Although cupping is an ancient practice, many people may not have heard of it until swimmer Michael Phelps sported large circular purplish-red abrasions on his shoulders during the Olympics. Curious to know more about the procedure and where you can try it in Atlanta? Read on.
What is cupping?
Dating as far back as 3,000 B.C., cupping is a type of alternative pain medicine that involves placing glass cups, bamboo or clay on the body. Silicone cups can also be used for a massaging effect.
Air is sucked out of the cups by using heat or an air pump, which creates a vacuum effect that causes the skin to be pulled up into the cup. The result often causes ... well, something that resembles a giant bruise.
The cups are typically left on the skin for five to 15 minutes. This brings blood to the treated areas in an effort to reduce soreness and speed the recovery of overworked muscles. The circles are caused when blood vessels burst because of the pressure.
In addition to this dry cupping technique, some people also use wet cupping. The practitioner makes tiny cuts on your skin before the treatment, and when the cups are applied, a small amount of blood may be drawn up into the cup. Some people believe this helps remove harmful toxins from the body, according to Acupuncture Today.
Does it work?
Many people believe that it does, and some studies have shown that it may reduce pain by increasing blood circulation and activating the immune system. However, it's not yet been proven whether cupping actually reduces pain on its own or whether people receiving treatment simply believe that it works. Either way, the practice, as long as it's performed by a trained health professional, is fairly safe, according to WebMD.
>>RELATED: Cupping and coining: I did it long before Phelps
If you'd like to give it a try, the following are some places where you can get cupping treatment in Atlanta:
Acupuncture Atlanta
455 E. Paces Ferry Road, Suite 222, Atlanta. 404-233-5080. acuatlanta.com.
Acupuncture Wellness Center of Atlanta
205 Lavista Road. NE, Suite G, Atlanta. 404-325-9877. acupunctureman.com.
Atlanta Functional Medicine
5755 North Point Parkway, Suite 74, Alpharetta. 770-667-3006. Atlantafunctionalmedicine.com.
Atlanta Thai Massage
1780 Century Boulevard, Suite A, Atlanta. 770-337-4520. atlantathaimassage.com.
Dogwood Healing Arts
11 Dunwoody Park, Suite 120, Dunwoody. 404-695-0905. dogwoodhealingarts.com.
Locations in Midtown Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Inman Park. exhalespa.com.
6255 Barfield Road Northeast, #175, Atlanta. 404-255-8388. acupuncture-atlanta.com.
My Atlanta Acupuncture
333 Sandy Springs Circle, Suite 208. Sandy Springs. 770-905-5560. myatlantaacupuncture.com.
Read more:
About the Author
