Cupping Therapy

1. Cupping therapy supporters believe that wet cupping removes harmful substances and toxins from the body to promote healing.

2. Relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.

3. Helping with pain, inflammation, blood flow

During both types of copping, your therapist will put a flammable substance such as alcohol, herbs, or paper in a cup and set it on fire. As the fire goes out, he puts cut upside down on your skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum. This causes your skin to rise and redden as your blood vessels expand. The cup is generally left in place for up to 3 minutes. A more modern version of cupping uses a rubber pump instead of fire to create the vacuum inside the cup. Sometimes therapists use silicone cups, which they can move from place to place in your skin for a massage-like effect. Wet cupping creates a mild suction by leaving a cup in place for about 3 minutes. The therapist then removes the cup and uses a small scalpel to make light, tiny cuts on your skin. Next, he or she does a second suction to draw out a small quantity of blood. You might get3-5 cups in your first session. On you might just try one to see how it goes. It's rare to gat more than 5-7 cups, the British cupping society notes. Afterward, you may get an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent infection. Your skin should look normal again within 10 days.