If you’ve been keeping up to date with all that’s trendy in the wellness world, then you’ll likely have heard of cupping therapy. This on-trend massage therapy has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, thanks to the many sports stars and celebrities who are undertaking cupping therapy work.
And there’s a good reason why so many famous faces are going crazy for cupping therapy. To put it simply: there are just so many benefits to body cupping! From easing muscle tension and increasing blood circulation to pain relief and more and boosting immune function, there’s a lot to love about cupping.
Not that cupping is anything new. It’s just relatively new to us in the West. Middle Eastern cultures have long known all about cupping benefits. Indeed, there’s even evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptians were using cupping way back in 1,500 B.C. If massage therapists have been using cupping therapy for that long, then you can be sure that it offers more than a placebo effect.
If you’re still on the fence about the benefits of cupping, then this page is for you. In this post, we’ll outline all that’s awesome about cupping, as well as dispel some myths about the practice. However, if you’re ready to try cupping therapy already, then be sure to make an appointment.
Looking for a proven way to improve blood flow? Then try cupping therapy. It’s been shown to measurably enhance blood circulation. And that can be highly beneficial to your overall health — having good blood flow allows your body to work as it’s supposed to. It’ll also help with cell repair following injury and can give your skin a healthy glow.
Your body’s organs will release some toxins, but it can’t get rid of them all. After all, in this day and age, we normally subject our bodies to more toxins than they can manage. Cupping can activate your lymphatic system, helping it to expel more toxins than it could on its own. So cupping doesn’t just feel good; it’ll also give your lymphatic system a helping hand.
Been going a little too hard in the gym? Playing too hard on the basketball court? You’ll be feeling it in your muscles. Cupping helps to relieve muscle tension, so you can recover quicker and better than normal.
Living with chronic pain? Then there’s evidence to suggest that cupping therapy can help. It has been noted to help especially with chronic neck and back pain, as well as for people with osteoarthritis.
Finally, cupping is relaxing! You’ll notice that your body feels much more relaxed once the session is over.
Side Effects of Cupping Therapy
As with all good things, there are some downsides to cupping to be aware. For example, some side effects of cupping therapy can include:
You may have some mild skin marks on your body after the treatment. However, these marks usually disappear after a few days.
In some cases, you may have some very mild pain in the area where the cupping has taken place. However, this is rare.
Working with unlicensed wet cupping practitioners may result in a skin infection. However, wet cupping is usually considered safe.
You can minimize the risk of unwanted side effects by working with an experienced massage therapist center, such as Deep Relief Austin.
There are two primary cupping methods: stationary cupping and cupping and dragging. There’s an overlap between these two cupping techniques, but there are also differences that you’ll want to be aware of.
First, let’s think about stationary cupping. With this practice, cups are placed on specific areas of the skin for between one and fifteen minutes. This technique is usually used when cupping is being performed with a specific purpose in mind; for example, if it’s used to relieve muscle tightness, then the cupping will take place at the precise site where the painful muscles are located.
With cupping and dragging, the cups are placed on the body, but they’re kept moving. This is typically how massage therapists use cupping; rather than just placing the cups on the body and leaving them there, the cups are more like an extension of their hands. If this method is utilized, then it’s unlikely that the body will have any residual red marks, though if there are, those marks will fade more quickly than the stationary cupping marks.
If you’ve only seen cupping techniques in practice, then you might assume that cupping is painful. But that’s not the case. Providing you work with an experienced cupping therapist, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll experience any pain whatsoever.
But what about those red marks, you ask? While they may look like bruises, they’re not. It’s just the result of enhanced blood circulation; when you use cupping methods, blood rushes to wherever the silicone cups have been placed. The results are red marks, but don’t be put off by the marks — you won’t feel them once the cupping therapy is over. During the treatment, all you’ll feel is a suction sensation, that’s all.
And there we have it! As you’ll have read, there’s much to love about cupping therapy. If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to relieve muscle tension, increase blood flow, promote cell repair, and reduce the appearance of varicose veins, then you’ll likely be a great candidate for cupping therapy.
To learn more about the cupping experiences that we offer here at Deep Relief Austin, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact us by calling (512) 529-0027, or alternatively, you can use our online booking system to schedule an appointment by clicking the ‘Book Now’ button at the top of this page. Our center is open from Monday – Friday from 10 am until; 7 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 6 pm.
Ph:512-529-0027
Fax:512-838-4202
Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm
Sat & Sun: 10am-6pm
