Guasha and cupping therapy are common treatments in traditional Chinese medicine for preventing and treating illnesses. How long should you wait after guasha and cupping therapy before swimming?
How long should you wait after guasha and cupping therapy before swimming?
It is recommended to wait one week before swimming.
Guasha involves scraping the skin and cupping involves creating suction on the skin, usually on the back. After guasha and cupping therapy, if there is stagnation in the meridians caused by wind-cold, summer heat, heat, or blood stasis, it can lead to blood stagnation and the appearance of sha (red marks) and cupping marks in the affected areas.
These sha and cupping marks are actually the result of broken blood vessels and bleeding in the local area. The local skin's ability to resist infections decreases after guasha and cupping therapy, and the pores are also open. It is generally advised not to come into contact with cold water within 3 hours. Swimming involves prolonged exposure to water, and swimming pools are often crowded and not very clean, which can easily lead to cold invasion and skin infections. Therefore, it is recommended to wait one week before swimming, by which time the skin will have mostly recovered.
Can guasha and cupping therapy be done together?
Guasha and cupping therapy can be done together.
Guasha is used to relieve superficial stagnation, while cupping is used to address deeper issues. They can complement each other. If multiple meridians need to be treated together, they can be done simultaneously. Although guasha and cupping therapy have different methods, their principles of treating diseases are the same. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "no flow, then pain." Both guasha and cupping therapy aim to promote local circulation and improve the condition of muscle fibers and microcirculation through external force.
The effects and benefits of guasha and cupping therapy
1. Relieving pain and fatigue
When muscles are tense, local blood flow decreases, leading to ischemia of tissues. However, cupping can elongate muscles, increase blood flow, raise the pain threshold, and promote muscle relaxation and energy recovery.
2. Detoxification and pus drainage
The negative pressure generated by cupping can help eliminate local pus, toxins produced by bacteria, and other substances that hinder wound healing. It can also stimulate granulation tissue growth and contract wounds, promoting wound healing.
3. Adjusting immune function
The residual blood stasis caused by cupping can activate the body's immune system and clear inflammatory substances, contributing to positive self-training.
4. Promoting blood circulation
Cupping can dilate blood vessels, improve local blood circulation, accelerate the elimination of waste and toxins, and improve the nutritional status of local tissues by providing more nutrients and oxygen to cells.
5. Adjusting organ functions
Based on the theory of meridians connecting organs, cupping can be applied along the meridians related to respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and gynecological conditions. It can help adjust internal functions through sensory stimulation.
Precautions for guasha and cupping therapy
1. Do not consume cold drinks or eat ice watermelon within two hours after guasha and cupping therapy. It is also best to avoid contact with cold water.
2. Do not use air conditioning or fans during guasha and cupping therapy to prevent air circulation.
3. Avoid guasha and cupping therapy when overly full, hungry, or thirsty. Wait at least one hour after meals.
4. Be cautious to prevent burns or scalds when using cupping. If the skin blisters due to long-lasting cupping, it is unnecessary to treat small blisters. Just apply disinfectant gauze to prevent rubbing. For larger blisters, use a sterile needle to drain the fluid, apply gentian violet solution, or use a sterile gauze wrap to prevent infection.
5. Guasha and cupping therapy should not be performed on allergic, ulcerated, edematous, or areas with major blood vessels. Cupping should also be avoided on the abdomen and lumbosacral region of pregnant women.
Why does the skin turn dark purple after cupping?
The dark purple color of the skin after cupping is usually due to insufficient blood supply and venous congestion. In most cases, it is caused by physical fatigue and stagnation of cold and dampness in the meridians, resulting in blood stasis and the skin appearing dark purple after cupping.
What to do
1. This is a normal phenomenon indicating the elimination of cold and dampness from the body. There is no need to worry too much as the dark purple color will gradually fade over time.
2. In addition to cupping, you can use massage techniques and traditional Chinese medicine heat therapy to promote blood circulation and remove stagnation in the affected area.
3. If the cupping marks have not faded after one month, it is advisable to seek treatment at a massage clinic and apply hot compresses. If there is no improvement, it is recommended to have the platelet count checked.
