Introduction:
Cupping(拔罐) is a form of traditional alternative medicine that originated in ancient China and involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. The suction is created either by heat(火罐) or by a mechanical pump(真气罐). The cups are typically made of glass, bamboo, or silicone.
Once the cups are placed on the skin, the suction draws the skin and superficial muscle tissue into the cup. This can cause the skin to temporarily turn red, blue, or purple, especially if the suction is strong. The cups are usually left in place for a few minutes, and they may be moved around or left stationary depending on the practitioner’s technique and the patient’s needs.
Cupping is believed to help with various health conditions, including pain relief, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation, and overall well-being. However, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is limited, and it’s considered a complementary therapy rather than a primary treatment for medical conditions.
Different Types Of Cupping:
Plain Cupping(Dry cupping): normal commonly used method where it is done on areas with excess energy block, especially in regions of higher muscle density. such areas tend to develop pain due to stagnation of qi
Cupping with Bleeding(放血拔罐) (wet cupping): In certain patients with previous physical trauma or injury that resulted in bruising, also known as blood stasis leading to pain. in most cases, the pain becomes chronic even after the bruise is cleared. in such situations, patients experience a sharp pricking pain indicating a block of blood and energy flow in those areas. in such conditions, a three-edge needle(三棱针) is used to pick the area affected by the physical injury and cupping is done on top to drain that stagnant blood.
Note: stagnant blood doesn’t mean coagulation of blood. Blood oozing out of the pricked spot may or may not be thick and dark also thick and dark blood does not indicate subcutaneous blood clot history.
Cupping with bleeding for specific acupuncture point: this type of cupping has a similar procedure to the one above yet the pricking of the needle location is in a particular acupoint where excess needs to be drained.
Cupping with rubbing(走罐): cupping is used with minimum suction at locations of thick muscles, especially at the back of the torso. in this method cup after suction is rubbed and dragged along the muscle fibre to release the adhesion between muscle and facia.
Warm Cupping(温罐): in recent years through various research, a new way of cupping with moxa has been developed which originally was done separately one after another. This helps in treating painful channels affected by cold. In such cases, a thorough diagnosis is a must for execution.
Diagnosis with cupping:
Cupping is a diagnosing technique along with its therapeutic effects. most of us only know of cupping as a way of treatment of pain and muscle tension but the science of cupping goes deeper than that.
In TCM cupping is used as a way of diagnosing and confirming the specific cause of the disorder. different colours of marks and other physical changes occurring during various types of cupping indicate a wide range of probable causes including wind cold, dampness, stagnant qi, stagnant blood etc.
Hence, it is essential for a TCM acupuncture doctor to thoroughly diagnose the patient and provide the required treatment.
Caution:
Cupping therapy is not a tool for relaxation enjoyment. it cannot be done to all kinds of muscular ailments. patients’ pulse diagnosis and condition must be thoroughly studied before proceeding with cupping. if not done then cupping can harm bodies energy system, especially the dendritic immune system.
cupping with acupuncture sequence also has a specific way for each patient. some need cupping first then acupuncture and vice versa or it would result in disruption of qi resulting in worsening of the condition.
Post cupping precautions:
After cupping therapy is performed patient should not shower or be subjected to direct wind at least for 2 hours, especially in the areas treated this might result in an increase in pain in those areas.
Conclusion:
Cupping is a very effective treatment supplementing acupuncture which when done by trained professionals yields better results in severe conditions. understanding that cupping is a therapy supplement to acupuncture treatment for helping recover faster and not the main treatment for disorder alone is of utmost importance.
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