Cupping or vacuum therapy is an alternative therapy that uses suction created by placing suction cups on the body to treat several medical conditions like headaches, arthritis, post-injury trauma, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, fatigue, and musculoskeletal problems. This mode of treatment promotes self-healing by regenerating capillaries, enhancing blood flow to the problem area, maintaining homeostasis, and reducing inflammation and toxins.
In this procedure, cups are placed on your body and left in place for a few minutes. The vacuum created by these cups suctions the skin and pulls up the underlying soft tissues. A rubber pump may also be used to create a vacuum. Suction from the cup helps to loosen rigid tissues and increase blood supply and lymph (defense mechanism of the body) flow to the muscles and skin. It also triggers the nervous system, which helps in relaxing your body and mind. The therapy helps reduce muscle weakness, tiredness, pain, cramps, spasms, numbness, tightness, stiffness, swelling, and scarring.
Cupping therapy may be associated with side effects such as sleepiness, euphoria, intense hunger, craving for food, thirst, vivid dreams, night sweats, loss of appetite, chills, restlessness, soreness, and discoloration of the skin.