What Is Cupping Therapy? Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and More

Written by Rick Ansorge

• Types
• What Does the Research Show?
• Side Effects
• What to Ask Your Doctor First

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 cups may be made of:

• Glass
• Bamboo
• Earthenware
• Silicone

Cupping therapy might be trendy now, but it’s not new. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

There are different methods of cupping, including:

• Dry
• Wet

During both types of cupping, your therapist will put a flammable substance such as alcohol, herbs, or paper in a cup and set it on fire. As the fire goes out, they put the cup upside down on your skin.

As the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum. This causes your skin to rise and redden as your blood vessels expand. The cup is generally left in place for up to 3 minutes.

A more modern version of cupping uses a rubber pump instead of fire to create the vacuum inside the cup. Sometimes therapists use silicone cups, which they can move from place to place on your skin for a massage-like effect.

Wet cupping creates a mild suction by leaving a cup in place for about 3 minutes. The therapist then removes the cup and uses a small scalpel to make light, tiny cuts on your skin. Next, they do a second suction to draw out a small quantity of blood.

You might get 3-5 cups in your first session. Or you might just try one to see how it goes. It’s rare to get more than 5-7 cups, the British Cupping Society notes.

Afterward, you may get an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent infection. Your skin should look normal again within 10 days.

Cupping therapy supporters believe that wet cupping removes harmful substances and toxins from the body to promote healing. But that’s not proven.

Some people also get “needle cupping,” in which the therapist first inserts acupuncture needles and then puts cups over them.

There haven’t been many scientific studies on cupping.

One report, published in 2015 in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, notes that it could help with acne, herpes zoster, and pain management.

That’s similar to the findings from a 2012 report, published in PLoS One. Australian and Chinese researchers reviewed 135 studies on cupping. They concluded that cupping therapy may be effective when people also get other treatments, like acupuncture or medications, for various diseases and conditions, such as:

• Herpes zoster
• Acne
• Facial paralysis
• Cervical spondylosis

But those researchers noted many of the studies they reviewed could have been biased and that better studies are needed.

The British Cupping Society says that cupping therapy is used to treat:

• Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia
• Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Fertility and gynecological disorders
• Skin problems such as eczema and acne
• High blood pressure
• Migraines
• Anxiety and depression
• Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma
• Varicose veins

There isn’t research to back all of that up.

Cupping is fairly safe, as long as you go to a trained health professional. But you could have these side effects in the area where the cups touch your skin:

• Mild discomfort
• Burns
• Bruises
• Skin infection

If the cups and equipment become contaminated with blood and are not sterilized correctly between patients, bloodborne diseases such as hepatitis B and C can be spread.

Talk with your doctor before you start cupping or any other type of alternative or complementary medicine. And talk extensively with your cupping therapist, too, before you try it. Ask:

• What conditions do they use cupping for?
• What is your training?
• What is your experience in using it?
• Am I already getting the standard treatments for my condition?
• Are there reasons I should not get cupping?

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Why am I so tired, and what can I do about it?

Fatigue can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning and prevent a person from fulfilling their daily tasks. It can result from a mental or physical health condition, medication use, chronic pain, and for many other reasons.

Physical and mental fatigue are different, but they often occur together. Repeated physical exhaustion can lead to mental fatigue over time.

Poor sleep, particularly when it occurs for a long time, can also lead to fatigue. Officials recommend that adults get 7–8 hours of sleep each night. According to some research, however, around 1 in 3 people in the United States say that they do not get enough sleep.

Eating a healthful diet and getting regular physical activity can help reduce fatigue for many people. Treating the underlying cause of fatigue, whether this is poor sleep or a health condition, also helps.

When fatigue affects safety, it becomes a public health concern. People with severe fatigue may act similarly to those who are intoxicated.

This article will look at the types of fatigue, some causes, and the treatment options available.

There are two main types of fatigue: physical and mental.

A person with physical fatigue may find it physically hard to do the things they usually do, such as climbing the stairs. Symptoms include muscle weakness, and diagnosis may involve completing a strength test.

With mental fatigue, a person may find it harder to concentrate on things and stay focused. They may feel sleepy or have difficulty staying awake while working.

Sleepiness can occur when a person does not get enough good quality sleep, or when they have a lack of stimulation. It can also be a symptom of a health condition that interferes with sleep, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

Sleepiness is more likely to be short-term than fatigue. It is usually treatable with regular and consistent sleep.

However, fatigue — especially when it is chronic — is often associated with a health condition or problem. It may also be its own chronic condition, called chronic fatigue syndrome, or myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Fatigue is associated with many health conditions and lifestyle factors. The sections below will outline these in more detail.

Mental health issues

Fatigue is a common symptom of clinical depression, either due to the depression itself or associated problems, such as insomnia.

Fatigue can also result from the following mental health issues:

• stress
• bereavement and grief
• eating disorders
• anxiety
• boredom
• emotional exhaustion or burnout
• life events, such as moving home or getting a divorce

Endocrine and metabolic reasons

Health conditions and other factors that affect hormones can cause fatigue. These include:

• Cushing’s syndrome
• kidney disease
• electrolyte problems
• diabetes
• thyroid conditions
• pregnancy
• hormonal contraception, including birth control pills and the implant

Drugs and medications

Certain drugs and medications can cause fatigue. These include:

• some antidepressants
• anxiety medications
• antihypertensives
• statins
• steroids
• antihistamines
• sedatives

Medication withdrawal can also cause fatigue until the body adjusts. Changes in dosage can also be a cause.

Heart and lung conditions

Heart and lung conditions can affect blood flow in the body or cause inflammation and may lead to fatigue. These include:

• pneumonia
• arrhythmias
• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• valvular heart disease
• coronary heart disease
• congestive heart failure

Sleep problems

The following sleep factors can also lead to fatigue:

• working late
• working shifts
• jet lag
• sleep apnea
• narcolepsy
• insomnia
• reflux esophagitis

Chemicals and substances

Vitamin deficiencies, mineral deficiencies, and poisoning can all affect sleep and cause fatigue.

Consuming caffeinated or alcoholic beverages can also disrupt sleep, especially close to bedtime. Using products containing nicotine can also disrupt sleep.

Medical conditions

Several medical conditions can cause fatigue, including:

• anemia
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• obesity
• heart disease
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• weakened immune system function
• fibromyalgia
• systemic lupus
• rheumatoid arthritis
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• inflammatory bowel disease
• cancer and cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• massive blood loss

Fatigue can also be a symptom of infection. Some infections that cause extreme tiredness include:

• malaria
• tuberculosis
• infectious mononucleosis
• cytomegalovirus
• HIV
• flu
• hepatitis

Chronic pain

People with chronic pain may wake up frequently throughout the night. They may also wake up feeling tired and poorly rested, having been unable to get good quality sleep.

The combination of chronic pain and a lack of sleep can cause persistent tiredness and fatigue.

In one study on fibromyalgia and sleep, half of the individuals with fibromyalgia also had sleep apnea, which contributes to fatigue.

Being overweight or underweight

Being overweight increases the risk of fatigue by increasing the risk of conditions that have fatigue as a common symptom, such as diabetes or sleep apnea.

Carrying more weight and experiencing joint or muscle pain can lead to or exacerbate fatigue.

Similarly, people who are underweight may tire easily, depending on the cause of their condition. Eating disorders, cancer, chronic diseases, and an overactive thyroid can all cause weight loss, as well as excessive tiredness and fatigue.

Too much or too little activity

A person with fatigue may not feel able to exercise, and a lack of exercise can cause further fatigue. A lack of exercise may eventually cause deconditioning, making it harder and more tiring to perform a physical task.

Fatigue can also affect healthy individuals after prolonged, intense mental or physical activity.

The main symptom of fatigue is exhaustion with physical or mental activity. A person does not feel refreshed after resting or sleeping.

It might also be hard for them to carry out their daily activities, including work, household chores, and caring for others.

The symptoms of fatigue may be physical, mental, or emotional.

Common symptoms associated with fatigue can include:

• aching or sore muscles
• apathy and a lack of motivation
• daytime drowsiness
• difficulty concentrating or learning new tasks
• gastrointestinal problems, such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea
• headache
• irritability or moodiness
• slowed response time
• vision problems, such as blurriness

Symptoms tend to get worse after exertion. They may appear a few hours after activity or exercise, or possibly on the next day.

Diagnosis can be difficult, as the causes and symptoms of fatigue are varied and nonspecific.

The doctor may ask questions relating to:

• the qualities of the fatigue
• the patterns of the fatigue, such as the times of day when the symptoms are worse or better and whether or not taking a nap helps
• the quality of the person’s sleep
• the person’s emotional state and stress levels

A person can aid their diagnosis by keeping a record of the total hours they sleep each night and how often they wake up each night.

The doctor will carry out a physical examination to check for signs of illness and ask the person which medications they are taking, if any.

They will also ask about lifestyle habits, including the person’s diet, caffeine use, drug use, alcohol consumption, and work and sleep patterns.

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic tests can help diagnose the underlying cause of the fatigue. Urine tests, imaging scans, mental health questionnaires, and blood tests may be necessary depending on other symptoms.

Tests such as these can help rule out physical causes, such as infections, hormonal problems, anemia, liver problems, or kidney problems.

The doctor may also order a sleep study to rule out a sleeping disorder.

If they diagnose an illness, they will suggest appropriate treatments.

To treat fatigue effectively, a doctor needs to find and diagnose the underlying cause.

Choosing the appropriate treatment for the condition can help alleviate fatigue.

Sleep

Getting good quality sleep is an important part of managing fatigue.

To practice good sleep hygiene:

• Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on days off.
• Set the bedroom temperature at a comfortable level. The Sleep Foundation advises between 60–67 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Make sure that the room is dark and quiet.
• Avoid screen time an hour before sleeping, as the light and sounds from a television, computer, or phone can stimulate brain activity and affect sleep quality.
• Avoid eating shortly before going to bed.
• As bedtime approaches, try to slow down both physically and mentally. Taking a warm bath or listening to some soothing music can help clear the mind of stressful and worrying thoughts before going to sleep.

Keeping a sleep diary to detect patterns may also help.

Eating and drinking habits

Diet can affect how tired or energetic a person feels. Maintaining a moderate and well-balanced diet can lead to better health and better sleep.

Here are some tips to try:

• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.
• Eat snacks that are low in sugar.
• Avoid highly processed food and follow a healthful diet.
• Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid consuming caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

There are many foods that help beat fatigue.

Physical activity

Getting regular physical activity can help reduce fatigue and improve sleep.

Those who have not been physically active for some time should introduce exercise gradually. A doctor or sports therapist can help.

People should exercise during the time of day that is most productive for them.

Yoga and mindfulness

In one older 2010 study, people with multiple sclerosis who completed 2 months of mindfulness meditation reported that levels of fatigue, anxiety, and depression fell, while their quality of life improved.

Another older 2010 study into the benefits of yoga found some improvement in symptoms of fatigue and sleep quality in cancer survivors. The 4-week program included postures, meditation, breathing, and some other techniques.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urge people to familiarize themselves with the warning signs of drowsiness on the road.

A survey they carried out found that around 1 in 25 drivers ages 18 years and above had fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days.

If a driver notices that they are doing any of the following, they should pull over and take a nap or change drivers:

• yawning and blinking
• not remembering the last few miles they have driven
• missing an exit
• drifting across the lane
• driving onto a rumble strip
• having trouble staying focused

A range of health conditions and lifestyle factors — such as diabetes, depression, and chronic pain, among others — can lead to fatigue.

If fatigue and sleepiness are affecting a person’s daily life and none of the tips in this article work, they should see a doctor for advice.

To help with diagnosis, a person can keep a diary of their sleep habits and symptoms. After making a diagnosis, a doctor will be able to suggest some appropriate treatment options.

What is chronic fatigue and how it manifests itself

Survival instructions

Dmitry Kozachenko

July 19, 2017 16:34

Together with neurologist Dmitry Ivanov “Afisha Daily”
understands what overwork is, what chronic fatigue can lead to and why it is more serious than we think.

What is overwork

Overwork occurs due to a long lack of rest. In the International Classification of Diseases, overwork is described as “a state of exhaustion of vitality.”

Overwork can be physical and mental. With physical overwork in the muscles, there is a deficiency of the actin substance myosin, which is necessary for the contraction of muscle fibers. In addition, lactic acid accumulates, which causes pain. All this does not allow the muscles to contract in the truest sense of the word. In this case, rest will help.

The cause of mental fatigue can be a combination of high intellectual and emotional stress with a low level of physical activity – this is especially true for residents of megacities. Mental overwork is much more dangerous than physical overwork. During serious intellectual stress, stress hormones accumulate, the purpose of which is to increase the heart rate and increase blood pressure. Stress hormones should only be produced during times of stress, but when overtired, they are constantly produced and accumulated. Because of the accumulated stress, a person begins to get sick.

What is chronic fatigue syndrome

Overwork can develop into chronic fatigue syndrome. If, with overwork, a person can go on vacation for two weeks and feel better after it, then the fatigue syndrome is not eliminated even after a long rest.

There is no such thing as chronic physical fatigue: today we unloaded three wagons of coal, but tomorrow we simply won’t be able to unload the same amount, so we’ll rest. Chronic fatigue is the result of mental fatigue. Mental activity can be stimulated – for example, coffee and energy drinks, and this aggravates the condition.

Why it’s dangerous

Chronic fatigue syndrome can cause depression, bipolar disorder, an increase in infectious diseases and allergic reactions, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with exacerbation of existing diseases. The nervous system occupies a dominant position in the body, so an imbalance can occur in any organ, and this will manifest itself in a complex way. The diagnosis is not always determined immediately: chronic fatigue has common features with a number of other diseases, including cancer.

5 signs that you have chronic fatigue

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease that a doctor must diagnose in order to prescribe treatment. Unfortunately, many symptoms of chronic fatigue go unnoticed because people usually do not realize the danger of overwork or cannot break out of their usual rhythm of life. But there are several common signs, upon detection of which it is necessary to contact a neurologist.

Your productivity has halved.

You used to be able to easily make ten reports a day, but now you can hardly get five. After a meeting with colleagues, you feel killed, and the next two days you come to your senses. You began to notice that you were losing your concentration: you had to check several times what was previously done on the machine. Until recently, you could easily cook dinner after work, go to an exhibition, and then walk your dog, but now even the way home is given as climbing Everest.

Your muscles and joints hurt, and not from playing sports

You catch up with a departing bus and then your body hurts like you’ve run a half marathon. You are especially concerned about pain in large joints: knee, elbow, hip. “Flying” pains are very characteristic: today one knee hurts, tomorrow – elbows, the day after tomorrow – the other knee, and so constantly. You went to the doctor, performed x-rays and computed tomography of the joints: the results indicate the absence of pathology, but any movement still causes pain.

Also a headache

Everyone can have a headache, but for the last six months you have had it almost every day. The nature of the pain has changed: it has become pulsating, and at certain points there is a feeling as if this place had been hit with a hammer. Headache does not go away after taking drugs that previously brought relief. You stopped going to a bar with friends and even forgot about your hangover, but nothing changes.

Bad sleep has become commonplace for you

The central nervous and autonomic systems rest during sleep. The amount of sleep varies from person to person, but the general recommendation is to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep. The most important thing is to sleep at night, at night. At this time, melatonin is produced – one of the main hormones that is responsible for the daily rhythm, has anti-stress and immunostimulating effects. During the day, no matter how you cover the curtains, trying to create darkness, it will not help. Melatonin deficiency may also contribute to the development of depression.

You go to bed, but toss and turn and cannot fall asleep, and when you have to get up for work, it turns out that you have not yet fallen asleep. Or you fall asleep, but open your eyes sharply – it seems to you that you slept for a day, but in fact 30 minutes, and so on all night. Your partner complains that you twitch, flinch, or talk in your sleep. You wake up in the morning feeling very tired.

Your memory has deteriorated

You met a person, but after two minutes you do not remember his name. Forget when is the birthday of your parents, grandmother and close friends. It seems that it seems to be nothing serious, but in fact, memory impairment leads to a decrease in the quality of life. You forget simple things – this indicates that your nervous system does not have time to remember and process information. Long-term memory also suffers: you used to know how to build a table in Excel, but now you don’t remember where to enter the formula.

How to get rid of overwork and prevent chronic fatigue syndrome

– Rest – no matter how trite it may sound. You should not once again agree to overtime work and, moreover, refuse to take a vacation. You can’t work after work either.

— Go in for sports. Even a 20-minute fitness at home will help unload the brain.

— Do not self-medicate. According to the signs described above, it is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own. For example, an increase in blood pressure against the background of a headache may indicate a problem in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and not chronic fatigue. For diagnosis, a doctor’s consultation is necessary.

– In Russia, not everyone knows about chronic fatigue syndrome. Perhaps the clinic will prescribe treatment for you, but the diagnosis will be marked differently – for example, as a migraine.

— Chronic fatigue syndrome is treated on an outpatient basis or in health centers. Chronic fatigue is not treated in hospitals of neurological departments. Previously, with a diagnosis, one could go to neurosis clinics, where there were psychiatrists, psychotherapists and neurologists. Now more often people end up in a psychiatric hospital when fatigue develops into depression.

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Dmitry Ivanov

10 signs of overflows – Lifehaker

Health

August 16, 2017

Stress manifests itself in different ways, but often we do not attach importance to its symptoms. Perhaps your body is trying to tell you it’s time to rest.

1. Do you have pain in your muscles

Do you have pain in your neck or shoulders? Maybe it’s not because of too intense training or a bad pillow. When stressed and overworked, our muscles tense up and there is a sensation similar to stretching. In men, stress is most often manifested by pain in the lower back, while in women it is in the upper back.

2. You have a headache

Dull aching pain that seems to encircle the head also indicates overwork. Of course, the pills will remove it, but they will not solve the problem. Try stress-reducing exercises like meditation or yoga.

3. You are always thirsty

When we are nervous, the adrenal glands begin to produce more stress hormone, adrenal fatigue occurs. This condition affects the production of other hormones, as well as the water balance of the body. So if you often suffer from thirst, stress may be to blame.

4. You sweat a lot

Anxiety and stress also often cause excessive sweating. To avoid sweating during an important performance, try deep breathing in front of it or listen to soothing music.

5. Your hair falls out

Stress and overwork can cause not only hair loss, but also diseases such as trichotillomania – pulling out your own hair and patchy baldness – an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system begins to destroy the hair follicles. So if you have a lot of hair loss, it is better to consult a doctor.

6. You have digestive problems

Symptoms of stress are stomach cramps and constant need to go to the toilet. In addition, when you are under stress, the frequency of contractions of the stomach changes, the secretions necessary for digestion decrease, and digestion stops.

7. You often catch colds

Stress and runny nose are interconnected. Studies show that when we are stressed, we are more prone to catching a cold.

But even after a stressful period in life is over, we can easily get sick.