Cupping is a therapy that has been used for centuries till today in China, India, Egypt and Greece. A glass jar is attached to the skin surface to cause local congestion through the negative pressure created by introducing heat. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left in place on the skin blood stasis is formed and localized healing takes place. This stimulates the person’s protective energy and consequently their immune system.
Cupping helps improving circulation and to ‘open’ the lungs raw toxins out of them and towards the skin surface and to facilitate better breathing. Cupping can be effective for a wide range of ailments, including asthma, bronchitis, dull aches and pains, arthritis, abdominal pain, stomach ache, indigestion, headache, low back pain, painful menstruation, coughs from excessive mucus and places where bodily movement is limited and painful.
The cups are left in place for up to 20 minutes, and when removed, they usually leave a round red bruise behind. Bruising occurs in spots where congestion existed. Although bruises can take several days to go away, they are not painful and the temporary marks are a small price to pay for the relief the therapy provides.