Thursday, September 30, 2010

What is Cupping??



Recently, some patients asked my husband what is cupping therapy. Some people reduced  their pain after treatment but some are afraid of result. Here, I will share the meaning of cupping. It's a easy, fast, needle-less  way to release physical pain.  


Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is the method of using glass or plastic cups to create localized pressure by a vacuum.  The Chinese have been doing this since ancient times by using heat inside glass or bamboo cups.  Nowadays, cupping sets use suction to create the vacuum.  The vacuum inside the cups causes the blood to form in the area and help the healing in that area.

Ancient Chinese medicine have believed that the body contains "Meridians".  These meridians are pathways in the body which the energy of life called Qi ("chi") flows through.  It flows through every body part, tissue, and organ.  Cupping therapy is mainly performed on one's back because there are five meridians on your back.  When these meridians are opened, the internal energy is able to flow through the whole body.

Another healing aspect of cupping therapy is through the release of toxins in your body.  The suction from the cups can penetrate deep into your tissues causing the tissues to release harmful toxins.  It triggers the lymphatic system, clears the blood vessels, and stretches and activates the skin.

Cupping therapy has been found in ancient records dating back 3500 years and it is still used today by many alternative medicine practitioners.  New advancements in technology and materials have been integrated with cupping therapies and its uses now range for many different treatments and applications.

How Cupping Therapy Works

Cupping therapy works by reducing the pain we feel in our bodies.  In alternative medicine, pain is believed to be caused by problems relating to your Qi flow.  This can be related to stress in the body, imbalances of hormones and fluids, lack of blood flow, and temperature in the muscles and joints.  When a suction cup is place on a problem area, the vacuum pull of the cup creates warmth and circulation in the area.  Very soon, you will feel that the pain is reduced.

In Chinese medicine, all the organs are connected together.  So if you have a problem with one organ, it can affect the health of other parts of your body.  For example, it is believed that the kidneys are connected to a persons aging.  A person with an imbalance or disease in the kidneys will experience more graying of the hair, wrinkled and dry skin, etc. 

The use of cupping therapy has many benefits and can be applied in many treatments.  Some of the conditions cupping therapy can be used in are:
  • Constipation, IBS, diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Back Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Fatigue
  • Sciatica
  • Skin Problems
  • Period cramps
  • Weight problems
  • and more

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