Identifiable by the reddish traces that it can leave on the skin once performed, cupping therapy intrigues as much as it fascinates. This is an ancestral technique appreciated by top athletes, like Michael Phelps – the swimming champion – who, during the 2016 Games, revealed to all the very characteristic brands. cupping therapy on his body. However, it is clear that cupping therapy is still unknown. So what exactly is it all about? How it works ? What are the benefits of this kind of practice? Does it really work?… Here are some of the questions we answer in this article.

Ancestral practice coming straight from traditional Chinese and Middle Eastern medicine, cupping therapy consists of applying several suction cups to the body directly on the skin so as to cause a suction effect on contact. It is from this phenomenon that the red marks that may appear as a result of such a practice come from, precisely where the suction cups have been placed.

Used for several centuries to treat all kinds of pathologies, calm pain, release tension and stimulate the proper functioning of the body, cupping therapy is now practiced in different ways:

• Hot : this means that the suction of the skin is caused by a flame which will create a vacuum inside the suction cup before the latter is placed on the body;
• Cold : it is when the vacuum is created mechanically and therefore thanks to a device provided for this purpose, which will suck the air from the suction cup from the top;
• With blood extraction or not : when the suction of the skin is accompanied by small notches, we speak of wet cupping therapy or with blood extraction. This technique aims in fact to remove the blood accumulated in certain specific areas of the body, through sucking, in particular in order to stimulate the immune system. Warning: cupping therapy with blood extraction is strongly discouraged for people with hemophilia or on anti-coagulants and is carried out under irreproachable hygienic conditions (and of course, always in the hands of an expert in the field).

Good to know: previously, suction cups could be made from animal horns, pieces of bamboo or even wood. From now on, and for the sake of hygiene and safety, it is mainly glass that is preferred during cupping therapy sessions.

Far from being painful, cupping therapy is in fact akin to a real massage session during which small cups of glass are responsible for doing you good. More fear than harm therefore, if it can leave impressive marks on the body, this practice does not look like a torture session … On the contrary.

On average, cupping therapy does not exceed ten to fifteen minutes of suction. This is because the suction cups should not stay in contact with the skin for too long, so as not to risk damaging the tissues and blood vessels therein. Deposited in very specific places on the body, the latter promise to relieve many ailments, even if, as we shall see, their effectiveness is sometimes disputed.

Good to know: in general, cupping therapy is not recommended for people suffering from diseases or other dermatological problems. This is the reason why we advise you to rely on the advice of a professional before you start so that the latter can direct you to the practices best suited to your specificities.

Relaxation and intense muscle recovery, firming of the skin, activation of blood and lymphatic circulation, reduction of cellulite, release of accumulated toxins, relief of chronic pain, cramps and aches, stimulating action … Cupping therapy acts on all fronts.

However, if some attribute many properties to this ancestral practice, others question its effectiveness, arguing that the famous placebo effect could explain certain results reported post-session. For the time being, no study has scientifically proven the effectiveness of cupping therapy.

However, this traditional technique undeniably gives the body a moment of intense relaxation, which can only do it good. This is why it is particularly appreciated by people in search of relaxation, but also those who, like athletes, have a habit of putting their body to the test. Performed in good conditions, cupping therapy promises a real moment of relaxation.