Cupping: The 7 Things You Should Know About This Therapy

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

For many people, the brown circular markings worn by athletes at the Rio Olympics are a novelty, but the alternative treatment called cupping that relaxes sore muscles dates back to 3000 BC. Famous people like Michael Phelps and Gwyneth Paltrow are faithful to it but What is it about? The practice involves placing glass cups over the body and using either an air or fire pump to suck sections of skin tissue. This suction is said to increase blood circulation to sore areas of the body, speeding recovery, but this leaves the patient marked with red and brown circles. We had a lot of questions so we talked to Dr. Maribel Pedrozo,from the Biobell Spa in Miami, who has done the therapy to stars like Maritza Rodríguez and Rashel Díaz, to clarify our doubts about what one should know before doing it.

Michael Phelps

1. Fire is used. "The cups or suction cups are subjected to heat with a cotton ball and alcohol before being applied to the body and this generates a suction cup effect or negative pressure in the applied area", explains Dr. Pedrozo, "The suction produced between the skin and the muscle helps to detoxify the organism, draining toxins accumulated by inflammation, pain or stress, reactivating the blood circulation in areas that need it, stimulating the nervous system and relaxing the muscles, thus leaving the body in optimal conditions”.

2. It improves the nervous system. Regulates and improves the tensions of the nervous system that works as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and toxin-removing therapy. It also works for back pain, sciatica, fatigue, arthritis, allergies, asthma, and constipation. It also helps with mental well-being as it helps to cure depression, calm stress and anxiety, and last but not least, fight cellulite.

3. Everyone can do it. "Anyone can do it if they have any condition that needs this type of treatment," says the expert.

Gwyneth Paltrow in 2004

4. It can be done often. According to Pedrozo, you can integrate cupping as part of your routine to relieve stress and accompany it with a massage once or twice a week. In the case of athletes, the doctor recommends doing it before or after an athletic event.

5. Inflammation varies. "The pain and purple varies from person to person," explains Pedrozo. "According to the degree of intensity and suction that is carried out, if there is a lot of inflammation, the bruises are more noticeable, the person may feel a little sore afterwards, but with the days, the bruises and discomfort disappear if the moving cupping is carried out on the back which is another alternative to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. This shape doesn't hurt at all.”

Jennifer Aniston in 2013

6. The marks can last a while. Bruises can last from a few days to a few weeks, but will eventually go away completely.

7. There are risks for certain people. Although the risks are minimal, there are people who should avoid this treatment. "You shouldn't do it on open wounds or severe skin injuries, during pregnancy, if you have severe heart or kidney problems, severe edema, bleeding, or hemophilia."