Cupping is applied to certain acupuncture points as well as to parts of the body that have been affected by pain or muscle/fascia tightness. The cupping process draws blood from your vessels and into your tissue. Cupping is like a reverse massage, using suction rather than pressure to relax the muscles. Your body thinks it’s been injured, so the theory is that it ‘jumpstarts’ a positive inflammatory response, mobilising antibodies to the area to try to heal it. The heat and suction also work to bring fresh blood to a pain area and release blockages there.
Cupping works by:
- Increasing circulation
- Increasing oxygenation and tissue delivery
- Remove old stagnant blood
- Cause micro trauma and beneficial inflammation
- Create new blood vessels
- Stretch fascia and connective tissue.
- Move stagnations of lactic acid and metabolic waste and enable normal lymphatic flow to promote healthy circulation and help strengthen the immune system.
Cupping for athletes can aid in the recovery process as increased blood flow from cupping may help accelerate the repair of the damaged muscle fibres that result from hard training.
