Cupping - an ancient medical practice to detoxify your body

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Cupping therapy has become popular among young celebrities and athletes, but it’s a practice that has been around for 3000 years, with roots in ancient Egypt, India and China.

The practice is known to help with pain management, allergies, asthma, and even digestive issues. The procedure seems intimidating but patients says it’s painless. A flame heats up the glass cup for a split second so all the air escapes, it’s then placed on the skin and creates a suction.

Dr. Bing You, director of WeMed Wellness Center tells us that it “will suck the tissue in the cup a little bit create the high-pressure locally, it will squeeze out the interstitial fluid blood over there, so it spread out and when you release it there’s a low-pressure the arterial blood will rush in much easier so we get more immune cells and blood cells to repair the tissue."

The majority of his patients come in for pain management, but over the last couple of years has seen an increase of patients coming in to treat various ailments. Dr. You tells FOX 26 News that 95 percent of his pain management patients have stopped using their pain medication since undergoing treatment.

One patient suffered with rosacea throughout her life and after using countless medications, she’s now only using depending on this form of therapy.

"I think it's fantastic," says the patient. "I think that finding someone who really understands the practice and who asks the deep questions and is very thorough I think you can have amazing results and they'll be long lasting results.”

Before undergoing cupping therapy, you’ll want to check with your doctor first and make sure that you seek out a practitioner that has both board certified and has a Texas state license.