If you are one of those suffering from Fibromyalgia, you will know that it is just as important to learn about available alternative treatments that can relieve your symptoms as it is to know the best kinds of conventional medical treatment. Unlike most medication-based treatments, alternative therapy does not leave you with any adverse side effects and in regard to Fibromyalgia treatment, there are several extremely effective forms of these therapies that can help alleviate pain caused by the condition. For alternative health physicians and practitioners, cupping therapy is certainly one of the most popular and powerful choices of treatment for Fibromyalgia.

What Is Cupping Therapy?

A natural and alternative type of treatment that has been taken from ancient Chinese medicine, cupping therapy involves the application of special cups to the body in order to facilitate healthy circulation, eliminate toxins from the body, and relieve pain. The cups function as vacuum with the aid of either suction or heat. They are placed on specific points on the body called ‘triggers’ same as the ones used in acupuncture. The cups are usually left on the body for about 15 minutes. Cupping therapy can be performed in a couple of ways: stationary cupping and massage cupping. As the name suggests, stationary cupping, involves applying the cups and simply leaving them for the rest of the session, while massage cupping involves moving the cups on the skin surface to massage muscles and joints.

How Are the Cups Applied?

The application of cups on the body is quite simple. A ball of cotton is soaked in alcohol and lit in order to produce the vacuum effect. Then, the burning ball of cotton is held inside the cup until the oxygen inside the cup is used up. The cotton ball is immediately removed once this has been achieved, and the cup is placed over the targeted acupoint on the body. In theory, this may sound painful, but what the patient actually feels is simply a light sucking sensation. The process usually leaves reddish round marks on the skin after treatment although these marks vanish within a few hours.

How Can Cupping Treat Fibromyalgia?

After a cupping treatment session, the patient usually enjoys a state of extreme relaxation thanks to the removal of toxins and increased circulation in his body. This helps the body enjoy a faster rate of healing in the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. For Fibromyalgia patients, this can be a significant reduction of the stiffness usually felt in the tissues and muscles. Cupping can improve the overall flexibility of the muscles and alleviate the pain resulting in a better range of motion in previously stiff joints. Most patients also experience a lowering of their anxiety levels, depression, and stress.