Cupping Therapy, Michael Phelps, and Olympic Gold

A wide array of holistic therapies are available to assist with pain relief.  One of these is cupping therapy. Alongside acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, cupping is an ancient practice that has demonstrated great effectiveness whenever relieving pain and inflammation is needed. It also helps to improve the body’s ability to heal itself from the effects of muscle strain or injury.

Cupping therapy, a medical practice that is more than 2,000 years old, has been widely used in several traditional medical systems, such as those from ancient China, India, Egypt, and Greece.  It had recently gained added notoriety due to its prevalent use in the 2016 Olympics.  Besides Olympic athletes, like 21-time gold medalist Michael Phelps, and others, many celebrities have also been utilizing the benefits of cupping as a natural way to clear pain and inflammation from the body.  For example, Kim Kardashian had recently shared her experiences with cupping.  In general, cupping improves circulation, so that the body can heal faster and regain increased flexibility and functionality.

The mechanics of cupping are quite simple.   In essence, a vacuum suction is created beneath a small cup and applied directly to the skin.  This suction pulls against the skin and underlying connective tissues bringing increased circulation to the affected area or areas.  This helps the body to return to its proper levels of muscle tone, clears inflammation, and brings additional nutrients for repair of tissues. The cups are often left in place for several minutes and might be complemented by other holistic modalities, such as acupuncture, heat or cold therapy, therapeutic massage, or ultrasound therapy.  Once the cupping therapy is complete, the suction is released, and the cups can be comfortably removed from the body. Sometimes, a slight bruising can occur at the site, however a mild amount of suction can be used with cupping in order to try and minimize this… unless you too were an Olympic athlete in need of an Olympic amount of pressure!

Doctors of holistic medicine and acupuncture, such as myself, are well trained in the proper use and benefits of cupping therapy. Please seek the advice and care of a trained medical professional if you are interested in cupping therapy.

If you would like to personally experience some of the many benefits of acupuncture, cupping, and holistic medicine, reserve some time with us.