Why Gua Sha and Cupping are Suitable for Treating Exogenous Diseases on the Back?

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【This article is part of: Dr. Peng’s Lecture Series on the “Huangdi Neijing” (with audio) – Essence Chapter – One Thousand One Hundred and One. (More exciting content is continuously updated…】

“The Yellow Emperor asked: Now, all febrile diseases are of the type of cold damage, some recover and some die, those who die are all within six or seven days, and those who recover are all after ten days or more, why is this? Not knowing the explanation, I wish to hear the reason. Qi Bo replied: The Great Yang is the source of all Yang, its pulse connects to the Fengfu (Wind Palace), thus it is the master of all Yang Qi. When a person is harmed by cold, it results in febrile disease; even if the heat is severe, one does not die; however, those who are affected by cold and become ill will surely not escape death.”——《Huangdi Neijing·Re Lun》

(Continuing from the previous text) Next, let us look at how ancient physicians understood this passage. Yang Shangshan’s commentary on this section is very good; he notes in the “Taisu”: “All Yang refers to the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) and Yang Wei (Yang Linking Vessel). The Du Mai is the sea of Yang vessels. The Yang Wei maintains all Yang vessels, converging at the Fengfu, belonging to the Taiyang (Greater Yang). Therefore, the Taiyang pulse is the master of all Yang Qi.” Yang Shangshan believes that the Du Mai governs all Yang vessels in the body, and the Yang Wei maintains them, converging at the Fengfu point, which is connected to the Taiyang Bladder Meridian. (Please follow WeChat: pengxinboshi) Of course, the Fengfu point, according to the meridian pathway, belongs to the Du Mai, but it is also connected to the Taiyang Bladder Meridian, which is the master of all Yang Qi. This is why, during the treatment process, especially for exogenous febrile diseases, Gua Sha and cupping are performed on the back, along the Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Whether it is cupping, Gua Sha, or moxibustion, the main focus is on this area. Have you ever seen someone with an exogenous disease receiving cupping on their abdomen? No. Have you seen cupping on their feet? No. It is always on the back. Why is that?

This is the wisdom passed down from ancient times, indicating that the pathogenic factors of exogenous diseases primarily concentrate on the back along the Bladder Meridian, below the neck, along the entire back from the shoulders down. If these meridians are opened, the Taiyang Bladder Meridian is cleared, and the Yang Qi throughout the body is unblocked. This is the thought process. Zhang Jiebin believes that all Yang Qi refers to the Yang portion, and in the “Suwen Jizhu” it is understood as the Qi of all Yang meridians. He states: “The pulse of the Taiyang begins at the Jingming (Bright Eyes), converges at the Fengfu, and runs along the Du Mai on the back; all meridian Qi is Yang, thus it is the master of all Yang Qi.”

This section mainly annotates the original text’s “The Great Yang is the source of all Yang, its pulse connects to the Fengfu, thus it is the master of all Yang Qi,” explaining why it is called the master of all Yang Qi. It actually discusses the pathway of the Taiyang Meridian. Because the Taiyang Meridian connects to the Fengfu, and the Fengfu is an acupoint of the Du Mai, while also being the convergence point of the Yang Wei and Du Mai, it is said that the Du Mai governs all Yang, thus the Taiyang Meridian encompasses all Yang Qi. This understanding is completely coherent, illustrating the relationship between the Du Mai and the Taiyang Bladder Meridian.

Therefore, whether we are using cupping or Gua Sha, everyone should pay attention, especially for exogenous diseases, such as fever or exogenous cold evil, when the entire back feels painful and feverish. What should we do? First, apply a cup to the Dazhui (Great Vertebra) point, which is an acupoint on the Du Mai. After treating the Dazhui point, then treat the Bladder Meridian on both sides. I am referring to the cupping method; actually, Gua Sha is the same. First, scrape the Dazhui point to bring out the Sha (red marks), and then scrape the sides, thus unblocking the Yang Qi throughout the body. Once the Yang meridians are unblocked, the exterior is released, and the cold evil can easily disperse. Then drink some herbal medicine for treating colds, warming Yang Qi, and dispelling wind-cold. In this way, with internal and external treatment combined, the pathogenic evil will disperse quickly.

We see in the “Liu Jing” that the annotation states: “If one wishes to resolve it in ten days or more,” meaning that for a person to recover, it may take more than ten days. (Please follow WeChat: pengxinboshi) In fact, in clinical practice, if we treat appropriately, it may not take ten days; it could be resolved within a week. For those who are healthy and have strong foundational Qi, their ability to resist pathogens is very strong, and they may recover in three to four days.

You must assess the patient’s constitution, which is why we perform cupping along the Bladder Meridian. Some may say that when we feel uncomfortable all over, we also like to cup on the back, which is correct. Because when you feel discomfort or soreness, the most uncomfortable areas are the neck, shoulders, back, and lower back. This is also related to modern work and lifestyle habits. Many people now work sitting down, unlike in the past when physical labor was common. Now, many people sit for long periods, leading to stiffness and discomfort in the neck and back, and even soreness in the lower back.

Because this meridian is precisely the Taiyang Bladder Meridian, which is the master of the three Yang Qi, governing all Yang Qi in the body, when the Yang Qi in this area is blocked, the whole body feels uncomfortable, heavy, and fatigued. Therefore, some people prefer to regularly receive Gua Sha or cupping, mainly focusing on scraping the back and neck area, or using Bian stone. Some people regularly prefer to receive cupping. We see that some athletes at the Olympics have many cupping marks on their backs, indicating that the methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine are indeed effective, not only used by domestic athletes but also by many foreign athletes. Cupping is essentially about unblocking these meridians and Qi and blood flow. Once you unblock it, the Taiyang Meridian encompasses all Yang Qi, and the Yang Qi disperses, leading to a feeling of lightness throughout the body, and the muscles become less tense.

For athletes, when the muscles are not tense, their flexibility increases, allowing them to achieve better results. For the general public, once the meridians on the back are unblocked, one will feel relaxed and in a good mood, and even the eyes will brighten, leading to improved efficiency in learning and work. Your daily mood will be pleasant, and these are the benefits that Traditional Chinese Medicine brings to you.

Some may ask if I should receive cupping several times a week or scrape Gua Sha several times. Each person’s constitution is different, so you should determine based on your own body’s tolerance. For those with particularly weak constitutions, sparse pores, and weak bodies, I do not recommend daily cupping or Gua Sha. You must assess your own situation. If someone feels particularly fatigued after one cupping session, it indicates that their Qi is weak, and they should not do it frequently. For example, if you have a constitution like Lin Daiyu, who is delicate and weak, doing cupping or Gua Sha every day will weaken your Qi and blood further, which is not advisable. If you have a constitution like Lu Zhishen, who is robust and strong, you can consider cupping or scraping two to three times a week to unblock the meridians, especially if you have symptoms like shoulder, back, or lower back discomfort. You can also consult a clinical physician to appropriately increase the frequency. In summary, everyone should perform cupping and Gua Sha reasonably based on their constitution and tolerance. (To be continued)

After learning from Dr. Peng’s course today, I believe you have gained a deeper understanding of the “Huangdi Neijing.” Finally, let’s have an interactive quiz to test your learning outcomes. This article is part of: Dr. Peng’s Lecture Series on the “Huangdi Neijing” (with audio) – Essence Chapter – One Thousand One. (More exciting content is continuously updated…)

Disclaimer: This article is a health knowledge sharing. The medications, prescriptions, acupuncture, and various treatment and health preservation methods mentioned in the text should be applied under the guidance of a professional physician. Do not apply them on your own. We are not responsible for any issues arising from improper use.

Copyright Statement: This article is authored by Dr. Peng Xin, and is an original article. Reproduction or citation without permission is prohibited.

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