Cupping is a very important treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine. It is popular among the public due to its simplicity, easy learning process, and cost-effectiveness. Cupping has many benefits in traditional Chinese medicine, including treating common diseases and detoxifying the body. Let's learn more about the treatment methods of cupping in traditional Chinese medicine.
Which diseases can be treated with cupping?
1. Stiff neck
In the weather with large temperature differences between morning and evening, some people wake up with severe neck pain and unable to turn their necks, indicating a stiff neck. Cupping therapy is more suitable for treating stiff neck caused by wind and cold obstruction of meridians.
The characteristics of patients with this type of stiff neck are: neck and shoulder pain and stiffness in the morning, limited movement when turning to the side, especially when rotating and tilting the head towards the healthy side, muscle spasms and soreness, accompanied by chills, dizziness, fatigue, and a slight taste in the mouth.
2. Muscle spasms
With the recent cold wind, the neck and shoulder muscles are exposed and easily stimulated by the cold wind, leading to tension and spasms in the neck and shoulder muscles. Cupping therapy is suitable for treating neck and shoulder diseases caused by cold obstruction of meridians.
Symptoms of patients with this type of disease include: headache, pain in the back of the head or shoulders, stiffness in the neck, difficulty turning to the side, numbness and soreness in the shoulders, back, and fingers on one or both sides, and aversion to cold and preference for warmth in the neck and shoulder area.
If recurrent neck pain occurs, it is important to determine the cause. It is recommended to take a cervical spine X-ray to check for cervical disc herniation or instability.
3. Heat toxin symptoms
When there are symptoms of high fever, constipation, severe sore throat, and even pus, cupping therapy on the Dazhui acupoint located behind the neck can help reduce fever, clear heat, support the body, eliminate pathogenic factors, and adjust the balance of yin and yang in the body.
How to perform cupping in traditional Chinese medicine?
1. Direct fire method
Ignite the upper end of a small strip of paper and quickly put it into the cup. When the fire is strong, immediately place the cup on the desired area to create suction.
2. Flash fire method
Use hemostatic forceps or tweezers to hold a cotton ball soaked in 95% alcohol tightly. Ignite the cotton ball and quickly rotate it inside the cup before removing it. Then place the cup on the desired area to create suction.
3. Frame fire method
Use a non-combustible and non-heat-conductive material with a diameter of about two centimeters. Place it on the affected area and put a small cotton ball soaked in alcohol on top. Ignite the cotton ball and immediately place the cup on the desired area to create suction.
4. Cotton attachment method
Dip a 1 cm square piece of degreased cotton in alcohol and attach it to the middle section of the cup's inner wall. Ignite the cotton and quickly place the cup on the desired area to create suction.
5. Alcohol dripping method
Drip 1-2 drops of alcohol on the middle section of the cup's inner wall. Then roll the cup horizontally to evenly distribute the alcohol on the inner wall. Ignite the alcohol and quickly place the cup on the desired area to create suction.
Common misconceptions about cupping
1. Taking a shower immediately after cupping
Many people like to take a shower immediately after cupping, thinking that it is comfortable. However, this is incorrect and can cause skin abrasions and inflammation. Especially taking a cold shower at this time can easily lead to catching a cold, and the moisture can enter the body, aggravating dampness in the body.
Recommendation: The correct time to take a shower is 1-2 hours after cupping. After cupping, pay attention to keeping warm, and the temperature of the shower water should be slightly higher.
2. The longer the cupping time, the better
Many people believe that the longer the cupping time, the better the effect. Some even believe that blisters must be formed to demonstrate the effectiveness of cupping. However, this is also a misconception. Prolonged cupping time may lead to blisters, which can damage the skin and cause skin infections.
Recommendation: The correct cupping time is 10-15 minutes. For elderly or frail individuals, the time should be reduced by half.
3. Repeated cupping in the same area
Many patients, after falling ill, often repeatedly cup in the same area, which can cause damage to the skin, such as redness and abrasions. Furthermore, frequent cupping in the same area can easily lead to infections.
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