"Cupping therapy" is a traditional Chinese method for treating diseases. It can provide some relief for conditions like stiff neck, neck pain, and indigestion. It involves removing the air from a cup through burning, suction, or compression, creating a negative pressure in the cup. The cup is then placed on the body's meridian points or affected areas to treat illnesses.
There are many types of cups used in cupping therapy, including glass cups, ceramic cups, bamboo cups, rubber cups, and plastic suction cups.
Glass cups are the most commonly used in clinical practice because they are smooth and transparent, allowing observation of the congestion, hemorrhage, blistering, and bleeding inside the cups. Rubber cups and plastic suction cups, commonly used at home, are convenient but cannot be used with fire, so their effectiveness is limited. There are also various sizes and models of cups, with different sizes used for different body parts and acupoints. Larger cups are often used on the back and legs, while smaller cups are used on the forehead and neck. Due to the wide applicability and high demand for cupping therapy, there are now more and more places offering cupping treatment. In addition to hospitals, many massage parlors and beauty salons also provide cupping services. Some patients even buy cups to do cupping therapy at home. There is a popular belief among the public that cupping therapy can remove the cold and dampness from the body, but will it also remove the "vital energy" in the process? It should be said that this concern is unnecessary. Cupping therapy does not harm the vital energy. On the contrary, it is important to master the correct technique, find the right treatment area, and control the timing and intensity of cupping to avoid causing harm to the body.
Some people ask if they can do cupping therapy at home. For some simple conditions like cold, muscle soreness, etc., cupping therapy can be done at home. This therapy is particularly effective for relieving neck, back, and limb pain, colds, and some internal medicine and gynecological diseases. It is suitable for middle-aged and elderly people as well as young people who work at desks for long periods of time, effectively alleviating pain and discomfort.
However, cupping therapy is not a cure-all. The main concerns when doing cupping therapy at home are preventing burns and avoiding excessive cupping time that may cause blisters on the skin. It is recommended to use suction cups or rubber cups, and the cupping time should be around 5 to 15 minutes. Different body constitutions should be distinguished. Those who are excessively weak should not do cupping therapy as it may further weaken their constitution. Cupping therapy is not suitable for those with heart disease, blood disorders, skin diseases, pregnant women, women during menstruation, when overly full or hungry, or when intoxicated. It is also not suitable to do cupping therapy on the belly button, precordial area, delicate or damaged skin, scars, nipples, or protruding bones. It is best to wait until the marks from previous cupping sessions have faded before doing cupping again. After cupping therapy, immediate bathing should be avoided. The skin is in a sensitive and fragile state after cupping, and bathing immediately can easily lead to skin damage and inflammation. It is recommended to wait for at least two hours. During cupping therapy, avoid direct exposure to wind to prevent catching a cold. If blisters appear after cupping, with more than three blisters in each cup, it is necessary to apply burn ointment or seek medical treatment.
