If you’re considering cupping therapy, you may have heard about some of its benefits – but there are probably many that will surprise you! Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, cupping stimulates blood flow to treat ailments ranging from muscle pain to anxiety to insomnia.
As interest in cupping has increased in recent years, the treatment’s telltale marks have been spotted on everyone from Michael Phelps to Gwyneth Paltrow.
Read on to explore the benefits of cupping therapy, how it works, and what treatment options are available in-studio or at home.
10 Benefits of Cupping Therapy
When it comes to the benefits of holistic therapies like cupping, everybody’s needs and results are a little bit different. Some clients seek out cupping for one stubborn ailment while others crave an all-over boost. Here’s a list of some of the most common benefits we see in WTHN’s cupping studios.
1. Promotes Healthy Circulation
By using suction to tug at skin and muscle tissue, cupping increases blood flow in measurable ways. In fact, some scientists think that improved circulation is the central way cupping helps us to heal – through the repair of cells and muscle relaxation that come from a healthier blood flow.
Circulation is important for heart health and overall well-being.
2. Encourages the Release of Toxins
Improved circulation, which cupping promotes, also helps the body flush out toxins through the lymphatic system which is part of the immune system. Blood and an internal substance called lymph (the fluid of the immune system) usher toxins away to the filtering organs (like your kidneys and liver) to line them up for removal from the body.
This helps your whole body hum along smoothly and leaves you feeling better, mentally and physically.
3. Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Lying down to enjoy a massage certainly sounds relaxing. Think of cupping as a “reverse massage” that simply pulls instead of pushing, and it’s easy to see how this self-care therapy can support stress relief, too. By alleviating pain and cleansing body systems, cupping can work as a mental reset.
During a cupping session at WTHN, you’ll lie on a comfortable table and listen to soothing sounds. It’s a thoughtful way to enjoy self-care whenever you can.
4. Treats Varicose Veins, Stretch Marks, and Scars
Varicose veins are swollen or enlarged veins that are located just below the skin’s surface, often with a dark, twisted, or bulging appearance. They tend to be more common on the legs. By increasing blood flow, cupping can bring more oxygen to areas of skin with varicose veins and may help to lighten or soften the way they look.
When it comes to stretch marks and scars, it’s the same mechanism of circulation that may be beneficial. By helping to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the surface of your skin, cupping is thought to support the healing of injured areas. After several sessions of cupping therapy near stretch marks or scars, you may begin to notice them lightening or fading.
5. Clears Congestion and May Relieve Asthma
It’s easy to imagine how the suction offered by cupping could loosen congestion in the lungs and entire respiratory system. Many patients find that cupping on the face, chest, and back helps them breathe easier.
Plus, a 2010 review of 550 clinical studies found that cupping offered relief from several different conditions, among them asthma. For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have long recommended cupping therapy for coughs, congestion, and healthier breathing.
6. Reduces Muscle Tension and Speeds Recovery
Elite athletes, perhaps most notably the swimmer Michael Phelps, are often photographed with the trademark circular markings sometimes left by cupping therapy. That’s because cupping is known to help relax muscle knots and alleviate tension that causes pain and limits range of motion.
Cupping is also used by athletes to speed recovery after difficult workouts and to keep muscles energized. Research shows that cupping therapy has a significant effect on relieving muscle fatigue following a period of strain, then recovery. If you’re training for a 5K or just hitting the gym harder than usual, cupping could be a way to ease the stress on your body.
7. Promotes Healthy Digestion and Metabolism
Cupping is believed to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates the body’s basic resting functions like heart rate and breathing. This also increases blood flow to the digestive tract.
All the above helps your stomach and intestines move things along in a way that leaves you feeling comfortable and energized.
8. Relieves Chronic Pain
Relief from chronic pain is one of the benefits of cupping that is most well researched by Western scientists. In 2012, a study by German researchers found that patients with osteoarthritis reported less pain after undergoing cupping therapy.
In 2015, another review showed that cupping can provide relief for chronic neck and low back pain, while a separate study reinforced cupping’s measurable effects on neck pain in particular.
If chronic pain in any part of the body is keeping you from comfortably doing daily tasks or participating in activities you love, consider an alternative or holistic treatment like cupping. While over the counter pain medicines are sometimes a first line of treatment, the side effects can be unappealing and may not target the root of the problem the way Traditional Chinese Medicine can.
9. Improves Skin Health and Appearance
Face cupping uses the same principles as full-body cupping, but at a smaller scale. Miniature cups are used to apply gentle suction to the cheeks, jaw, forehead, and chin. It helps to improve the way skin looks and feels by reducing puffiness, boosting elasticity, and relaxing muscles.
Beauty experts also say that face cupping helps products like serums and moisturizers absorb better into the skin, perhaps by opening pores and gently massaging in any substance that’s applied.
It’s not just your face that will reflect healthier skin, though. Since cupping boosts blood flow all over, you can expect to look forward to a head-to-toe glow.
10. Increases Flexibility
Keeping limber is one of the best ways to avoid injury, whether you’re an athlete or not. One study that investigated the results of cupping therapy on the range of motion of the hamstring muscle found it to be just as effective as passive stretching.
Cupping may also help with the pain and stiffness that sometimes keep us from reaching our full potential when it comes to range of motion.
How Does Cupping Therapy Work?
In a cupping therapy session, a practitioner applies round cups, usually made from glass, plastic, or silicone, to the skin using suction. The suction then tugs skin and muscle tissue upward. Insiders often call cupping the “reverse massage” because it offers many similar benefits, but by pulling rather than pushing.
In the areas targeted by the cups, tiny blood vessels called capillaries burst open and the body responds as if to an injury by sending in more nutrient-rich blood for repair. In short, cupping works by prompting the body’s own natural healing mechanisms to kick in.
During a session, your therapist will apply the cups, wait several minutes, then remove them. After receiving cupping therapy, it’s important to drink plenty of water and rest as your body works to flush out the toxins released.
You may notice red or bruised-looking marks where the cups were – this is normal, and in fact a sign that it’s working. Expect them to fade in a few days.
Types of Cupping
There are several different types of cupping therapy, but the most common (and what’s offered at WTHN) is known as dry cupping. Glass, plastic, or silicone cups are applied using suction – no needles or other tools are involved.
Some practitioners offer wet cupping, in which incisions are made in the skin to draw out blood, which is thought to support detox and circulation.
Who Should Try Cupping Therapy?
Any healthy adult can try cupping. In particular, those in search of relief from chronic pain and tension are great candidates for cupping therapy.
It’s never a bad idea to check with your doctor before trying cupping, since those with certain disorders or who take certain medicines are usually advised to avoid it.
Who Can Administer Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy can be administered either by a professional in a studio or office, or by anyone at home who wishes to give it a try (and is willing to follow some safety directions).
Professionals who sometimes pursue special training in cupping include acupuncturists, massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and physicians. A trained and licensed cupping therapist will be able to best assess symptoms, cup placement, and any special techniques to use.
If visiting a studio isn’t feasible, WTHN offers both a face cupping kit and a body cupping kit to try your hand at home. It’s recommended that you ask a friend to help with body cupping in particular, since the placement of some may call for an extra set of hands. Both kits come with a detailed instruction booklet to help.
An in-studio cupping session is quite affordable, so consider getting some face-to-face guidance from one of our practitioners before diving into the treatments at home.
Get Cupping in Studio or at Home
Visiting a studio regularly, such as once a week or twice a month, is the best way to experience its benefits. A cupping therapist can tailor each session as you progress to help your body heal in a way that’s unique to your symptoms.
Enjoy the benefits of our New York City cupping therapy or shop our at-home cupping therapy kits today.