Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. It involves placing special cups on specific areas of the body. Cupping therapy is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain and inflammation.
The cups used in cupping therapy can be made of glass, plastic, or silicone. They are typically heated or connected to a vacuum pump to create suction. The suction causes the skin and underlying muscle tissue to be drawn into the cup, stimulating blood flow.
The Two Types of Cupping Therapy: Dry and Wet Cupping
There are two types of cupping therapy: wet and dry cupping. Both techniques involve placing a flammable substance in a cup and setting the substance on fire. As it burns, the flame removes oxygen from inside the cup, creating a partial vacuum. The flammable substance is extinguished and the cup is placed upside down on the skin. The suction generated by the vacuum raises the skin, causing it to turn red as the blood vessels begin to expand.
Wet cupping involves an extra step. The first cup is left in place for around three minutes. The cup is removed and a small scalpel is employed to make microscopic cuts in the skin, similar to acupuncture. A second cup is then applied to bring the blood to the surface.
Multiple cupping is used to treat sore or stiff regions of the body. The cups can be kept on the skin for anywhere between five and twenty minutes until the skin turns red. The red patches created by the treatment are just transitory and will go away within 2 or 3 days after the treatment.
A certified cupping therapist will perform a short examination before the procedure takes place to determine how many cups will be needed and where they will be positioned. Depending on the specific conditions or issues, cupping can be used in conjunction with acupuncture, percussion therapy, and other traditional Chinese medical practices.
The Benefits of Cupping Therapy
Patients in Orange County seeking pain relief and other ailments can benefit from Quality ACU’s safe and effective cupping therapy options. Cupping provides many benefits, including:
- Pain relief
- Improved circulation
- Relaxation and stress reduction
- Detoxification
- Improved range of motion
- Respiratory benefits
Many conditions respond well to cupping therapy:
- Migraine headaches
- High blood pressure
- Skin disorders like acne and eczema
- Bronchial congestion caused by asthma or allergies
- Fertility and other gynecological issues
- Arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other rheumatic diseases
- Depression and anxiety
- Hemophilia, anemia, and other blood disorders
- Varicose veins
Cupping Therapy in Orange County, CA
If you’re one of the many people in Orange County, CA, who suffer from chronic pain, inflammation, and related ailments, cupping therapy may be the key to alleviating your condition. Cupping therapy and other types of traditional Chinese medicine are effective at treating a wide range of conditions. If you’re looking for an alternative form of pain management that doesn’t involve drugs, give QualityAcu a call.
QualityAcu’s Dr. Greg Maruki is a licensed acupuncturist with many years of experience treating pain and other conditions using traditional Chinese medicine techniques. In addition to cupping therapy, QualityAcu offers acupuncture, massage therapy, pain management therapy, and more. We take a holistic approach to treatment, addressing the underlying causes of the pain (such as inflammation, poor gut health, poor diet, etc.) rather than simply managing its symptoms with medications.
Cupping therapy has been around for thousands of years, and we are proud to offer patients in Orange County, CA, the most innovative cupping therapy options available. Contact QualityAcu at 714-532-2827 or online to schedule an appointment today! Our clinic is conveniently located at 2832 E. Chapman Ave.,, a few blocks East of CA-55 S.
