Cupping: Jessica Simpson Is Raving About It, But What Is It?
Jessica Simpson tweeted about her love of an ancient Chinese tradition known as "cupping." But, what is it?
Jessica Simpson had this to say about her experience with "cupping" over the weekend: "love it!" She's supposedly on a meditation and tea-drinking kick to jump-start her physical and mental health. "Just so everyone is clear.. this has NOTHING to do with weight!" she said. "It is about understanding my body through hydration and alkalinity."
But what is cupping?
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CBS did a piece on the ancient alternative healing therapy a while back (check out this weird picture of the procedure!). Basically, cupping is a treatment similar to acupuncture, where a practitioner uses cups to create a suction attachment to a patient's back, drawing the skin up under the cup. Some methods use fire. Using a cotton ball soaked with alcohol, the practitioner lights the cotton ball and places it on the cup.
"Cupping brings fresh blood to the area," a cupping practitioner who spoke to CBS said. "So it tends to improve circulation. It also helps open up the chest and benefit the lungs and can even benefit menstrual problems and digestive problems, too. Most commonly, it's used for aches and pains of various types as well as respiratory problems, cough, wheezing, things like that."
So what does it feel like?
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One patient used this word to describe the experience: "strange." "Definitely doesn't hurt. It just feels like someone's pulling at your skin," she said.
The consensus in the health community is that cupping is largely safe (if, that is, you're seeing a certified cupping therapist with the appropriate training), though mainstream health experts are cautious to back up the health claims of this unusual treatment.
Have you ever heard of or tried cupping?
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Photo Credit: WWD
