Cupping Therapy
The earliest documents that mention cupping were in ancient Egypt and were dated 1,500 BC. The methods of applying suction cups to the surface of skin were developed most likely independently in various parts of the world, but they appear to have been particularly popular in Islamic countries and in Asia. In different countries, however, the methods of using cupping vary. At the Advanced Holistic Center’s Downtown Miami cupping and Miami Beach cupping follow primarily two methods. The first one follows the traditional Chinese medical theory, and the second one follows modern medical research. In the past, the suction effect was achieved by burning the air inside the cup and then quickly applying the cup to the skin surface. Nowadays, however, cups are made of plastic, glass, rubber, bamboo, ceramic, metal, and silicone, and the suction effect is often achieved by using pumps, which allow practitioners to regulate the degree of suction much better than in the past. Cups now also come in different sizes and shapes, giving practitioners greater flexibility is selection of areas and strategies for achieving higher success rates using cupping.
What is Chinese Cupping Therapy?
What makes Chinese cupping therapy different from other cupping methods from around the world is that the areas, order, and intensity of individual cup placement are based on the traditional Chinese medical theory. The goal for the practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine remains the same: to restore and maintain the optimal balance among internal organs, and the organism will then heal itself. While cupping therapy can be combined with other traditional Chinese modalities, it can also be used as a stand-alone treatment. Similar to acupuncture, cupping can be used as therapeutically as well as preventatively, and cupping works best when done during the period of 3-10 sessions because greater suction intensity or keeping suction cups on the skin for longer leaves round bruises. When the practitioner uses suction cups, however, he or she usually feels around the treatment site to ensure that the needed therapeutic effect is achieved. For example, when a muscle spasm can be felt, a suction cup is placed over it until the muscle spasm dissipates. At the Advanced Holistic Center’s Downtown Miami cupping and Miami Beach cupping, our therapists make sure that our patients are aware of what to expect, and they participate in the decision making process.
How Does Suction Cup Therapy Work?
Scientists have proposed many theories of how cupping therapy works. All its effects are due to the sub-atmospheric pressure inside the cup, which stretches the underlying tissues thus increasing peripheral blood circulation at and around the suction site and improving immunity. According to several research studies, cupping therapy also improves blood flow in the skin, increases pain thresholds, improves local anaerobic metabolism, and reduces inflammation. There is even the genetic theory, according to which cupping can produce mechanical and physiological signals that either activate or inhibit gene expression. Many researchers recommend that more research studies need to be conducted to clarify cupping’s mechanism. At the same time, clinically, cupping can reduce muscle spasms and pain within minutes, which is why this method is popular among athletes. At the Advanced Holistic Center’s Downtown Miami cupping and Miami Beach cupping, our therapists keep up with the latest discoveries, but rely on the traditional Chinese recommendations and also communicate with and observe their patients’ reactions to cupping, because there is an exception to every rule, and individual reactions to cupping can vary.
Something Else
Advanced Holistic Center is a NYC based acupuncture and holistic healthcare clinic. Advanced Holistic Center has more locations and longer open hours than almost any complementary and alternative healthcare facility in all of NYC. With four offices manned by our fully licensed and board certified acupuncturists and herbalists, a team of highly-qualified: assistants, meditation teachers.
What is Facial Cupping?
While using cupping along with other modalities for facial rejuvenation is not new, in fact, even in ancient China it was quite popular, modern technological advances create more possibilities and variations. Facial cupping involves smaller cups that help increase blood flow and change the biomechanics of facial skin quickly and vigorously. Facial cupping’s goal is to improve the quality of the skin of the face by applying all the benefits of cupping locally, in the facial region. Done right, facial cupping can not only visually improve the skin of the face, but it can actually help improve its blood circulation and nutrient absorption. While more research is needed, facial cupping may be one of the best appearance-enhancing methods. Facial cups are designed in such a way so they would leave minimal or no marks, but there is still a possibility of bruising, and we strongly advise you to request it ahead of any important event in your life, for which your appearance may be important. At the Advanced Holistic Center’s Downtown Miami cupping and Miami Beach cupping, however, our therapists are always very careful and will discuss with you what facial cupping can do for you, individually.
Does it hurt?
Advanced Holistic Center is a NYC based acupuncture and holistic healthcare clinic. Advanced Holistic Center has more locations and longer open hours than almost any complementary and alternative healthcare facility in all of NYC. With four offices manned by our fully licensed and board certified acupuncturists and herbalists, a team of highly-qualified: assistants, meditation teachers.