Cupping
Cupping is one of the oldest adjunctive treatments in traditional Chinese medicine.
How does cupping work?
Traditionally a cupping session uses glass cups that are warmed using a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. The alcohol soaked cotton ball is lit and then placed inside the cup. This will remove all the oxygen creating a vacuum. The cup is turned upside-down and the cup is placed over a specific area. The vacuum created by the lack of oxygen anchors the cup to the skin and pulls the skin upward on the inside of the glass as the air inside the jar cools. Drawing up the skin is believed to open up the skin’s pores, which helps to stimulate the flow of blood, balances and realigns the flow of Qi, breaks up obstructions, and creates an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body.
In modern times cupping sessions typically use a suction pump to create the vacuum. The cup is applied to the skin, and a suction pump is attached to the rounded end of the jar.
Depending on the condition being treated, the cups will be left in place from 10 to 15 minutes. Several cups may be placed on a patient’s body at the same time. Sliding cups can also be administered and this is where you first apply small amounts of massage oil to the skin just before the cupping procedure, which lets them move the cups up and down particular acupoints or meridians after they have been applied.
What does it treat?
Cupping has numerous benefits and can treat numerous conditions. It can help remove toxins from the body and stimulate the flow of fresh blood, lymph, and Qi to the affected area and throughout the body.
Common Conditions Include:
- Back pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Headaches
- Respiratory disorders, such as colds, flu and asthma
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Arthritic conditions
- Insomnia
- Edema
- Removal of Toxins
Is cupping safe? Does it hurt?
While cupping is considered safe it can cause some bruising on the skin. As a cup is applied to the skin the blood vessels at the surface of the skin expand. This can result in circular bruises on the areas where the cups were applied. These bruises are usually painless and disappear within a few days of the applied treatment.
Cupping is recommended for anyone with the exception with people who generally have inflamed skin or bleed easily because the treatment inflames the skin and this can cause some problems for them. As well as women who are expecting should not be cupped on their stomach and lower back.
Cupping is a simple yet powerful form of alternative healing. It can be a wonderful form of complementary therapy relieving many common aliments.