When you think of cupping, you probably imagine dark circles that resemble large bruises all over the skin. Even though it may look like the person lost a fight to an octopus, the bruises that result from cupping therapy can indicate healing. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that the ancient therapy of cupping was used to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive issues and general pain. 

There are two types of cupping: wet cupping and dry cupping. Both forms of this alternative therapy involve the creation of a vacuum within the cups either through heat or a suction device. With wet cupping, the practitioner lightly pierces the skin so that blood is drawn into the cup. Dry cupping doesn’t draw out any fluids. The suction pulls the skin up into the cups, breaking capillaries or blood vessels under the skin. That is why you see bruise-like circles after a cupping session. The body responds to the treatment as an injury, so it sends increased blood flow to accelerate the healing process.

Today, you can receive cupping from a variety of practitioners, including acupuncturists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists. And although it is an ancient healing modality, modern medicine continues to search for ways to understand its efficacy as a complementary treatment. Anecdotal reports and limited studies, however, support the following health benefits of cupping therapy. 

May Ease Headaches

Some research suggests that people who deal with chronic headaches or migraines may benefit from cupping therapy. A small study from 2019 observed 132 participants with migraines. The results found that those who received cupping therapy experienced significant reductions in pain intensity, compared to the controlled group who did not receive cupping. Another uncontrolled study observed 70 people with chronic tension or migraine headaches. The participants who received cupping therapy experienced a 66% reduction in headache severity. Plus, the total number of headaches they had per month decreased by 12.6 days. 

May Improve Mood 

People who receive regular cupping sessions report a variety of mental health benefits. Naturopathic doctors who practice cupping suggest that the therapy can help relieve stress, promote relaxation, and induce a sense of calm. All of those benefits may help improve sleep and improve overall mood. Although scientific research is limited, some evidence indicates that people with chronic fatigue syndrome who received cupping experienced a reduction in fatigue. A 2020 study confirmed that participants experienced better sleep and overall mood, both of which were more pronounced after 10 cupping sessions.

May Reduce Pain And Sore Muscles

A lot of athletes receive cupping to either help reduce sore muscles, accelerate recovery, or to reduce injury. You don’t have to be an athlete to receive cupping therapy, though. Some research indicates that cupping can help with muscle recovery. In fact, a small study from 2021 found that cupping was a great way to treat muscle fatigue 24 hours after participants worked out biceps and triceps. A larger review found that cupping therapy showed positive results on back pain, but research is still limited in this area. 

May Improve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

One study monitored 56 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome. Half of the group received routine physical therapy (which included electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound) and the other half received that same routine treatment plus cupping in the wrist area. The group that received cupping experienced significant improvement in symptom severity. Additionally, another study observed 52 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and associated shoulder and neck pain. Half the group received wet cupping to the trapezius region and the other group only received heating pad treatment. Researchers noted that the cupping group reported less pain a week after their cupping session.

May Help Reduce Arthritis Pain

This is based on one primary study that compared the effects of cupping with the over-the-counter pain reliever, acetaminophen, in 20 participants with one osteoarthritis. One group received dry cupping for 11 sessions over a two-week period. The rest of the participants received 650 milligrams of acetaminophen three times a day for the same two-week period. The researchers noted that the cupping group had better results in terms of pain, swelling, tenderness, and morning stiffness, compared to the medication group.

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The common cold is highly prevalent, especially during late fall and early winter. Many people gather indoors to escape the cold, only to then contract a cold from someone in the vicinity. Although there are no effective antivirals that cure the common cold, there are many remedies and herbs that can help combat symptoms. In fact, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses complementary therapies to help accelerate healing and regain internal balance. 

What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

TCM originated in China and it’s a form of traditional medicine system that involves a series of complementary practices. Some of these practices include acupuncture, herbalism, massage, tai chi and qi gong, cupping, gua sha, and more. TCM follows three primary Chinese concepts:

• Yin and yang, the opposing life energies
• Qi, the energy that people believe to influence physical and mental processes
• Wu Xing, or the five elements theory

TCM considers the common cold to be an exterior syndrome, dividing it into three sections: the wind-cold type, the wind-heat type, and the summer heat dampness type. For thousands of years, TCM remedies successfully helped people combat the common cold. One thing of note is that these alternative remedies have been proven to be effective, convenient, and safe. Continue reading to learn more about how to combat the colds and flus with TCM. 

Yin Qiao San

Many TCM practitioners commonly prescribe yin qiao san to help fight colds that involve chills, mild fever, and sore throat. The formula includes a combination of peppermint leaves, honeysuckle flowers, edible burdock, forsythia, balloon flower root, and natto. A 2016 study found that herbal formulas like yin qiao san helped decrease the risk of pneumonia. Honeysuckle is on eat active components of the formula, and researchers identified its strong antivirus properties. Combining yin qiao san with a stronger antiviral formula like Gan Mao Ling may be very effective against sore throats. 

Ginger And Scallion Stalk

This remedy is most beneficial for the wind-cold type of the common cold, during which people experience nasal congestion and coughing. The idea is that the herbs expel the wind from the body to relieve exterior symptoms. Combine 30 grams (g) of sliced ginger with 10 g of scallion s talk in about 200 milliliters (ml) of water in a pot. Bring the liquid to a boil and then remove from heat. Add raw honey or agave to the decoction for better taste. Drink this two to three times daily until cold symptoms subside. 

Jade Windscreen Powder

This is a well-known ancient prescription that Wei Shilin developed in the Yuan Dynasty. It was commonly used to treat weak patients with wind-cold type common cold symptoms. Jade windscreen powder helps to improve the symptoms in patients, and it may also reduce the risk of recurring colds. Nowadays, it’s typically a blend of atractylodes rhizome, astragalus root, and siler root, all of which aim to boost immune function and protect the body from viral and bacterial infections. 

Warming Herbs

There are many common herbs that you can make into teas. In TCM common herbs include cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, and turmeric. The idea behind using these herbs is to help heat up the body internally, encouraging sweating in a way that’s not too dangerous. Ginger exhibits antibacterial and antiviral activity, and it helps to soothe sore throats and reduce nausea. Turmeric is a rich source of antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation. It’s best to consumeas a warming tea, just like cinnamon, which is full of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. According to studies, cinnamon helps to fight bacterial and fungal infections. 

Gua Sha

This is a therapy that involves repeatedly scraping the skin in a downward motion with a tool. Firstly, apply an unguent, such as a massage oil or balm, and then the scraping takes place. Ideally, leave this therapy to a TCM practitioner. Gua sha is most effective on the chest and upper back, as it works to break up congestion in the lungs. It helps increase circulation to symptomatic areas by breaking up surface capillaries. 

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In the latest episode of The Adventures of V-Man, Vinnie goes to MUSCLE LAB, in Pasadena to receive cupping therapy by separating the skin away from the muscle.

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How does it feel to get in a fight with an octopus? Only a select number of people may be able to answer that question, and our content writer, Vinnie (a.k.a. V-Man), is not one of them. That being said, he did look look like he lost a fight to an octopus after his latest adventure. The most recent episode of The Adventures of V-Man chronicles Vinnie’s experience at Muscle Lab, where he received cupping therapy. Let him tell you all about it below.

What Is Cupping? 

Cupping is an old tradition that helps to stimulate circulation to muscles and improve recovery. It received a lot of attention during the 2016 Summer Olympics, during which Michael Phelps competed with purplish circles all over his back and legs. But cupping is an ancient therapy that is believed to help balance yin and yang, or the flow of qi in the body. Qi is the Chinese word for life force, and any pathogens that inhibit the flow can cause pain or reduced blood flow.

A cupping session involves a series of cups that the therapist places on different muscles. There are multiple styles, including dry, wet, and fire, but the most common variety is dry cupping using a pump. You can see how it works in the video in this article. The suction creates a vacuum inside the cup, causing the skin to rise into the cup. The reason that the skin reddens is because blood vessels expand. As you’ll see in the video, it looks very intimidating, but the markings are completely natural and they fade away within a week. Let Vinnie tell you all about his cupping experience below.

Arriving At Muscle Lab

First of all, Muscle Lab may be one of the coolest places that we’ve visited for The Adventures of V-Man. If there is one place that is designed to keep your body in the best condition possible, it’s Muscle Lab. They offer numerous services to optimize overall health, including cryotherapy, red light therapy, personal training, boxing, massage, cupping, and more. 

After we got a tour of the facility, we met with Ari Escala, the cupping therapist. Let me tell you something: Ari is a cupping master. She knows all about it and has dedicated a lot of time and effort to keeping her body, and all those she works with, in the best shape possible. One of the best ways to keep the body in shape, outside of working out and eating clean, is to engage in different recovery methods, cupping being an excellent option. Even if you don’t engage in regular exercise, it’s easy to experience tension or soreness from a sedentary lifestyle. Cupping works to increase circulation to those static muscles, which helps decrease pain levels and overall discomfort. 

The Cupping Experience

I cannot lie to you; it was a little nerve-racking to receive cupping. There are so many gruesome images of glass cups suctioning a person’s skin, and they contain bodily fluids. They scare people away from receiving cupping therapy, but there’s no need to be frightened, especially if you go to Muscle Lab. Ari talked to me the entire time she suctioned the cups up and down my back. You don’t want to push the body past the point of comfort, but a little suction is necessary. She encouraged me to communicate if anything was uncomfortable to ensure that I had the best experience possible. 

To be completely honest, there was very little discomfort during the entire cupping session. The only time that I felt slight discomfort was when we transitioned to a seated position instead of me lying face down. Ari likes to incorporate movement into the cupping therapy session to maximize blood flow. Additionally, motion is the body’s lotion, meaning that mobilizing the sore area will only increase circulation and accelerate recovery. 

Even though those a couple of those movements were tough to make it through, Ari was supportive and encouraging throughout. She makes you want to dig deep within your soul and push through the other side as a triumphant being. In fact, I can say that about the entire Muscle Lab staff. Let’s just say I overheard them coaching others and the intensity was real, but very inspirational. 

Conclusion

Cupping is a unique therapy that is beneficial for anyone, not just athletes. Whether you want to relieve lower back pain that results from sitting at your desk or shoulder pain from a hard workout, cupping can accelerate your road to recovery. Head on over to the folks at Muscle Lab and they’ll help you get your body into the best shape possible. We only took advantage of their cupping therapy, but the facility offers other beneficial therapies. Tell them that V-Man sent you if you live in the Greater Los Angeles Area. 

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Fitness enthusiasts rushed through the doors of the Los Angeles Convention Center at 10 a.m. on the dot on Sunday, January 26^th, 2019. Determined to grab free swag, protein samples, and autographs from some of the leading names in fitness, people formed lines throughout the convention center. It was a mad house, but it was encouraging to see so many people excited about new methods of recovery, workout tools, supplements, and more.

There were hundreds of booths at the LA FitExpo, and we navigated the entirety of the complex maze. We spun some wheels to win free blender bottles, workout towels, and stickers, and we even sampled plant-based bars, electrolyte powders, monk fruit sweeteners, and breadcrumbs made from pea protein. Oh, and we can’t even get into the amount of keto-approved snacks and supplements that we saw. It’s the keto revolution!

Since our last coverage of the 2019 LA FitExpo, we know that one thing is for certain: CBD IS HERE TO STAY! We discussed the many CBD products in our last report of the LA FitExpo, and it is amazing to see what is permissible to sell now that laws changed about the distribution of CBD products. Aside from the CBD invasion, many booths focused on new recovery products, plant-based nutrition, and hydration. You can see what products we loved below.

Improve Circulation With Cupping

Before Olympian Michael Phelps generated gossip about his circular dark spots all over his body, cupping was a practice that many cultures used for muscle relaxation and detoxification. Within the past 20 years or so, cupping has become an integral recovery technique of many athletes and non-athletes alike. Whether the person is dealing with stress, digestive discomfort, poor circulation, or sore muscles, cupping therapy is a fantastic alternative medicine to help. We purchased a silicone cupping set from Lure Essentials, and they are very easy to adhere to the body by yourself. Move stagnant lymphatic fluid, decrease scar tissue, and loosen connective tissue with these cups! Lure has made it so this traditional therapy can be done by yourself whenever you need it. No scheduling appointments or special services required. Simply press them onto your skin and let the suction begin.

Personal Infrared Sauna

If you have a little extra money that you want to invest in self-care and recovery, you can with your very own personal infrared sauna. While a traditional sauna ranges from 150-180 degrees F, an infrared usually heats between 120-140 degrees F. The infrared panels on the inside help to penetrate human tissue, focusing 80% of the heat on the body and 20% of the heat on the surrounding air. One of the primary benefits of infrared saunas is that they increase blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage, assisting with the elimination of heavy metals and built-up toxins. Infrared saunas also contribute to faster recovery, relieving inflammation or soreness and supplying muscles with increased circulation to repair.

Alkaline Water Bottle

We aren’t talking about bottled alkaline water, here. We are talking about a reusable, BPA-free, double-walled vacuum insulated water bottle that can keep water cold for up to 24 hours. Purchasing cases of alkaline water can be expensive, so you can now buy one reusable bottle, which is better for the environment, that contains an alkaline diffuser. This diffuser has alkalizing minerals that can increase filtered water to have a pH level of 9 or higher. If you fill the 32-ounce bottle a couple times a day, you will need to replace the alkaline diffuser every three months. The name of this bottle is Dyln, and the bottle is $56.

Those were the most exciting products we found at the 2020 LA FitExpo, and we can’t wait to see what the vendors show up with next year.

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If you have been watching the 2016 Rio Olympics, you may have noticed red, circular marks on certain athletes. These marks are the result of an alternative therapy known as cupping. While cupping is not a new therapy, it may be a new trend among Team USA members, as well as many people watching the Olympics at home.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is an old therapy that has roots in China, the Middle East, and Egypt. It serves to increase blood flow wherever the cups are applied. Using air or heat to create suction with special cups, a vacuum is created and pulls the skin and blood vessels inside the cup (this explains the purple and reddish marks). While traditional cupping therapists use the technique to help improve circulation, detox the body, and recommend nutritional changes, Western practitioners use it for improved circulation and muscle and joint relaxation.

The man who is bringing attention to cupping in the Olympics is 21-time and counting gold medalist, Michael Phelps. And if he’s doing it, it has to be good, right? He isn’t the only Team USA member who is embracing cupping, though. Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, gymnasts Alex Naddour and Chris Brooks, and Phelps’ teammate Nathan Adrian are other athletes using this therapy at the Rio Olympics. They all claim it is a great alternative to massage therapy.

While cupping is helping Olympic athletes feel relief from muscle and joint pain, studies have shown that it may be a helpful alternative to chronic pain, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, and even migraines. Whether or not you decide to try cupping is your decision to make, but it is believed to restore one’s energy or qi (chi). If you do decide to try cupping, it is best to go and see a professional, as opposed to administering the therapy yourself.

It is great to see that alternative therapies are getting attention at the Olympics. Maybe it will encourage people to explore more natural remedies that are out there.

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