Cupping

Cupping

What is cupping? 

Cupping is a treatment and form of therapy used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The cups are placed on the skin and a suction device or heat is used to create a vacuum within the cup which pulls the skin into the cup. The purpose of cupping is to remove stagnation and stimulate the flow of Qi. The skin that is drawn into the cup will change color as the blood flow increases in the area where the cup is placed. Much like a bruise. The muscles in the area begin to loosen and the healing process will begin as the area is cleared of any blockages and stagnation.

There are different types of cups and types of therapies involving the cups. Most commonly the cups are made of glass or plastic. There are also gliding cups that work great for large muscle groups and can easily glide over a large area with a little oil on the skin. 

How does it help? 

In Chinese medicine it is said that the stagnation of qi and blood are what causes pain and disease. Cupping draws out toxins and impurities which will relieve pain and tension.  From the Western point of view, it is said that cupping loosens connective tissue and fascia and stimulates blood flow the surface. Much like a deep tissue massage. Cupping relives pain and promotes relaxation. Cupping also increases blood flow to certain muscle regions which makes it beneficial for most athletes. Cupping is used in a variety of treatments from a common cough to areas of paralysis. 

Side effects of cupping? 

The nice thing about cupping is that there are not really too many side effects. The most common side effect is bruising that may last a few days to a week or more. There may be pain associated with those areas. Cupping is not recommended for anyone that is taking blood thinners or that has a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia. Cupping should also not be done on areas that are infected, burns, or open wounds. With repeated cupping treatments the bruises will decrease and no longer appear. When the bruises no longer appear it is said to be a successful treatment as all the stagnation has been removed at that point. 

I personally found cupping to be a useful form of treatment as it loosened up some areas on my shoulder that had been in pain for months. It feels good in the sense that you can feel it pulling on the tissue and releasing the muscle tightness. The bruises definitely can be uncomfortable but after they are gone you can really feel how much the area has loosened up. I feel that in order to resolve a more chronic condition or pain that you would have to have several treatments in order to remove all the stagnation. 

Reference

Article: Cupping Therapy from MedicineNet.com