HOW CUPPING THERAPY ENHANCES THE DETOXIFICATION PROCESS therapy benefits Detoxification, or detox, helps to cleanse our bodies of any impurities we may have in our system. When the blood cleanses itself, impurities are removed from the body by the skin, liver, kidneys, and intestines. Cupping therapy can help speed up this natural detoxification process. The following will help you understand just how cupping therapy assists your body in detoxification. THE PRINCIPLES OF CUPPING THERAPY Cupping therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine. This therapy is based on the theory that our bodies remain healthy as long as our chi, the energy flowing in the body, remains constant. Injury can cause the energy and blood circulation in the body to become stagnant. If blood does not circulate properly, impurities build up inside the body. Impurities include toxins, pathogenic elements, and broken down or worn out cell debris. The buildup can cause illness in the body, but detoxification though cupping can help remove these impurities. HOW CUPPING THERAPY WORKS Cupping therapy uses cups of different sizes that are designed to suction to the skin on specific areas of the body. As suction is created between the cup and skin tissue, the impurities inside the inner layer of tissue and muscle are pulled outward. As the impurities accumulate underneath the skin, it changes color. Fresh blood and lymph rush to the area and bring nutrients and oxygen to the affected site. This process heals damaged cells and causes the body to feel rejuvenated and refreshed. The blood and lymph carry away any toxins to the skin, kidneys, liver, intestines, and lungs to be expelled naturally. WHY CUPPING MARKS OCCUR Cupping therapy creates circular marks on the skin due to capillaries under the skin breaking as they release toxins. The color of a cupping mark can range from a pink to deep purple. Some marks take a few hours to a few days and even a couple of weeks to disappear, depending on the length of the therapy. The appearance of the skin after cupping therapy indicates the severity of the condition. Although the marks may look like bruises, they are not painful, as there is no “impact trauma” if the therapy was done by a professional certified cupping therapist.