What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping is a form of therapy that stimulates superficial muscles and connective tissue by creating negative pressure (think suction cup) to the surface of the skin. The vacuum created increases local blood flow to stimulate healing.
Cupping Therapy is a form of alternative medicine where a trained specialist utilizes cup-like objects to relieve many bodily conditions. The specialist creates a vacuum in between your skin and the cup, creating an air-tight space that causes your skin to rise and become red as your blood vessels begin to expand. The cup is usually used for 3-5 minutes.
Kinds Of Cupping
The cup creating the suction can be applied to a solitary site. Multiple individual cups are applied to the affected area and left in place for several minutes.
The skin can be made slippery with oil allowing the practitioner to slide the vacuum pressurized cup along the involved muscle. Cupping therapy has been used for chronic pain- particularly back or neck pain. If you are curious about cupping therapy and want relief, continue reading!
Why Use Cupping?
Cupping is particularly good for muscle aches and strains. Often, our muscles get so tight that blood flow is impeded causing pain. Cupping helps stimulate the return of blood flow to speed up healing.
Cupping can stimulate tissues deeper than can be reached with massage alone. For patients fearful of needles, it can be a good alternative to acupuncture.
History of Cupping Therapy
Cupping Therapy has been around for decades. Many different cultures have utilized cupping to treat a variety of conditions. The earliest records of cupping date back to about 3,000 years ago in Ancient China. North American Indians were also known users of cupping. They utilized seashells, bones of animals, and buffalo horns for cupping.
Come by Georgia Medical Acupuncture to see how evolved and advanced cupping therapy is today.
Why choose Cupping Therapy?
When you need special body treatment or just a refresher for your body, cupping therapy is for you. The mental and physical benefits of cupping are limitless but here are a few common conditions cupping can treat:
- Back & neck pains
- Stiff muscles
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Migraines
- Rheumatism
- Cellulite
If you are wondering if cupping therapy addresses your conditions, call us and schedule an appointment at Georgia Medical Acupuncture.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are new to cupping, this may be very new and odd to you. Having your skin raised up and red raises a lot of concerns but you should not worry. A few common questions include:
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Is cupping painful?
Most patients feel a slight tugging sensation on the skin. The slide cupping feels very similar to deep tissue massage.
I heard that cupping leaves marks on the body. Is that true?
Because the negative pressure generated by the suction can injure some of the more delicate superficial capillaries, slight discoloration can result. The non-painful discoloration usually disappears in a few days.
Is there an extra charge for cupping when I receive acupuncture?
No, cupping is a common modality in Oriental Medicine treatments and included in the therapy session.
Does my practitioner decide if I need cupping or can I ask for it?
Your acupuncturist may recommend cupping for you if he/she believes that it would help with your current condition. You are certainly free to request the treatment, even if just out of curiosity. Cupping usually takes only 5-10 minutes of a treatment session.
If you have any other concerns, feel free to call us and schedule an appointment at 678-971-1668.
Relief Is Literally A Phone Call Away
Located in Gainesville, we have patients coming to see us from all around Atlanta to experience the benefits of acupuncture, cupping, Gua Sha, and our other services. Many of our patients travel from places like Gainesville, Oakwood, Buford, Braselton, Flowery Branch, Alpharetta, Athens, Cumming, Dacula, Suwanee, and many more cities around Atlanta.
Call Georgia Medical Acupuncture today and schedule your free phone consultation. Get relief today with acupuncture.
Credentials You Can Trust
1370 Thompson Bridge Road,
Suite 102
Gainesville, GA 30501
Monday to Friday
9:0am to 4:00pm
Saturday
By appointment only