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Cupping is a 3,000 year old technique of applying a cup to the skin surface to draw blood and energy to the surface point where it is applied. In Chinese medicine, where there is stagnation of blood or Qi (energy), there is pain. Cups are attached by creating a partial vacuum, usually by heat,  which are then applied to the skin to draw up the underlying tissues. These cups pull stagnation from within the body and bring it to the surface where it can dissipate. Through the years, materials such as bamboo, ceramic, iron and brass have been used, with glass or bamboo cups being the most common now. Today, cupping is used primarily for the treatment of muscular and joint pain, as in the case of arthritis or low back pain.
What Cupping is Used For
Functionally, cupping is used to warm and promote the free flow of Qi and blood in the meridians, dispel cold dampness and diminish swelling and pain. Clinically, cupping is used to treat Bi-syndromes (arthritis) caused by wind dampness such as pain in the low back, shoulders and leg; gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachache, vomiting and diarrhea; and lung diseases such as cough and asthma. Although cupping is not painful, it may leave marks that resemble bruises on the cupped area. These marks are painless and will disappear after a few days. |
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