Cupping therapy near me - A to Zen therapies - #1 in London! (2024)

What is it? | How it works | Benefits | Risks | Scientific studies | Testimonials | FAQs

Welcome to Cupping Therapy London at A to Zen therapies – Your Gateway to Holistic Wellness! We specialise in Deep Tissue Massage & Cupping massage explicitly catered for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. We use high quality silicone massage cups to ensure the best results.

Cupping therapy isn't just a trendy treatment; it's a holistic approach to healing from the inside out. In this page we will explore how cupping massage could be your path to pain relief, enhanced well-being, and a revitalized you.

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What is Cupping Therapy

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Cupping therapy is an ancient healing practice that involves placing cups on the skin to create a vacuum or suction to promote increased blood flow, release muscle tension, and also facilitate the removal of toxins.

Even though Cupping therapy in London has become quite trendy, it’s not new. It is an ancient alternative therapy dating back to ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures.

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Type of Cupping Treatments

There are different kinds of cupping treatments, such as:

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• Wet cupping: What is wet cupping therapy? It is a very popular cupping treatment in Muslim communities. The therapist Creates a vacuum after she makes minor cuts in the skin. So the toxins in the blood vessels drain to the skin and get expelled. The therapist may be using either glass or silicone massage cups.

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• Fire cupping: Chinese medicine therapists Use fire to heat the cup, creating a vacuum before placing the cup onto the skin.

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• Dry cupping: what we offer at A to Zen therapies. Dry cupping is safe and beneficial for various conditions and works great when combined withDeep tissue massage. The therapist uses silicone massage cups.

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Why Cupping is So Popular

In our modern world, many professional athletes choose cupping therapy as part of their training program.

What Is Cupping Therapy

Some of them, such as Michael Phelps, use this type of massage to boost their sports performance. It was evident at the 2016 Olympics when the swimmer had the typical bruising patterns caused by cupping therapy all over his back, and this brought global attention to this therapy.

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Other public figures who have testified to the effectiveness of cupping areCristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt, and actressGwyneth Paltrow.

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Therefore, thanks to its visibility in the wellness routines of renowned athletes and celebrities, cupping therapy in London has quickly become a popular treatment for sports enthusiasts and people recovering from injuries.

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How Does Cupping Therapy Work?

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Suction Power for Wellness: Exploring the Mechanisms of Cupping Therapy

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During a Dry Cupping Massage, the therapist places the cups over multiple points on the affected area to create a vacuum.

So what does cupping therapy do? The vacuum action lifts the soft tissue creating an upward stretch within the muscle and associated fascia.

As a result, blood flow increases, induced a stretch effect, and we see a quick reduction in muscle tension and associated pain.

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Static Or Dynamic Silicone Massage Cups

During the session, the therapists can either leave the silicone massage suction cups in a static position or move them from place to place on your skin for a massage-like effect.

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The vacuum created makes the affected tissue saturated with fresh blood drawn into it. In fact, this saturation can often leave a harmless circular mark. Nevertheless, your skin should look normal again within ten days.

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The Vacuum Effect

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The silicone massage cup's vacuum effect creates a micro-trauma due to the separation between the layers of tissue. As a result, the body's natural healing process triggers an inflammatory response, realising chemicals, white blood cells, platelets, and fibroblasts, which all aid in repairing the affected tissues.

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​It also causes neovascularisation thanks to the quick increase in fresh blood flow that draws to the tissue, bringing rich nutrients and oxygen within the localised area.

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This stretching process to the fascia and connective tissue leads to a relaxation response, also improving the range of motion and performance.

Besides, It can also provide pain relief by exciting small nerves inside muscles so that they release pain-killing chemicals.

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How It Works

Benefits

What is cupping therapy used for? Cupping massage can markedly boost your sports performance as it can:​

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• Promote and improve blood circulation

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• Aid in reducing muscle tension

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• Enhancing flexibility

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• Accelerate the body's natural healing processes

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• Release trigger points

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• Address fascial restrictions

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• Help to detoxify by stimulating the lymphatic system

Is Cupping Therapy Good For You?

Cupping therapy is ideal if you're dealing with:

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Muscular Skeletal Conditions

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Cupping Massage London can provide pain relief and help ease the symptoms of many common muscular-skeletal disorders, such as:

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• Reduced joint movement

• Back pain and sciatica

• Neck and shoulder pain

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Stress And Anxiety

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Cupping may help to release endorphins, the natural "feel-good" hormones promoting a positive mood and reducing stress. It may also have a calming effect on the nervous system, reducing the body's stress response.

Additionally, it may improve sleep quality, contributing to a positive impact on overall stress levels.

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Headache & Migraine

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This therapy can contribute to overall headache relief by promoting relaxation and addressing specific trigger points.

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Fertility And Gynaecological Disorders

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Cupping massage increases blood flow to reproductive organs and helps to regulate hormones. Therefore, it is very effective in supporting women suffering from hormonal disorders such as PCOS.

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Cellulite

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It may help the appearance of cellulite as the cupping vacuum promotes lymphatic drainage and blood circulation while also breaking down fat deposits, thus resulting in smoother and firmer skin.

It works even better when it is combined with aLymphatic Drainage massage.

Risks

Some of the risks and effects associated to this treatment, include:

• Temporary skin discolouration

• Bruising

• Mild discomfort

• Skin irritation or infection

Who Should Avoid Cupping Therapy?

You should always let your therapist know about any conditions or medications before you begin this type of treatment.

Here is a list of the conditions that may prevent you from receiving cupping:

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• Pregnancy: Cupping must be avoided on the abdominal and lower back areas

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• Skin Conditions: Cups cant be applied in areas with eczema, psoriasis, Open wounds, cuts and infections

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• Blood Disorders Or Easy Bleeding:Since there could be a risk of excessive bruising, it is best to avoid cupping in people taking blood-thinning medications (like warfarin aspirin,)

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• Varicose Veins

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• Elderlybecause their skin is more fragile and can bruise more easily

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• History Of Seizuresbecause it may potentially trigger seizures in some individuals.

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• History Of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): if you wonder whether Can cupping therapy cause blood clots? Well, rather than causing it, it may potentially dislodge a blood clot. So it is best to avoid this therapy if you have DVT.

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• Receiving Cancer Treatments(unless their healthcare provider suggests cupping)

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• Heart Conditions And Hight Blood Pressure (so it is best to first check with your GP that this therapy is suitable for you)

What Science Say

Research shows that patients suffering from neck and shoulder pain experienced a 61% decrease in pain after receiving dry cupping therapy!

Here are a few studies that support the efficacy of cupping therapy:

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2019): Cupping for treating pain: a systematic review.

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This study assessed the effectiveness of cupping for musculoskeletal pain management, and the researchers reported many positive effects.

Reference: Kim JI, Lee MS, Lee DH, Boddy K, Ernst E. The Clinical Journal of Pain. 2011;27(3):278-285.

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Effects of Cupping Therapy in Amateur and Professional Athletes (2018):

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This trial investigated the effects of cupping therapy on chronic neck pain, highlighting significant improvements in pain and mechanical thresholds compared to a control group.

Reference: Yang J, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Wang J, Xia Y. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2017;23(7):559-563.

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Cupping Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain (2019):

This randomised controlled trial compared the effectiveness of cupping massage for low back pain. In short, it suggested that this therapy may be a viable option for improving pain and quality of life.

Reference: Lauche R, Materdey S, Cramer H, Haller H, Stange R, Dobos G, Rampp T. PloS One. 2013;8(6):e65378.

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Cupping Therapy for Weight Loss (2023):

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A study from China found that cupping may decrease waist circumference and BMI while lowering total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in obese patients.

Testimonials

FAQs