Cupping

  Justin Bieber and Abdominal Cupping By Dr. Ashley Heintz Luckily for me, cupping is getting trendier. Not only are Instagram selfies of cupping marks becoming more prevalent #hollistic. But there is also lots of research being done. Over the last few years there have been dozens of clinical studies done testing the efficacy of cupping. The results have been exciting to say the least. Nine studies done on herpes zoster alone! Like acupuncture, cupping is utilizing the body’s own healing mechanisms. It is not adding or taking anything away.  Picking up muscle, manipulating blood, increasing circulation, and alleviating stagnation is why it’s so effective at treating back pain. But why would someone get cupping on their stomach? Why Bieber? Your organs are muscle and they need massage too. Just like your shoulders get tense and knotted with stress and inactivity, so can your diaphragm or colon. The suction provided by the cups can reach up to 4 inches of soft tissue. I could literally pick up your spleen and shake it. I wouldn’t do that but imagine how that could help with constipation. The negative pressure over the abdomen stimulates the digestive and respiratory organs. This results in an increase of peristaltic activity, the secretion of digestive fluids, absorption of nutrients and water, the secretion of bile and the elimination of toxins. How this manifests for the patient is a clearing of the intestines or colon, relieving indigestion, the breaking down of fatty deposits, the relief of bloating and [...]