I was introduced to cupping four years ago while being treated for an auto collision injury. It is a traditional treatment, which uses the application of suction cups to the body. My chiropractor had just hired a massage therapist who was very interested in naturopathic medicine and holistic healing. With three children under the age of five, and having sustained other injuries as well, I was suffering from excruciating back pain and was eager to find something that provided immediate relief. It only took one treatment to get me hooked. I was on the prowl to find my own cup set, so my partner could help treat me at home.

Cupping is considered to be part of the study of acupuncture, but it can be used alone (no needles involved), or in conjunction to acupuncture treatments. The cups can be left in one spot, or you can have someone slide the cup(s) along your back. I use a combination of the two methods for optimum pain management.

There are many cultures that use some form of cupping in their folk medicine, and as a little girl I saw family members using cupping therapy for a variety of ailments such as pain or injury, respiratory issues, digestive problems, even skin care such as treating eczema and cellulite reduction. I use it to loosen the muscle knots in my back. The cupping therapy works by enabling circulation to injured sites. This speeds up healing by reducing swelling, and allowing toxins to be expelled.

Modern cup sets come with a simple pump. If you choose to leave the cups in place, the pump is removed and the cup sits on the surface of your skin for about five to twenty minutes. If you opt for the “sliding” method, lotion or massage oil can be applied prior to applying a light suction, and the cup(s) can be moved in any direction. Circular motions directly on problem areas work wonders for me.

A more traditional method uses Fire-Cupping. A vacuum is created by soaking a cotton ball in alcohol, lighting it, and placing it inside the cup for a few seconds. The fire sucks out all the oxygen in the cup, producing the suction. The cup is then placed on your skin, and treatment is the same as with using the modern cups. Fire-Cupping does not burn or feel hot on your body.

Cupping should not hurt, although it may leave a mark which should go away within a few hours to a week. Cupping can be extremely relaxing, and children do very well with it. My five-year old daughter absolutely loves being cupped before bedtime.

If you suffer from back pain or any of the other ailments listed, I highly encourage you to seek a professional acupuncturist, or massage technician who specializes in cupping therapy. For maximum results, I also recommend using white flower oil during the massage, or applying an analgesic patch (such as Salonpas) after the treatment.

The Way Cupping Massage or Cupping Therapy Works

There are a number of different variations of cupping treatments. During a treatment a vacuum is created and there is some suction that pulls up on your skin and your body’s tissues. With stationary cupping treatments the cups are applied to the skin and they are not moved until your session is complete. With massage cupping, the cups are moved during the treatment to help ease sore muscles and joints.

A Brief History of Cupping Therapy

There have been pictorial records of cupping discovered in Egypt so the process dates back to at least 1500 BC. It was also used by the ancient Greeks and Chinese to treat a number of different symptoms. In the beginning, the cups were made from hollowed out animal horns and they were used to leach toxins out of the body. The cups themselves have evolved from hollowed out animal horns to cups made from bamboo to eventually cups made from glass. Glass cups are still used today.

Some of the Benefits of Cupping Treatments

This kind of treatment is believed to have an effect on your body’s tissues up to 4 inches beneath the surface of the skin. This is thought to help your body release toxins. These treatments can open up the veins, arteries and capillaries to improve circulation. These treatments can also be used to improve the functioning of your lymphatic system.

Furthermore, it can help with conditions like stretch marks and varicose veins and it is also believed that it can be helpful for clearing congestion. These treatments have been used to help people control their asthma or to find relief from cold symptoms.

Cupping massage and cupping therapy can also help reduce or eliminate pain. Doctor Brent A. Bauer, M.D. answered a question on the Mayo Clinic website about whether this can help relieve the pain from fibromyalgia. He stated that there were studies that indicated that this medication when combined with acupuncture may reduce fibromyalgia symptoms more effectively than conventional medicines. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cupping/AN01599

There is a lot of evidence that suggests that this can be used to treat a number of different ailments and symptoms. There are some circumstances when cupping should not be used such as when you have a high fever, a skin disease or if you have a tendency to bleed easily. For most people, it is perfectly safe and it may be an option you would like to explore. It is highly recommended that you consult your physician before attempting to treat or diagnose any disease.

Traditional cupping has now been given a facelift for the modern world by Bellabaci, a South African company who’s CEO; Keren Trabelsi originated the Bellabaci Massage System for body and face. This system and the cups in particular make it easy for just about anybody to treat themselves and their families for a slew of every day ailments at home, affordably and naturally without the need for toxic pharmaceuticals and expensive doctor’s visits.

Different Treatment Options For Joint Pain Relief

Joint pain is caused by many factors. The condition can be caused by any injuries that can affect the ligaments, tendons, and bursae that surround the joints. The injury can also affect the cartilage, ligaments, as well as the bones near the joint. Pain is also a symptom of arthritis also known as inflammation of the joint. Another thing that can cause joint pain is tumor. Arthralgia is also another term for joint pain.

Doctors usually prescribe medications to promote joint pain relief. Some of these medications include acetaminophen, NSAID, acetylsalicilic acid, aspirin, analgesic, antipyretic, naproxen, ibuprofen and others.

Here are some of the conditions where the drugs aforementioned are used:

o arthritis

o bursitis

o aseptic necrosis

o cartilage tear

o fracture

o sprain

o tendinitis

Other standard treatments used and prescribed by physicians include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, dietary supplements and orthopedic bracing. Joint replacement surgery is a more permanent but also, it is a very costly procedure and as with any other kinds of surgery, recovering from it is difficult.

For some people who have tried and failed in coping pain by using many synthetic drugs and protocols to accomplish joint pain relief, resorting to more natural means is much better. Fore them, alternative treatments to manage joint pain are cheaper, safer and more effected. They are cheap because branded medicines and professional fees to physicians are waved and people think that alternative treatments will not cause any side effects to the body.

Natural or alternative medications that can give relief to painful joints involve physical activities designed for joint pain management, herbal medicines, therapy, massage acupuncture, and meditation. Some also involve diets which can help ward off pain.

Many people suffering from different kinds of pain also travel to countries which are popular tourist destinations for massages. These massages according to experts can release the stress in the body and bring relief to painful joints.

Aside from massage, acupuncture is also proven to help relieve the pain not just brought by the joint but pain in the other areas of the body as well. Acupuncture’s status as a simple oriental alternative treatment has evolved and become more specialized with more physicians in the western hemisphere incorporating the treatment to the therapy of their patients. Acupuncture can relive joint pain by using needles that can induce the release of good chemicals that help in suppressing pain. Also, it has been suggested that acupuncture helps to treat the exact problem area because it is very specific.

Herbal medicines can also help in giving joint pain relief. Some herbals include ginger, Indian ginseng and peperomia. Ginger can be made into tea and enjoyed as a drink. Indian ginseng on the other hand serves as ingredients in Ayurvedic treatments. The leaves and stalk of the peperomia herb are edible and can be included in salads. Just boil 1 cup of the leaves or stalk in 2 cups of water, sieve the solid remnants and enjoy the drink during mornings and afternoons.

There are natural and conventional means of treatment. It’s up to you to choose between them and of course, not all treatments work for different people. Consulting experts and doing research is also essential.

Who Will Benefit From Using Cupping Therapy?

There are many people that use cupping therapy to help them relieve they pain the feel on a daily basis. Cupping therapy provides many benefits for pretty much anyone. If you have a health condition that is causing you pain of some type, then you will definitely benefit from using this therapy. There are many places that offer this therapy, even in Vancouver, WA., and many other places around the world.

Now, before learning about who this therapy can help, it is important that you understand what it is. Cupping is therapy that uses pressurized glass or bamboo cups to provide a gentle vacuum on your skin which will help relieve pain, remove toxins, and many other things. It is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for many years in the past and is becoming more popular these days.

To help you understand who will really benefit from this therapy, here are some of the different health conditions that it will help with:

1. Headache – Many people feel headaches, but there are some people that experience them a lot. This therapy will help relieve the pain from the headache and prevent you from having so many of them.

2. Back pain – Do you feel pain your lower to middle back? If you do, then you will definitely benefit from this therapy.

3. Joint and muscular pain – Cupping will help to relieve pain from your muscles and help them be more flexible.

4. Rheumatic diseases – There are many people that suffer from this condition that have found this therapy very beneficial for them.

5. Insomnia – If you find yourself not being able to sleep, then this may be the answer to helping you sleep. Many people with insomnia have benefited greatly from this therapy.

6. Asthma – Again, if you are someone that suffers from this condition, then this therapy could be what you have been looking for to help you.

These are just a few of the different conditions that cupping therapy can help with. If you are feeling any type of pain, you definitely want to check into this therapy more for yourself because it does provide many benefits for so many different people. Now that you know who it can help, all that is left is determining if it will help you. Get started researching now to make the most informed decision possible and to help you get help quickly for your pain.