Through extensive clinical observations and the use of modern scientific technology, both domestic and international scholars have conducted in-depth studies on the treatment principles of cupping therapy. These principles can be summarized as follows:
(1) Mechanical Action
Cupping therapy is a form of stimulation therapy. During cupping, negative pressure is created inside the cup, resulting in local tissue congestion, rupture of red blood cells, surface bruising, and the release of large amounts of hemoglobin, causing self-hemolysis. This leads to the production of a substance similar to histamine, which circulates throughout the body fluids and stimulates various organs, enhancing their functional activities and improving the body's resistance.
(2) Thermal Effect
Cupping therapy provides a warm and stimulating effect on the local skin, especially with the use of fire cups, water cups, and herbal cups. The thermal stimulation causes local blood vessels to dilate, promotes local blood circulation, enhances metabolism, accelerates the elimination of waste and toxins from the body, changes the nutritional status of local tissues, increases the permeability of blood vessel walls, and enhances the phagocytic ability of white blood cells and reticuloendothelial cells. These effects contribute to the improvement of diseases.
(3) Regulatory Effect
This effect is based on the previous two. First, it has a regulatory effect on the nervous system. The mechanical stimulation of cupping therapy causes self-hemolysis locally, releasing substances such as histamine and serotonin. Through neuroendocrine regulation, this leads to local and systemic stress responses, strengthening local blood flow and improving systemic blood circulation. Secondly, it regulates local circulation and enhances metabolism. Cupping therapy can adjust microcirculation function, promote local blood circulation, regulate metabolism, change the nutritional status of local tissues, strengthen lymphatic circulation, activate the phagocytic ability of lymphocytes, enhance the body's resistance, eliminate diseases, and restore normal function of various parts of the body. Additionally, controlled bleeding in cupping therapy serves as a beneficial stimulation. It reflexively regulates blood vessel movement to restore normal function, promotes the repair of diseased tissues, and ultimately improves the body's immune system, treats diseases, and enhances health.
