What is cupping therapy?
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.
The therapist places glass, bamboo, or plastic cups on your skin and creates a vacuum by suctioning out the air. This causes your skin to rise and redden as your blood vessels expand. The cup stays on your skin for 3 to 10 minutes. You may feel a tight sensation and some mild discomfort, but many people say it’s relaxing.
There are several ways to create the suction in the cups:
- Air suction cups use a hand or electrical pump to suction out the air.
- Fire cups are warmed, then placed on the skin and allowed to cool, creating a vacuum.
- Wet cups have air suctioned out, then the cup is briefly removed so the therapist can make a small cut on the skin with a scalpel. When the cup is reapplied, it draws out a small amount of blood.
Wet cupping is mostly used in Chinese medicine while the other methods are more commonly used in Western therapy settings. After treatment, the cups are removed and your skin may look bruised or red from the suction and blood vessels expanding. However, this subsides within a few days.
People commonly get cupping on the back, neck, shoulders, and other large muscle groups. Athletes sometimes get it on their thighs and calves. You can even get facial cupping. Sessions can last 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated.
Does cupping make you feel weak?
Some people report feeling drained, exhausted, or weak after getting cupping therapy. There are a few potential reasons for this:
It may temporarily reduce your energy levels
Having your blood drawn up into the cups and capillaries expanded is somewhat stimulating and invigorating during the session. However, once the cups are removed, your body goes through a compensatory relaxation phase as your blood vessels constrict back to normal. This could make you feel enervated afterwards.
It’s similar to how you may feel full of energy during exercise, but tired later as your body recovers. This temporary drop in energy is no cause for concern and you’ll likely feel back to normal within a day or so.
Your body is working to heal itself
If you got cupping to treat pain, inflammation, or other health issues, your body goes into a self-healing mode afterwards. Your immune system ramps up to deal with toxins released by the treatment and you may feel weary as your body directs its resources toward healing. This is a positive sign that the treatment is working!
Once your body resolves the issues stirred up by cupping, your energy levels should stabilize. Make sure to drink plenty of water after treatment to help your body flush out toxins and stay hydrated.
It could aggravate existing weaknesses
In some cases, cupping may worsen pre-existing conditions that sap your energy. For example:
- Cupping can lower blood pressure. If you already have hypotension, low iron levels, or anemia, this effect could make your fatigue worse.
- Cupping may aggravate weaknesses from poor diet, chronic illnesses, medications, or undiagnosed conditions.
- If you got wet cupping, blood loss could contribute to exhaustion if you were already deficient.
If you have underlying issues like these, discuss them with your cupping therapist. They may modify the treatment to avoid fatigue. Or, they may recommend dietary changes or treatments to improve your stamina before trying cupping.
You did too much too soon
Sometimes post-cupping fatigue happens because people jump back into strenuous activity too quickly. Your body needs rest to integrate the effects of treatment. Take it easy for 24-48 hours afterwards – avoid heavy exercise, lots of walking, or physical labor. Avoid stressors as well.
Gentle yoga, relaxing, good nutrition, and an early bedtime are better activities during the few days after cupping. Once your body has time to adjust, your normal energy levels should return.
Tips to avoid weakness after cupping
You can minimize fatigue and maximize benefits from cupping with proper preparation:
Get treatment from an experienced therapist
Look for a trained cupping practitioner who will evaluate your health and customize your sessions accordingly. They can adapt techniques to your needs instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Ask about their training, years of experience, and qualifications. Licensed acupuncturists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists may all incorporate cupping therapy.
Discuss any medical conditions upfront
Let your therapist know about any health issues, chronic illnesses, medications, or supplements you take. Discuss any past experiences with weakness or fatigue. They can avoid treatment areas or techniques that may exacerbate those concerns.
Have healthy nutrition and hydration before and after
Drink plenty of purified water leading up to your session to hydrate your body. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, and sugar. After treatment, continue focusing on whole foods, fruits/veggies, nuts, seeds, proteins, and water to refresh your body.
Get quality rest afterwards
Schedule treatments when you can take it easy afterward. Allow 1-2 days of solid rest, relaxation, gentle movement, and early bedtimes so your body can integrate the effects with minimal stress. Avoid exhausting physical or mental activities right after cupping.
Start slowly and see how you respond
For your first sessions, opt for lighter therapy like air suction or fire cups for short durations like 5-10 minutes. See how your energy is affected before progressing to more rigorous techniques. Allow your body time to adapt without overdoing it.
Supplement to support your body
Take targeted supplements around treatment times to optimize energy levels. Options like iron, B12, magnesium, vitamin C, ginseng, rhodiola, and ginger can help boost stamina. However, check with your healthcare provider about interactions first.
When to see a doctor
While temporary fatigue after cupping is normal, see your physician if:
– Weakness or exhaustion persists more than a few days
– You have other concerning symptoms like dizziness, chest pain, fever, or numbness
– Fatigue seems linked to an undiagnosed medical condition
– You have blood disorders or take blood thinners
– You feel particularly drained after wet cupping sessions
Get medical advice to determine if an underlying health issue requires treatment first before continuing cupping.
Conclusion
It’s common to feel tired or weak after cupping therapy as your body integrates the effects. With proper preparation like hydration, nutrition, light activity, and rest afterward, any fatigue should resolve within 1-2 days. Discuss any medical conditions with your therapist and avoid overdoing it to minimize weakness. While draining initially, cupping ultimately aims to boost vitality when done correctly.