If you’ve been glued to the Olympics this week, you can’t fail to have been impressed by the fitness, training and determination of our British athletes. Something else you might have noticed as well is that a number of swimmers and gymnasts, particularly on the American team, have been sporting a number of strange, circular red marks on their bodies – for all the world like they’d been attacked by the world’s biggest mosquitos. The reality is that the marks are therapeutic, not toxic. They’re the result of ‘cupping’, an ancient Chinese practice related to acupuncture and involving heated cups placed directly against the skin.
It’s done by lighting flammable liquid in a glass cup. When the light goes out, the temperature drops and sucks the skin away from the body, increasing blood flow. Devotees says it helps ease aches and pains and speeds recovery caused by physical exertion by promoting a warm glow in the affect area.
Cupping has been done for thousands of years, and isn’t painful, although you should only visit a properly trained and experienced practitioner. It can help with a huge range of ailments, from sore muscles to arthritis and insomnia.
Image credit: www.laineygossip.com
Speaking to USA Today, US gymnast Alex Naddour said the therapy was “better than any money I’ve spent on anything else. That’s been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy.”
Here at the Complete Health Clinic, we carry out cupping as part of massage therapy. If you’d like to have something in common with top athletes like Michael Phelps as well as celebrities like Jennifer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston then book an appointment now. Just get in touch on 0161 207 4034, or book an appointment via our new online system and let your cup runneth over!
