What is cupping therapy and does it work for fibromyalgia? If you suffer from the devastating condition of fibromyalgia, you may wonder this exact question. There are medical treatments for fibromyalgia and there are alternative therapies for fibromyalgia. You, as a sufferer, probably have tried a few of both trying to find relief from your symptoms. Cupping therapy falls underneath the alternative therapies.

Alternative therapies are becoming more and more popular for fibromyalgia sufferers. Why? Because they work. And the good news is that most of the alternative therapies don’t come along with the nasty side effects that a lot of the conventional medications do. But it is important that you do your research as there are a lot of hoky alternative therapies out there as well. So, let’s take a look at what you need to know about cupping therapy so you know if it is a viable option for you.

So what is cupping therapy? Well, like a lot of our alternative therapies it comes from the Chinese. Surprised, of course not, since this is where a majority of alternative therapies come from. Cupping involves applying glass cups, hence the name, to the skin in order to help your body rid itself of toxins, pain, and increase circulation. I know this sounds a little weird for us to grasp but so did acupuncture when it was first introduced to the West. With cupping each glass is placed on various spots on your body and acts as a vacuum through heat and are left on your body for about 15 minutes.

There are two main ways that cupping are used. The first is massage cupping and it entails the glass cups are moved in a massage like patter around the skin. The benefits of massage cupping is less sore joints and muscles. The second method of cupping is stationary cupping where the glass cups are left untouched and not moved at all during the session.

Sound a little weird? Well, a typical cupping session generally involves using glass cups, cotton balls, rubbing alcohol, candles and matches. So, let’s go through step by step and see how the session would play out. First, a cotton ball is soaked in alcohol and lit on fire, a vacuum is created inside the glass by the holding the cotton ball inside the cup. The heat causes the vacuum. Once this is done and there is suction the cotton ball is removed and the glass cup is placed to the trigger point on the skin. A typical session includes about 4 or 5 cups and sometimes 6 placed and left on the skin for no longer than 15 minutes.

Although this may sound a little weird and painful, it’s not. Usually the typical person undergoing a cupping session only feels a slight suction feeling where the cup is placed. You may have little red rings on your skin afterward but they will fade.

There are benefits to the Fibromyalgia patient who goes through these sessions. You will see a definite change in your relaxation and feel calm. Cupping helps to release the toxins from your body and promotes quicker healing time of muscles, joints and all the achiness we often feel when we suffer from fibromyalgia. You will also see improved flexibility in your muscles. Another benefit is reduced pain from trigger points and it can also help your anxiety level go down and help your depression.

Cupping is a safe treatment for fibromyalgia when it is done by someone who is qualified. Never try this by yourself at home. Find a qualified massage therapist or visit a holistic treatment center. Cupping can provide great benefits to you and help in your overall healing of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

For more information on alternative healing techniques, visit www.ridfibromyalgia.com for all the up to date information and treatments. You will find free articles and healing tips to get you started back on the road to health.

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Hailey Harris is an expert in fibromyalgia after suffering from devastating medical problems for more than 8 years. She is now symptom free and helping others to achieve their optimal health. Her site Ridfibromyalgia.com (www.ridfibromyalgia.com) is devoted to helping others achieve relief from their symptoms of fibromyalgia. There are free tips, info, and newsletters devoted to healing, as well as articles found at www.ridfibromyalgia.com/how.html.


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Deep tissue massage therapy is one of the primary massage modalities touted to bring relief to the pain constantly plaguing fibromyalgia sufferers. Residents of Monmouth County, Englishtown, Manalapan, Morganville, Old Bridge, Freehold, Howell, Millstone, Matawan, Aberdeen and Colts Neck who are afflicted with fibromyalgia can avail of deep tissue massage therapy as well as reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy from a professional therapeutic massage spa in Marlboro NJ.

Rapid Fibromyalgia Relief! Discover How To Gain Control Over Debilitating Fibromyalgia Pain Fast – Click Here!

Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles and fibrous tissues. In fact, the word itself speaks of its literal meaning in Latin and Greek, where â??fibroâ? is fibrous, â??myoâ? is muscle and â??algosâ? is pain. It afflicts about six million people in the United States and many millions throughout the world. Majority of those afflicted, up to eighty to ninety percent, are female.

It was only as recent as 1987 that the American Medical Association recognized fibromyalgia as a disease, though. Three years later, in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology declared that a diagnosis of fibromyalgia should be based on the identification of 18 common tender points in the body and a minimum of six months of widespread body pain.

The same 18 common tender points were recognized along with other symptoms of fibromyalgia in the Copenhagen Declaration of 1992 done by fibromyalgia specialists. Among the other fibromyalgia symptoms identified are tension headaches, migraines, impaired cognition, blurred vision, constant fatigue, intolerance of exercise, heart palpitations, numbness or tingling, painful menstrual periods, irritable bowels with bloating, gas and distention with pain, abnormalities in skin and fingernails, disrupted and non-restorative sleep, sleep apnea, restless legs in sleep and temperature sensitivity.

Although fibromyalgia has been named a biochemical imbalance, no cause has been identified yet for the condition. Heredity is considered as a factor, though. Because of the imbalance, there are low levels of amino acids and nerve transmitters like Tryptophan, Serotonin, Endorphins, Substance P and Enkephalins which are necessary for the body to achieve deep sleep that is restorative and for the alleviation of pain.

Without enough healing sleep, the body cannot manufacture enough growth hormones used for muscle repair and maintenance. Any minimal trauma of the muscles, tissues and fascia go unrepaired and pile up to add more pain. The patient soon experiences chronic pain. With pain, the muscles tend to contract further. This results in a vicious cycle. Muscle constriction limits blood circulation, oxygen delivery and nutritional delivery while also inhibiting the expulsion of metabolic toxins as waste, adding more causes of pain.

Even pain relief medication is often not very effective for fibromyalgia pain. In fact, because of its insufficiency in alleviating pain, there is often a tendency toward medication dependence or medication overdose.

Majority of patients who are afflicted with fibromyalgia have found more relief in deep tissue massage therapy. In 1996, a study has found that fibromyalgia patients who were given ten sessions of half hour massages felt as much as 38% less pain. Their sleep patterns also improved with better quality and longer hours. It is expected that with more regular and long term deep tissue massage therapy, even more long term and extensive relief can be achieved.

Deep tissue massage therapy helps relieve the pains of fibromyalgia, including chronic headaches, by increasing the circulation of blood, thereby improving oxygenation and helping flush out toxins. Deep tissue massage therapy also causes the production of Endorphins which fibromyalgia patients lack.

Fibromyalgia sufferers in Monmouth County, Englishtown, Manalapan, Morganville, Old Bridge, Freehold, Howell, Millstone, Matawan, Aberdeen and Colts Neck need not wallow in pain. They can ask for deep tissue massage therapy in the same professional therapeutic massage spa that offers reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in Marlboro NJ.

Massage Envy Marlboro
126 US Hwy 9
Englishtown, NJ 07726
Phone: (732) 972-9800
Fax: (732) 972-9820
Email: clinic0287@massageenvy.com
Website: www.massageenvy.com/clinics/NJ/Marlboro.aspx

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A study regarding acupoints and magnetic wave therapy and fibromyalgia was performed by the Mayo Clinic in the United States and presented at a pain conference held in Sydney, Australia. Great promise is shown when it comes to this non-invasive, ancient form of therapy.

Anxiety, pain, and chronic fatigue are just some of the symptoms experienced by many fibromyalgia patients and shown to be effectively alleviated by stimulation of acupoints, or the points at which the body’s meridians contact the skin. While acupuncture is not seen as a cure for fibromyalgia, it can greatly enhance the patient’s quality of life over the long term, particularly with continued treatments.

Rapid Fibromyalgia Relief! Discover How To Gain Control Over Debilitating Fibromyalgia Pain Fast – Click Here!

This seems to be a viable alternative to the medications usually prescribed to counteract pain and depression.

About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than the definition of an ailment. It has no known cause but is characterised by a set of symptoms that are common and chronic. It may be related to arthritis but is not a true arthritic disease of the joints, which involves joint or tissue inflammation. Instead, fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition which impairs the tissues and joints and causes pain. There are a variety of symptoms those diagnosed with fibromyalgia suffer from.

These include cognitive difficulties; disturbance of sleep; headaches; irritable bowel syndrome; stiffness, numbness, and tingling of the limbs; restless leg syndrome; and sensitivity to temperature and light. It is usually women who suffer from fibromyalgia, but this does not preclude it from affecting men and children; race or ethnic background is not an indicator of a person’s likelihood of contracting the syndrome.

How Magnetic Wave Acupuncture Helps with Pain

Acupuncture, which can be accomplished via magnetic waves, electrical impulse, massage, or other methods that do not utilise needles, can alleviate many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia without the side effects of prescription medications. The procedure is non-invasive and the positive effects are nearly immediate. Muscle manipulation is usually not tolerable by anyone suffering from fibromyalgia so acupuncture provides a way to treat the symptoms without causing further pain and discomfort.

Stimulation of acupoints has a positive effect on stress and anxiety because it can release melatonin, the body’s natural chemical for relaxation. This can help a patient sleep better. Because chronic fatigue often leads to depression, getting sufficient rest aids the patient’s mood tremendously. Magnetic acupressure also stimulates circulation, which can provide the sufferer with increased energy and vitality.

Yet another benefit of acupuncture is the release of endorphins, which block feelings of pain. All of these benefits were supported by the Mayo Clinic study. Many alternative therapists already knew how acupuncture could positively affect patients suffering from pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness but the fact that highly respected members of the medical community confirmed their beliefs has brought a new level of acknowledgement to the practice.

For anyone diagnosed with fibromyalgia, acupuncture can present a viable, complementary treatment to help them lead a more normal and functional life. With a magnetic wave device, the procedure can even be performed at home, making it both simple and cost-effective. Talk to your physician about adding acupoint therapy to your fibromyalgia therapy options. Ref: http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2006-rst/3495.html

Learn more about getting Fibromyalgia pain relief and hand Acupoints at Aculife-Ireland.com.

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