Cupping Therapy

Why should you get a lymphatic massage before surgery? If you are preparing for surgery, your doctor might suggest a lymphatic massage pre-surgery. A lymphatic massage is recommended prior to surgery as it helps prepare your body for the surgical procedure. The massage stimulates the lymph vessels of your lymphatic system to remove waste products, bacteria, viruses, excess proteins, excess fluid, and any other unwanted substances from your body. This optimizes the cellular environment in the area of the body being treated. Pre-surgery lymphatic massage can also help reduce the risk of post-surgical complications such as infection, excessive swelling, bruising, and scar tissue formation. Another plus point? After the massage, surgeons find it easier to make an incision through [...]

What is the mind-body connection? Your mind and body are powerful allies. How you think can affect how you feel. And how you feel can affect your thinking. An example of this mind-body connection is how your body responds to stress. Constant worry and stress over jobs, finances or other problems can cause tense muscles, pain, headaches, and stomach problems. It may also lead to high blood pressure or other serious problems. On the other hand, constant pain or a health problem like heart disease can affect your emotions. You might become depressed, anxious, and stressed, affecting how well you treat, manage, or cope with your illness. But your mind can have a positive effect on your health, too. [...]

UNDERSTANDING THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM/IMMUNE SYSTEM The Lymphatic System may be one of the less understood systems in our body. Many of us have heard of it in reference to being sick (swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpits, or groin) and how we need a healthy immune system to ward off colds, infections, diseases, etc, but do you know its many other functions throughout our entire body? WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? The Lymphatic System is a complex system made up primarily of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. The lymph is a colorless fluid that is the waste disposal system of the tissues and the lymph nodes are the battlefields in the body where most infections are fought. It [...]

How surgery affects your body Surgery will cause a shock to your body in short to medium term. During your post-op, you have to deal with side effects. It’s essential for you to know that when your body is exposed to a significant trauma (surgery, liposuction, etc.), it will respond with side symptoms (side effects). Remember they are normal and are part of the healing process. But in order to get rid of them fast and have better outcomes, you should start your manual lymphatic drainage sessions as soon as you are allowed by your surgeon. Some of these side effects are: Pain in the area for some time Fatigue In some cases, loss of appetite Swelling Numbness Bruising [...]

What Is Cupping Therapy? Posted on February 19, 2019, by Henry Ford Health Staff Share Cupping has become a hot topic in recent years with news of models, movie stars, and Olympic athletes using cups to ease aches and pains and enhance health and well-being. But cupping isn’t just for celebrities. “It can be beneficial for almost anyone,” says Ruth Lehmann, an acupuncturist at Henry Ford Health. “Instead of using medication to achieve a certain outcome, we use cupping to help trigger the body’s own healing mechanisms.” FAQ: Cupping Cupping is a form of therapy that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It has been used in the West for decades to encourage healing. We asked Lehmann [...]

What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST)? Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on treatment that may provide relief from a variety of symptoms including headaches, neck pain, and side effects of cancer treatment among many others. CST uses a light touch to relieve tension in the central nervous system promoting a feeling of well-being by eliminating pain and boosting health and immunity. The focus of CST is a gentle placement of hands to assist the release of the body’s connective tissue, or “fascia.” Fascia (Latin word for “band”) is a covering found throughout the body including organs, glands, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, brain, and spinal cord. This covering forms a body-wide connective network. CST is based on the idea that [...]

Why Do I Need Lymphatic Drainage Massage? Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to an area with working lymph vessels. What is a lymphatic drainage massage used for? Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, is a gentle form of massage used to relieve painful swelling in your arms and legs caused by lymphedema. Lymphedema often affects people recovering from breast cancer surgery. Lymphedema happens when your tissues retain fluid left behind after your cardiovascular system sends blood to your tissues and organs. The remaining fluid is called [...]

BY JUSTIN MITCHELL The most shocking part of Michael Phelps’ performances at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janiero had nothing to do with his swimming. It had nothing to do with his technique or hair color (looking at you, Ryan Lochte). More than anything, people were freaking out over the giant purple marks on the swimmer’s back and shoulders. “What in the world is all over Michael Phelps?” said everyone on Facebook and Twitter. Not to worry, the internet came in for the save. Media outlets were quick to explain large circular bruises are a skin souvenir from cupping, an ancient Chinese therapy that uses heated glass or plastic cups placed on the skin to draw out toxins [...]

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Alex Naddour has tried massages, a hot tub for recovery and gotten cortisone shots before a competition. The relief they offer from the wear-and-tear his body has taken from gymnastics is often only temporary. But he’s found a $15 solution on Amazon. Like many on the American men’s team, Naddour has found cupping provides relief from the soreness and pounding that come from gymnastics. “That’s been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy,” Naddour said. “It’s been better than any money I’ve spent on anything else.” The technique uses suction in cups to pull the skin away from the body and promote blood flow. It can be done with heat [...]

The use of suction is commonplace throughout the history of the Olympic Games for maintenance, pre and post event injuries, detoxification and recovery. Besides Cupping for injuries and recovery, Olympic Trainers use suction to draw toxins from the swimmers that have been absorbed from the pools that they are in for many hours every day. Dead cellular debris, poisons, stagnation and excess fluids drawn to the surface sometimes leave deposits under the skin, which, short of cutting the skin and pulling it out, is the best place for the lymphatic system to drain it away. Cumulative Cupping treatments increase muscle endurance, circulation, lung capacity, lymphatic drainage and health maintenance during strenuous activities. Many professional athletes incorporate it into their training to [...]