People frequently cite cupping therapy as a form of pain relief. However, while there is some evidence for its effectiveness, scientists need to conduct more high-quality studies to demonstrate this fully. For example, a study paper in the journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found some evidence to suggest that cupping may reduce pain. However, its authors note that there were limits to the quality of the studies that showed this.
A meta-analysis that appears in the journal Revista Latina-Americano De Enfermagem claims that there may be evidence for cupping being effective in treating back pain. However, again, the researchers note that most studies were low-quality, and that there is a need for more standardization in future studies. One study paper in the journal BMJ Open came to a similar conclusion for the effectiveness of cupping for neck pain.
The researchers note that there is a need for better-quality studies to determine whether cupping therapy is truly effective.
A study paper in the journal PLoS One found that there was some evidence for cupping therapy being effective at treating herpes zoster and acne. However, it notes that the studies that supported these findings were at a high risk of bias. So, more rigorous, high-quality studies are necessary to verify the findings. A study paper in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine notes that professional athletes are increasingly using cupping therapy as part of their recovery practices.
However, the study found no consistent evidence to show that it was effective for anything related to sports recovery. If a person has a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis , cupping may make it worse on the area where the practitioner applies the cups. In rare instances, a person may experience more significant internal bleeding or anemia if the practitioner takes too much blood during wet cupping.
Cupping has been popular in Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures going back thousands of years, but increasing numbers of people worldwide have been adopting it. Celebrities and athletes have popularized it in the U. According to its advocates, cupping is supposed to promote healing and has been used extensively for sore muscles.
Cupping has also been used for. The cups are then left on your skin for several minutes. Cupping became part of the mainstream conversation during the Summer Olympics, when swimmer Michael Phelps showed up to compete with round bruises covering his back.
In ancient times, it was used for lung conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia. And although it has soared in popularity recently, cupping has been around for thousands of years and traces its roots to ancient Chinese and Egyptian medicine.
Cupping was documented in one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, Ebers Papyrus , which was written in BC. The use of cupping has evolved, and today it's widely used for pain relief and musculoskeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains , back injuries , and inflammation. It is believed that the suction created by the cup encourages blood flow—and this increased circulation may promote healing and reduce pain.
The primary side effects of cupping are bruising and skin irritation. Your skin may turn red as the blood vessels respond to the change in pressure. With dry cupping, the cup is set in place for a set time, usually between 5 and 10 minutes. With wet cupping, cups are usually only in place for a few minutes before the practitioner removes the cup and makes a small incision to draw blood. After the cups are removed, the practitioner may cover the previously cupped areas with ointment and bandages.
This helps prevent infection. Any mild bruising or other marks usually go away within 10 days of the session. Cupping is sometimes performed along with acupuncture treatments. For best results, you may also want to fast or eat only light meals for two to three hours before your cupping session. Cupping has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions. It may be particularly effective at easing conditions that create muscle aches and pains. Since the cups can also be applied to major acupressure points, the practice is possibly effective at treating digestive issues, skin issues, and other conditions commonly treated with acupressure.
The researchers found that cupping therapy may help with the following conditions, among others:. However, the authors acknowledge that most of the studies they reviewed contain a high level of bias. More studies are needed to assess the true effectiveness of cupping. The side effects you may experience will typically occur during your treatment or immediately after.
You may feel lightheaded or dizzy during your treatment. You may also experience sweating or nausea. After treatment, the skin around the rim of the cup may become irritated and marked in a circular pattern.
You may also have pain at incision sites or feel lightheaded or dizzy shortly after your session. Infection is always a risk after undergoing cupping therapy.
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