Moving cupping therapy (走罐, zǒu guàn) differs from traditional cupping (拔罐, bá guàn) in that it involves movement. In traditional cupping, the cup is placed and remains stationary, while in moving cupping, the cup is applied and then glided across the skin. Its effects are similar to gua sha (刮痧, guā shā), but with the added suction, it is more effective at bringing toxins to the surface for elimination through circulation. Moving cupping is typically applied to flatter areas of the body, such as the legs and back.
Moving cupping requires some courage; the more painful the area, the more it should be treated to promote toxin elimination and open pathways. For discomfort in the lower back, moving cupping can be applied to both sides of the buttocks, resulting in significant relief. For shoulder and back soreness, moving cupping can be applied to the shoulder area, and combined with bloodletting cupping (刺血拔罐, cì xuè bá guàn), it helps to release toxins and restore comfort. For those looking to lose weight, moving cupping can be applied to the legs.
Benefits of Moving Cupping Therapy
1. Weight Loss: It penetrates the subcutaneous fat by one centimeter, dispersing fat and tightening it through vacuum suction, preventing rebound;
2. Detoxification: The largest detoxification organ in the body is not the intestines or lymphatic system, but the skin, which serves as the body’s primary detox system. As the saying goes, “Life is in movement”; through movement, toxins are expelled through sweat from the pores, and moving cupping thoroughly opens the pores;
3. Dampness Elimination: Traditional Chinese medicine often states: “Cold is easy to dispel, but dampness is hard to remove.” Dampness and toxins have the most significant impact on the body, and medical research shows that individuals with high dampness tend to have an acidic constitution, making them more susceptible to cancer. By using moving cupping to eliminate dampness, you will notice a misty residue on the cup, indicating damp toxins;
4. Treatment of Lumbar Muscle Strain: Generally, individuals with lumbar strain see improvement after 7 to 10 sessions, as this condition is caused by stagnation of qi (气, qì) and blood (血, xuè);
5. Helps with Arm Fat: Moving cupping can be applied to the armpit lymph nodes to aid lymphatic detoxification and prevent lobular hyperplasia. It can also be applied to the inner thighs or abdomen;
6. Acne Treatment: Moving cupping along the Governor Vessel (督脉, dū mài) can help improve acne;
7. Promotes Qi and Blood Circulation: Moving cupping helps to eliminate blood waste, acting as a “cleaner” for the body’s blood, preventing hypertension and hyperlipidemia;
8. Supports Kidney and Liver Detoxification: It effectively aids in improving kidney stones and gallstones.
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