What is Cupping Therapy?

This is also called dry cupping. Cups, that more resemble old-fashioned light bulbs than drinking cups, are heated up. The hot cups are then placed on the bare skin of the area of the body that is feeling pain. The cups are left for a while, and then removed.

What is Wet Cupping?

In wet cupping, your skin is gently pricked with needles or a scalpel to draw blood, then the usual cupping therapy is done. Sometimes you are pricked after cupping, too. The theory is that this is a quick way to help the body to get rid of toxins.

What is Flash Cupping?

Another kind of cupping is called flash cupping, because the cup is not left on your skin for about ten minutes. The heated cup is placed on and off the skin in a quick series for about ten minutes. The cup is usually placed in different areas of the body, so it can bring help to a larger area than just that of under the cup.

How Cupping Therapy Works

Science is still unclear on just how cupping therapy works, but it is known that the heated cups can help improve circulation by breaking minor blood capillaries. Improved circulation can help bring more oxygen to damaged tissues, helping them heal faster and work properly. Since many patients report a noticeable lowering of pain after a cupping session, blood also may speed natural painkillers to the hot skin.

Conditions that Cupping Therapy Treats

Cupping therapy can be used by our chiropractor to help treat a wide variety of conditions, such as:

• Arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis
• Strains
• Sprains
• Shingles
• Acne
• Asthma
• Cervical spondylosis
• Paralysis of the face
• Chronic pain in many areas of the body, especially back pain and knee pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Pain from trapped nerves in the neck
• Diabetes
• Some chronic gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel disease