Cupping therapy dates back to ancient times. The treatment is currently resurging in popularity, for good reason. It's believed to be helpful for a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, and arthritis. At Active Life Team Chiropractic in Sacramento, CA, we offer cupping and other chiropractic treatments.
What Is Cupping?
Cupping is a therapy that uses cups to bring blood to the surface of the skin. A chiropractor, acupuncturist, or another alternative medicine professional can perform it.
There are two types of cupping: wet cupping and dry cupping. Both types use fire. Alcohol, herbs, or another flammable substance can be used to create a fire in the cup. When the fire goes out, the warm cup is placed on your skin. The cup cools, which causes the air inside the cup to expand. This creates suction. The suction causes a raised area as the blood vessels expand. Once the cup cools, it is removed. This typically takes three minutes. Today, some practitioners use a pump to create the suction, rather than fire.
Wet cupping involves using a needle to create a small puncture in the skin. A knife can also be used to make tiny cuts. This is believed to allow toxins to escape.
Both types of cupping leave bruises on the skin. This is because tiny blood vessels expand and then break. The bruises should fade within one to two weeks and are a part of the treatment process.
What Cupping Can Treat
Cupping is most commonly used to treat pain, particularly chronic pain. It's a popular sports injury treatment and is often performed by sports injury chiropractors. It can also be used to relieve the symptoms of other chronic conditions.
Cupping is thought to relieve pain due to chronic conditions like arthritis and carpal tunnel. It can also be used to treat back, neck, shoulder, or knee pain.
The treatment can provide relief from headaches, including migraines and tension headaches. It can provide relief from asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel disease and gastritis as well.
How Cupping Works
Unfortunately, the research into cupping is currently very limited. However, it's theorized that the process of cupping creates a mild injury. When the body responds to the cupping injury, it may also heal itself from other issues.
Another theory is that cupping removes toxins from the body. Toxins may cause many chronic issues, which cupping can treat.
Cupping With Active Life Team Chiropractic
If you are experiencing pain, headaches, or gastrointestinal problems, and are interested in cupping, contact Active Life Team Chiropractic in Sacramento, CA, at 916-551-1545. We specialize in athletic chiropractic care. In addition to cupping, we offer chiropractic adjustments and other alternative sports injury chiropractic treatments.
