Cupping therapy, also known as is when cups are placed at a certain point on someone's skin and a suction is created to heal various health issues. This is an ancient Chinese and Middle Eastern practice. There are two types of cupping -- wet and dry. Wet cupping involves puncturing the skin before starting the suction, which removes some of the person’s blood during the procedure. The cupping therapy often leaves a circular bruise mark on the person's skin after exposure to the procedure's suction effects.
Cupping therapy: Benefits
Various reports state that cupping therapy creates different types of stimulations and that is why it probably heals a wide range of conditions. Although there is not enough strong evidence to back up this effectiveness.
Benefits of cupping that the review authors cite may also include:
- Pain reduction
- Muscle relaxation
- Improved blood circulation
- Activation of the immune system
- Release of toxins
- Removal of wastes and heavy metals.
Read: 5 healthy bedtime snacks for people with lungs disease
Cupping therapy: Side effects
Although there is no hard evidence to confirm the side effects, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), cupping therapy may cause certain side effects. Some of the side effects of cupping therapy include:
- Lasting skin discolouration
- Scarring
- Burns
- Infection
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Insomnia.
