拔罐疗法 (Cupping Therapy) is a traditional external treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with effects that are similar to internal treatments. Cupping therapy has a long history and comes in various forms, categorized by the type of cups used, such as air cups, glass cups, and 竹罐 (bamboo cups); and by the technique, including moving cupping, flash cupping, stationary cupping, and 刺络拔罐 (needling cupping).
Among these, 竹罐疗法 (bamboo cupping therapy) is the most distinctive form of cupping therapy. Developed from the Sui and Tang dynasties to the present, this therapy has expanded from external ailments to internal diseases, and is widely used in clinical practice for conditions such as respiratory and digestive system diseases.
Since the implementation of this therapy in our department, it has shown significant efficacy for conditions such as chronic gastritis, insomnia, breast hyperplasia, and neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, with positive feedback from patients.
中药竹罐
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中药竹罐 (Chinese Herbal Bamboo Cupping) is performed by boiling herbs in water and heating them with a flash fire, creating a negative pressure by expelling air from the cup, which adheres to the skin surface to stimulate it, causing local tissue swelling, vasodilation, and increased blood flow; combined with the herbal steam penetrating through the skin pores into the local tissues, it enhances local circulation and removes accumulated metabolic waste, achieving the goals of dispelling wind and cold, promoting circulation, and alleviating swelling and pain.
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On the other hand, it stimulates local skin receptors to reflexively regulate the excitation and inhibition activities of the cerebral cortex, thus promoting disease recovery.
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In summary, 中药竹罐 (Chinese Herbal Bamboo Cupping) regulates the internal organs through the skin—meridians—viscera pathway, enhancing the function of the entire meridian system.
History of the Herbal Cupping
The earliest appearance of 中药竹罐 (Chinese Herbal Bamboo Cupping) was during the Yuan dynasty, and it was further researched by physicians during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Wu Qian in the 《医宗金鉴》 (Medical Canon of the Medical School) specifically dedicated a section to the method of bamboo cupping, using herbs like 羌活 (Notopterygium), 独活 (Angelica), and 紫苏 (Perilla) to treat abscesses with bamboo tubes combined with acupuncture. The modern application of 中药竹罐 (Chinese Herbal Bamboo Cupping) is mainly in treating cervical spine diseases, lumbar spine diseases, digestive system diseases (such as stomach pain due to spleen and stomach deficiency and cold), and gynecological diseases (such as irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea).
First, place the bamboo cup in boiling herbal liquid and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Using long tweezers, quickly remove the bamboo cup and shake off the herbal liquid and residue, placing the cup mouth down on a towel, and once the temperature is suitable, quickly press it onto the area to be cupped and perform tapping on that area.
This can relax the local muscles while promoting the steam to penetrate deeper tissues, accelerating blood circulation.
Finally, use the flash fire method to attach the bamboo cup to the area to be cupped, and cover it with a towel to prevent external pathogens from entering through the expanded skin pores, worsening the condition.
适应人群 (Applicable Population)
中药竹罐 (Chinese Herbal Bamboo Cupping) is mainly aimed at conditions caused by wind, cold, and dampness, such as 头痛 (headache), 颈椎病 (cervical spondylosis), 颈肩综合症 (cervical shoulder syndrome), 肩周炎 (frozen shoulder), 腰肌劳损 (lumbar muscle strain), 腰间盘突出 (herniated disc), 坐骨神经痛 (sciatica), 风湿 (rheumatism), and 类风湿性关节炎 (rheumatoid arthritis). It is also effective in regulating blood lipids, blood pressure, and treating irregular menstruation, but it is recommended to consult a physician for diagnosis before undergoing this therapy to ensure its suitability.
The advantages of 中药竹罐 (Chinese Herbal Bamboo Cupping): The bamboo cup is small, lightweight, sturdy, and inexpensive, easy to prepare, and can be used on various muscle areas of the abdomen and back, as well as on wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, and shoulders. It has a stable suction power, sustained heat, and can absorb herbal liquid, providing both warming and steaming effects, allowing sufficient space for the effective components of the herbal liquid to penetrate and exert their medicinal effects.
Through Our Clinical Practice:
This therapy can alleviate symptoms of neck, shoulder, and back pain, and has certain effects on insomnia, gastritis, and irregular menstruation. Compared to glass cups, it causes less pain and leaves lighter marks, making patients feel more comfortable.
