CUPPING

cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin. Practitioners believe this mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. Suction is created using heat (fire). It is known in local languages as “baguan” 拔罐.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fire cupping is a method of applying acupressure by creating a vacuum on the patient’s skin to dispel stagnation – stagnant blood and lymph, thereby improving the flow of Qi (气) to treat respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia and bronchitis. cupping also is used on back, neck, shoulder and other musculoskeletal conditions. cupping is not advised over skin ulcers or to the abdominal or sacral regions of pregnant women. It is also highly recommended to drink plenty of water after cupping to help move the blood and other fluids through the affected area, general massage is able to help reduce the bruising immediately after the cupping. The discoloration left by the cups is normally caused by the painless bruising due to the dispel of stagnant blood.

cupping procedure:

cupping therapy involves a partial vacuum created in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction.

Suction cupping procedure:

Suction Cups produce vacuums on the body’s surface by manually withdrawing the air through a suction gun, rather than the traditional way of burning up oxygen. If you think of massage in terms of positive pressure (pressing in on body tissues), then you can think of massage Suction cupping as a negative pressure, drawing body tissues outward from the body, to stimulate them with a reverse massage.

Fire cupping procedure:

1. Warm up glass cup by burning inflammable material pre-soaked in alcohol inside the cup.
2. Turn the cup upside down, burn up oxygen inside the cup creating a vacuum
3. Place on specific spot on the body
4. Apply medicated herbal oil to the skin before cupping, allow to move the cup up and down specific acupoints or meridians
5. Cups are left in place from 5 to 10 minutes
6. Remove cups, observe the effect on the skin

Different Types of cupping Methods:

Weak cupping

In weak cupping, the fire used in this method is less intense and therefore so is the suction, making it a gentle treatment that can be used on patients of any age. This method is intended to remove stagnation and tonify weak Qi and Blood without depleting energy in the weak or frail. This cupping method will improve stress conditions, and the overall constitution of the body. Weak cupping is said to be effective for excess Heat conditions, such as stress, stomach problems, or neurological conditions such as paralysis and post-stroke weakness.

Medium cupping

Suction in medium cupping is firmer and can be safely administered to children over age 7 as well as adults. Muscular pains, stress-related conditions, children’s ailments, and the basic constitution of the body can all benefit from medium cupping treatments. The term “tonifying” from Traditional Chinese Medicine means it will also act in enhancing and improving the basic constitution of the body.

Strong cupping

The suction in this method is the firmest and therefore drains energy from the patient. Because strong cupping is considered to manipulate significant amounts of Blood and Qi, it often leaves marks on the patient. The purpose of such a treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine would be to remove toxins and imbalances that cause diseases and to improve blood circulation. This method also treats painful, swollen joints as well as Frozen Shoulder Syndrome.

Moving cupping

Moving cupping applies strong cupping therapy to a larger area of the body. Cups may be moved while attached, with the cream acting as lubricant. This allows for cupping larger areas, or better placement of cups. When moving a cup, grip the cup low on the bowl, and use the fingers of the non-pulling hand to gently hold the skin taut behind the cup as it moves. Often used on the Bladder Channel on the back. Traditional Chinese Medicine considers moving cuppingeffective for excess Heat conditions of the skin, such as acne, skin lesions, and inflammation. It benefits neurological conditions such as paralysis and post-stroke weakness and painful swollen joints, by manipulating excess energy and bringing up the Heat to the surface of the skin.