Many people believe that cupping is a way to clear out toxins from the body. It's an interesting notion. However, according to a modern understanding of physiology, this is just not possible. Though clearly, something is coming up when cups are placed on the skin.
That something isn't toxins though. It's blood. Not "bad blood" or stagnated blood but normal blood, that has leaked out of capillaries that were stretched and broken by the pressure of suction.
Despite knowing that cupping doesn't help with detox, there may be reasons to do it anyway. As part of a purification ritual, cupping may provide meaningful psychological relief when we feel the need to purge.
I wrote more about this in my feature article at Massage and Fitness Magazine.
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