How to Use Cupping Therapy to Enhance Breathing

Massage cupping creates suction and negative pressure to drain excess fluids and toxins from the body. It's also loosens adhesions and lifts connective tissue, increasing blood flow to your muscles and skin. This action can relieve breathing issues.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine what type of cupping therapy you would like to experience. Stationary and moving cupping are the traditional forms, and each has a different benefit. To relieve colds, congestion and asthma related conditions, stationary cupping is often the better choice.
2. Speak with a certified massage therapist if you do not have experience with deep tissue massage therapy. Learn how a massage therapist employs cupping by watching her perform on someone.
3. Purchase a set of cups either through a massage therapy supply store or in health stores. Cups are available in different sizes and have manual suction or more advanced cupping therapy options for creating heat related suction.
4. Place the cups in a circular pattern on the affected area and allow them to sit for 5 to 15 minutes. Remove them following the same pattern.
5. Treat meridians as discussed in traditional Chinese medicine. Cups can be placed on certain areas along the meridian lines to treat specific parts of the body which may help alleviate other breathing problems and associated symptoms. Go online to find a meridian chart or buy a book on Chinese medicine to learn the location of the points.