Summer is the season when the Yang energy is at its peak and the body's Qi and blood are most abundant. Cupping therapy is the best time to treat various diseases, especially stubborn illnesses that linger from the winter. Below, we will explore the benefits of cupping in summer and the precautions to take during cupping therapy.
Benefits of Cupping in Summer
1. Dispelling Dampness and Relieving Heat
Cupping therapy has been used since ancient times for the purpose of preventing and treating diseases and strengthening the body. It is also an important therapy in acupuncture treatment.
Cupping therapy is commonly used to prevent and treat diseases such as colds, neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, obesity, headaches, heatstroke, acne, stomach pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
2. Clearing Meridians
Cupping can clear the meridians, harmonize the nourishing and defensive energies, eliminate pathogenic factors in the meridians, promote the smooth flow of Qi and blood, and nourish the tendons, vessels, and joints, thereby treating various diseases.
3. Expelling Pathogenic Factors
Cupping therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine uses negative pressure to extract the acupoints on the surface of the body. It not only opens the pores and dispels wind and cold, but also adjusts the function of the organs and meridians, invigorating the body's vitality and helping to eliminate pathogenic dampness from the body.
4. Regulating Organs
Cupping stimulates the meridians and acupoints, and the pressure it produces allows for better circulation of Qi and blood. There is a close connection between Qi and blood, meridians, and organs. Cupping can treat organ diseases and regulate organ health.
Three Diseases That Can Be Treated with Cupping in Summer
1. Summer Heat Dampness Cold
Summer cold in traditional Chinese medicine is also known as summer heat dampness cold, commonly referred to as "summer flu." The main symptoms include fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, dizziness, fatigue, restlessness, thirst, chest tightness, nausea, short and red urine, and a yellow and greasy tongue coating.
Cupping therapy: Cupping can be done on acupoints such as Feishu, Zhiyang, Yinlingquan, Zusanli, Quze, and Weizhong. The cups should be left on for 15-20 minutes. Once a day, stop after recovery.
Cupping can also be done along the bladder meridian on the back. Ginger juice can be applied as a lubricant, and the cups should be moved back and forth until the skin turns purplish-red. Finally, leave the cups on Dazhui and Feishu acupoints for 20 minutes.
2. Headaches
Summer is a season with a high incidence of headaches. The changing and unpredictable summer weather can aggravate headache symptoms. So, how should we deal with headaches in summer?
Cupping therapy: If the headache is on the sides of the head and is accompanied by distension, throbbing pain, dizziness, and dry eyes, cupping can be done on acupoints such as Fengchi, Jianjing, and Yanglingquan, which are on the foot Shaoyang gallbladder meridian and foot Jueyin liver meridian.
Top of the head pain is often related to emotions. Acupoints on the foot Jueyin liver meridian, such as Ganshu and Shenshu, can be cupped. If the headache is in the forehead, acupoints on the foot Yangming stomach meridian, such as Stomach Shu and Zusanli, should be cupped. Scraping therapy can be combined for better results.
3. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Due to the hot weather in summer, many people like to use air conditioning or fans, exposing their joints to cold air, which can lead to rheumatism.
Cupping therapy: For upper body and upper limb arthritis, acupoints such as Dazhui, Shendao, Fengmen, Xinyu, and Geyu can be cupped. For lower body and lower limb arthritis, acupoints such as Spleen Shu, Sanjiao Shu, and Large Intestine Shu can be cupped.
4-8 cups can be applied to each area, and the cups should be left on for about 15-20 minutes. Once daily or every other day, with a rest period of 5-6 days between courses.
Precautions for Cupping in Summer
1. Timing
The timing and intervals of cupping therapy must be well managed. Some people enjoy the process and cupping too frequently, resulting in skin damage, infections, and severe bruising.
2. After Meals
Cupping should be avoided within 1 hour after a meal. During cupping, patients should be asked if they feel pain, burning or tightness. Cupping should be done until the local skin turns reddish-purple, and the cups should be left on for the recommended time. Patients should keep warm during the cupping process.
3. Disease Prevention
For patients with inflammation or underlying diseases such as tuberculosis, bone destruction, severe coronary heart disease, and bleeding disorders, cupping may not be helpful and can even cause more destructive consequences.
4. Stay Warm
After cupping, it is important to avoid bathing or exposing oneself to cold temperatures for a certain period of time. Otherwise, it can lead to illness, or even worsen the condition.
