“I really can’t stand it anymore, the pain is severe every day, and now I feel a bit scared when I see the cups.”
Ms. Shi, a resident of Jinan, spent 8,800 yuan on therapeutic services at the Cihuiren Health Center, and after nine consecutive days of high-intensity cupping therapy, three times a day for 40 minutes each time, she fainted twice on the morning of the 13th and was hospitalized.
After diagnosis at the hospital, Ms. Shi was found to have second-degree burns and required hospitalization. On the fourth day of cupping, she also experienced fever symptoms. However, the staff at the health center claimed that the fever and burns were normal phenomena and that they had informed her of these matters before the cupping.
Intensive Cupping for Nine Consecutive Days
Fainted Twice in One Morning
On the morning of the 13th, around 7 AM, Ms. Shi’s mother called her to get up for breakfast as usual. After several calls, Ms. Shi did not respond. When her mother approached, she found that her daughter was in a comatose state, and only after shaking her did Ms. Shi open her eyes. Ms. Shi was in poor spirits, having not eaten breakfast and only drinking a little water.
Despite feeling unwell, Ms. Shi insisted on going to the Cihuiren Health Center for cupping therapy at 9 AM that day.
At this health center, she had been undergoing cupping for nine days, enduring significant pain, but she did not want to stop midway. However, just as she was about to leave, she fainted again.
“I told her that this time she must not go, if she doesn’t go to the hospital, her life will be in danger,” said Ms. Shi’s mother, expressing her extreme concern after seeing her daughter faint twice in one morning.
On the afternoon of the 13th, in the burn unit of Shanda Second Hospital, Ms. Shi lay on the hospital bed. Her mother lifted her shirt to reveal twelve circular burn marks on her back, each about 6 cm in diameter, with some redness and swelling at the base, and the surface skin was dark brown, clearly showing the injuries.
The hospital’s medical records indicated that Ms. Shi had second-degree burns covering about 8% of her back due to cupping therapy started nine days prior, with severe pain and accompanying fever, necessitating hospitalization.
Ms. Shi’s friend, Ms. Chen, mentioned that if it weren’t for the fainting, Ms. Shi would have continued going to the health center for more cupping on her burned skin.
Her Back Appeared to Have Pus
Changing Two Shirts a Day
Ms. Shi stated that she learned about this health center in Jinan through a friend’s recommendation, and the therapy mainly involved detoxifying the meridians. “The center claimed it could improve my complexion and also prevent diseases like cancer,” she said.
Ms. Shi’s mother noted that her daughter would go for cupping around 9 AM and finish around 2 PM. After each cupping session, she would rest for over half an hour before the next session, which is why she usually had lunch there.
According to Ms. Shi, the center used gas cups for cupping. During the first session, she felt intense pain, and by the third session that day, her back was covered in blisters. Following the center’s cupping method, she had to undergo continuous cupping on her back, and after enduring pain, the next session was often even more painful. When she returned home, the pain was unbearable, and she was afraid to turn over while sleeping at night.
Ms. Shi was not the only one in pain; according to a video she provided, a man was heard repeatedly exclaiming, “Ouch, ouch,” due to the pain.
By the fourth day, Ms. Shi began to develop a fever, reaching as high as 39°C. Ms. Shi’s mother described that during those days, her daughter’s back was truly horrific. “It looked like there was pus on her back, with a lot of fluid every day, and I don’t know if it was body tissue fluid, along with some jelly-like, rubber band-like substances. I had to change her shirt twice a day,” she said.
Ms. Shi mentioned that initially, due to the pain, she considered stopping and informed the health center.
The staff told her that the pain was due to detoxification and that she could not stop; if she did, the toxins would remain in her body, leading to boils and other issues. The pain was attributed to her consuming too much chicken, fish, and meat, and now she needed to expel these toxins.
Ms. Shi’s mother stated: They did not allow her to take medicine or get injections, nor did they want her to go to the hospital; they just told her to endure.They said that fever was beneficial for detoxification, and even after fainting, they still wanted her to continue cupping.
Is Fever and Burns Normal?
Family Members Disagree
“I now feel that this cupping method is completely unacceptable and is a scam,” Ms. Shi’s mother expressed multiple times while looking at her daughter in the hospital bed.
She hopes the health center will refund her daughter’s fees and cover the corresponding medical expenses, stating that if necessary, they will resort to legal action. On the morning of the 13th, Ms. Shi’s family reported the incident to the police and filed a statement.
However, Ms. Shi, lying on the hospital bed, still holds some trust in this method, saying, “Now I don’t know (if it’s a scam or not).”
On the afternoon of the 13th, a reporter visited the Cihuiren Health Center. The staff claimed that they had informed Ms. Shi of the possible outcomes before cupping and showed her illustrative materials, stating, “She was completely voluntary in this.” During the cupping sessions, they communicated with Ms. Shi, and “she was very happy to do this.”
Regarding Ms. Shi’s fever symptoms, the staff stated that this is a completely normal phenomenon, and many customers at the center experience fever, not just her. They had previously shown her pictures, stating that if it were not normal, it would not lead to such detoxification.
As for the second-degree burns on Ms. Shi’s back, the staff claimed, “Our therapy is different from Western medicine; doing this adjustment is definitely different, our methods are not the same.”
When asked why Ms. Shi fainted, the staff did not provide an explanation.
“We just learned about this incident and are preparing to go to the hospital to check,” one staff member said. Additionally, regarding compensation, the two parties are currently negotiating.
NewsAdditional Information
Be Cautious
Cupping Therapy Should Be Done with Care! Certain Individuals Should Avoid It
While cupping therapy has certain physical therapeutic effects, doctors also remind that many people are not suitable for cupping therapy.
Firstly, individuals with heart disease, skin diseases, blood disorders, tuberculosis, various infectious diseases, and elderly individuals with particularly weak constitutions should be cautious with this method. Those with low blood pressure should also avoid cupping to prevent exacerbating existing conditions.
Additionally, diabetic patients should avoid bloodletting cupping, as it can hinder skin healing and lead to other inflammatory complications. More importantly, during cupping, one must avoid direct exposure to air conditioning or fans to prevent wind invasion.
Pregnant women and women during menstruation should also refrain from cupping to avoid exacerbating symptoms, and cupping may even trigger threatened miscarriage in pregnant women.
Ten Important Precautions for Cupping Therapy
1. Choose qualified health facilities and therapists.
Cupping therapy is a medical procedure, and practitioners should be qualified professionals to ensure safety.
2. Cupping environment.
The room should be warm during cupping, avoiding drafts to prevent the patient from getting cold. Patients should choose a comfortable position; otherwise, changing positions while the cups are on can cause them to fall off.
3. Cupping location and cup size matter.
The cupping location should be on flat, hairless skin, and the size of the cups should be adjusted according to the area being treated to ensure sufficient suction without falling off.
4. Understand your skin and body condition before cupping.
Individuals with skin allergies, edema, broken skin, or areas with dense blood vessels should avoid cupping. Patients with lung diseases should also avoid it, as it may lead to ruptured alveolar epithelium.
5. Careful post-cupping care.
While cupping can help with meridian unblocking, it can also harm the skin. After cupping, bathing can easily lead to colds due to pore dilation. Additionally, the skin is very fragile after cupping, and vigorous scrubbing may cause skin damage and inflammation.
6. Do not panic if there is a fire during the procedure.
If burns occur or if cups are left on too long causing blisters, treat them promptly to prevent infection. If the skin catches fire, immediately cover it with a wet towel to cut off the fire source and provide treatment based on the severity of the burn.
7. Avoid burns during cupping.
When using cups, be careful not to burn the skin; the amount of alcohol-soaked cotton should be moderate; too much can drip onto the skin and cause burns, while too little may not provide enough heat for effective cupping.
8. Preheat the cups.
In autumn and winter or cold weather, cups should be preheated with fire or hot water to a temperature slightly above body temperature. The temperature should not be too high to avoid burns.
9. Observe reactions.
After all cups are applied, continuously observe the patient’s reactions, inquire about their feelings, and promptly address any discomfort. If the suction is too strong causing pain, release some air to reduce suction; if the suction is too weak, reapply after removing the cups; if the patient experiences abnormal pain, dizziness, nausea, palpitations, or excessive bleeding from bloodletting cupping, the cups must be removed immediately for examination and treatment.
10. Cupping duration.
Large cups with strong suction can be left on for 5-10 minutes; medium cups should be left for 10-15 minutes; small cups should be left for 15-20 minutes. (Source: Yangcheng Evening News)
Source: Comprehensive reports from Qilu Evening News (ID: qiluwanbao002), Xinhua News Qinghai Channel, Guangdong Television Zhujiang Channel (ID: GDTVZJPD2013), Yangcheng Evening News (ID: wanbaoweixin), etc.
Editor: Guangzhou Daily All-Media