form where the cups were placed. Many wonder what cupping massage entails and if it leaves bruises, but it’s quite different. These darker circles may indicate areas of higher toxicity or stagnation. They are actually not bruises, but discoloration caused by the blood pooling at the surface of the skin. Moving Massage Cupping When cups are moved over the body, rather than being left in one spot, we refer to it as “moving cupping”. This can be done with different sizes and types of cups and the pressure is adjusted to your preference. Moving cupping can be done on large muscles like the legs or even around joints such as the shoulder. The pulling and stretching of the connective structures around the joint can also improve your range of motion. For those curious about what cupping massage is, moving cupping provides an option with its own benefits. Massage Cupping Effects on The Skin Cupping expands the blood vessels of the skin, causing an increase of: Cupping Effects on Muscles & Joints At Balance Spa we incorporate both moving and stationary cupping into our cupping treatments. We will discuss your concerns and adapt a treatment to best address your issues. Click here to book your cupping massage today!