Cupping / Hijama

“Cupping is most popular therapy among many of the world’s athletes, including gymnastics teams and Olympian athletes (including Michael Phelps).”

Cupping Therapy for Detoxification:

Detoxification is the process of removing toxic substances from the body. Cupping Therapy has been employed for centuries for this very reason. Cupping combines the value of building up the bodies energy with the relief of ridding the body of its toxins.

Should I take Cupping Therapy?

You should take Cupping Therapy if you:

• are looking to improve flow of energy.
• are looking for treatment for rheumatic diseases
• want detoxification of the body.
• want to relieve pain.
• want to ease tense muscles.
• are suffering from skin diseases (acne, herpes, abscess, boils, and even pimples).
• want to prevent lever diseases.
• want to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
• want to improve nervous system.
• want healing from injuries (gym, sports or any other injuries).
• want clear and flawless skin.
• want better digestion.

Along with minor elements, Cupping has evolved over the period of time and has more benefits and healing power:

• Common cold and cough
• Headaches including migraine
• Breathing difficulties (asthma)
• Diarrhea and constipation
• Tonsillitis and sore throat
• Angina pectoris (heart pain)
• Hand, leg, back and neck pain
• Osteoarthritis and gout
• Menstrual Pain (endometriosis)
• Infertility
• Urinary incontinence
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Stomach ache and heart burn
• Neuralgia (nerve pain)
• Diabetes

Why Athletes Use Cupping Therapy as Alternative Medicine

Many athletes are using the Cupping Therapy as an alternative
medicine. Some of these athletes include Michael Phelps and
the USA Men’s Olympic gymnastics team, andsome members
of the USA Track and Field team.

Primarily they seek below benefits from Cupping Therapy:

• Effective treatment to increase motion and soothe sore and tired muscles.
• Increased blood flow
• Promote muscle healing
• Pain relief and pain reduction
• Innovative way to relax

It is especially helpful when the patient is competing in a sport such as swimming, gymnastics, or track and field because they are constantly using these muscles. Increasing the blood flow will help loosen these muscles and improve the range of motion these athletes have.

What is Cupping Therapy?

As per western medical textbooks, first Cupping was used by Egyptians and in Arabic culture (approx. 5000 years ago), from there it traveled to China and evolved over the period of time. Nowadays Fire Cupping is widely used throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Cupping therapy is an alternative form of medicine and is similar to acupuncture.The basic idea behind cupping therapy is to place glass cups or silicone cups on the patient’s skin to create a vacuum, so the blood is drawn to the surface of the skin in specific parts of the body that need healing.

Types of Cupping:

There are three types of cupping methods:

1. Dry Cupping
2. Wet Cupping
3. Massage Cupping

Dry Cupping:

During a dry cupping session, the glass cup or vessel is set on fire using a flammable substance such as alcohol or herbs. The fire begins to go out, and the alternative medicine practitioner places the glass therapy cup on the surface of the patient’s skin. As the therapy cup cools, it creates a vacuum or suction. The skin will rise into the glass cup and will begin to redden. Typically, these glass or silicone cups are set in place for up to three minutes at a time. But some treatments require longer times and can last up to twenty minutes.

Dry cupping produces a low amount of pressure. The cups are better suited for use on the softer tissue so that a secure and tight seal is allowed against the skin. The skin may also be lubricated so that the cups can be moved around from one area to a larger area.

Wet Cupping/Hijama:

It is also known as Hijama (Arabic culture) or medical bleeding. Wet cupping produces a milder suction or vacuum and can also be kept in place for up to three minutes like dry cupping therapy. However, during a wet cupping therapy session, the cupping therapist will make small cuts on the patient’s skin, typically by using a sterilized scalpel and then perform a second cupping session to draw out some of the blood. It can take up to ten days for the patient’s skin to return to normal after a wet cupping therapy session. It is important that the skin is cleaned before and after a wet cupping therapy session so that any risk of infection can be avoided.

Chinese use this therapy to improve respiratory ailments such as pneumonia and bronchitis, along with the common cold and other chest infections.

Massage Cupping:

Massage Cupping has been used for weight loss and cellulite reduction. Massage cupping is considered an alternative medicine to help with pain management and induces feelings of relaxation and stress relief to ease tension.