Follow @alkalineherbshop for alkaline herbs 🌿 Cupping is a natural medicine therapy that dates as far back as ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. Cupping uses special tools and techniques to apply suction to certain areas of the skin. Oil may be applied to the skin so a cupping practitioner can easily move cups around the desired treatment area. ⠀ While the technique has been used for thousands of years, it's taking time for modern researchers to collect sufficient data on it. At least some studies, including a 2012 review from PLOS One and a 2015 review in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, suggest cupping may be useful for alleviating conditions including acne, herpes zoster (shingles), facial paralysis, and cervical spondylosis. ⠀ Cupping is also a popular natural technique used among athletes. Proponents say it increases blood flow to the treatment area and can assist with healing and recovery. ⠀ The therapy is considered safe so long as it's provided by a skilled practitioner. If you're being medically supervised for any reason, talk to your doctor before trying cupping yourself. ⠀ Sources: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/olympic-athletes-and-cupping-does-it-work/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4488563/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0031793 https://hekint.org/2020/01/14/the-history-and-mystery-of-cupping/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CqHjjyvN0zM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=