Cupping therapy is a term that describes a technique that uses small glass cups or bamboo jars attached to suction devices placed on the skin to disperse fat and open the pores by drawing congested blood, toxins, or dead skin cells to the surface.
In dry cupping, the practitioner simply applies suction cups to the skin. In wet cupping, the practitioner makes a small incision on the skin and then places the suction cup to draw small amounts of blood from the area above the incision. There are several methods for creating suction in the cups; one method involves wiping isopropyl alcohol at the bottom of the cup, lighting it, and placing the cup directly on the skin. Suction can also be created by placing an inverted cup over a small flame or using a cotton pad soaked in alcohol on an insulator (like skin) to protect the skin, then igniting the cotton and placing an empty cup over the flame to extinguish it before applying it directly to the skin.
There is also a more modern version of cupping that uses a rubber pump instead of fire to create suction inside the cup, and therapists sometimes use silicone cups that can be moved around on your skin for a massage-like effect.
In reality, cupping therapy is an ancient and traditional practice in many Arab and Middle Eastern countries, where practitioners place cups on your skin to create a vacuum to draw blood. This alternative folk remedy has various benefits, such as relieving pain and inflammation, improving blood flow, and relaxing muscles. People use cupping for many reasons, including pain relief, relaxation, wellness, and as a form of deep tissue massage. It is said that cupping helps heal muscle inflammation, strengthens the body's resistance, restores balance between positive and negative energy, eliminates disease-causing factors, and promotes circulation.
According to experts, cupping is often used for:
- Treating back and neck pain
- Addressing skin conditions like acne and hives
- Lowering cholesterol
- Treating migraines
- Treating knee arthritis
- Improving immune function
- Lightening skin
- Reducing the appearance of scars, fine lines, and wrinkles
- Managing chin, jaw, neck, and chest pain
- Reducing swelling
- Regulating oil production in the skin
- Improving nutrient delivery and absorption
Additionally, cupping can be used for cosmetic reasons, such as enhancing certain body parts. In a video recently posted on social media, a woman with a curvy and stunning backside claimed she achieved her impressive butt lift through cupping without undergoing any surgical cosmetic procedure. According to experts, the woman employed the technique of wet cupping with fire, where flames fill the cups with hot air before placing them on the buttocks, causing it to absorb blood and air from the skin and inflate naturally. The woman stated in the video that her butt had instantly swollen and doubled in size, resembling the famous big butt of Kim Kardashian, without surgery. However, she pointed out that the only downside to this procedure is that the buttocks will gradually shrink back to their natural size within just two days of the treatment.
