Cupping therapy is a method that uses cups as tools, applying an appropriate amount of lubricant to the rim of the cup and the affected area. By using heat to expel the air inside, a negative pressure is created, causing the cup to adhere to the skin. The practitioner then moves the cup back and forth over the affected area, resulting in skin redness or bruising, which helps to prevent and treat diseases. This method integrates warm acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, massage, and herbal therapy, exerting a comprehensive effect on the body to regulate the functions of the internal organs, meridians, and blood flow, thereby preventing and treating diseases.
1. Local cupping: This involves focusing on the affected area, performing small circular movements up, down, left, and right. For example, in cases of shoulder periarthritis, slow clockwise and counterclockwise movements can be performed on the shoulder.
2. Meridian cupping: This method focuses on the meridians related to the affected area, performing larger range cupping treatments along the meridians. For instance, cupping along the Bladder Meridian involves moving the cups up and down.
The Orthopedic Department of Mianyang City Hospital employs local cupping on the upper arm and meridian cupping on the back to treat shoulder pain. This method causes slight bleeding of the skin’s capillaries, stimulating the body’s immune response, detoxifying, and clearing heat, while also relaxing adhered tissues to achieve the effects of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain.
Local cupping on the upper arm: For patients with shoulder pain, local cupping is performed on the upper arm, moving along the front, middle, and back of the shoulder, as well as the trapezius muscle. The pressure should be adjusted according to the patient’s tolerance, with the skin becoming slightly red or purplish.
Back cupping: This is currently the most commonly used cupping therapy in clinical practice, belonging to the category of meridian cupping. It includes cupping along the Bladder Meridian and the Governing Vessel. The back is not only broad and strong, being a major part of the body’s trunk, but it is also an important area for the nervous system, meridian system, and immune system, making it a special zone for health maintenance.
The spine in the center of the back is the pathway of the Governing Vessel, which governs all the Yang meridians, playing a role in commanding, regulating, and connecting other Yang meridians. The Bladder Meridian on either side of the spine connects the entire body, with corresponding reflex points for the internal organs located at their respective shu points. Pathological changes in the functions of the internal organs can be reflected at these back shu points.
Back cupping is widely applied in clinical settings and can treat many diseases, such as respiratory diseases like colds, fevers, and coughs; digestive system diseases, suitable for digestive disorders caused by spleen and stomach deficiency, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. By stimulating the back shu points of the spleen, stomach, liver, and gallbladder, it can regulate the qi of the spleen and stomach and the liver and gallbladder. Soft tissue diseases, such as lumbar and back soft tissue disorders, often result from exposure to wind, cold, and dampness or from overexertion. Cupping can effectively eliminate the evils of wind, cold, and dampness, promoting circulation and relieving pain.
What should be noted after cupping?
The treated area should be kept warm to avoid further exposure to wind and cold. In principle, after large area cupping (such as back cupping), it is advised to avoid bathing for 24 hours. After removing the cups, any residual lubricant can be wiped off with a clean cotton ball or tissue, and a cup of warm water should be consumed to replenish fluids and enhance the effects of promoting blood circulation and detoxification.
Many patients feel pain when the cups are moved back and forth on the skin. The Huangdi Neijing states, “A good practitioner treats the skin and hair.” Treating the surface symptoms is very important. Cupping should ideally be performed in three steps: “Heaven, Man, Earth,” which refers to shallow, medium, and deep layers. The first step is to start with shallow cupping to gauge the patient’s pain tolerance, allowing them to relax. After completing the shallow layer, the medium layer is cupped, followed by the deep layer. This approach minimizes discomfort from cupping while enhancing efficacy and promoting the flow of qi and blood through the meridians.
Contributed by: Li Yuanyuan
Edited by: Chen Xuesi
Reviewed by: Deng Li
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