SYRACUSE, NY. (NCC News) – Cupping is a form of alternative pain therapy that has gained attention since the 2016 Summer Olympics. It was a quest to figure out the mystery behind the circular marks on the athlete’s backs.
Donald Clarke, an acupuncturist at CNY Healing Arts, said cupping is an ancient Eastern medicine therapy which incorporates heating a glass cup with fire which creates a suction when placed on the body.
“We take a cotton ball, soak it in alcohol, light it on fire, move it in the cup really quick take it out and there’s your vacuum, put it on the skin really quick and voila,” Clarke said.
Clarke said the reason people use cupping therapy is because it gives instant pain relief.
“It’s very effective, it’s very noninvasive, very quick treatment, it’s literally something you can do on the field,” Clarke said.
Daniel Um, a resident of Syracuse, said he started using cupping therapy when he tore a ligament in his knee preparing for the army.
Um said he choose cupping therapy because he didn’t want to go under the knife in order to treat his injury.
“Sometimes you don’t need to open up your knee and do a surgery sometimes it can be treatable by doing cupping or acupuncture,” Um said.
Um said this was the most affordable option for him while he was deciding what the best practice was for his torn ligament.
“Cupping is way cheaper and a better way to rehab,” said Um.
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© 2020 DAndre Henderson
