Cupping

Cupping is a method of treatment that has been used by the Chinese people for thousands of years. A cup made of plastic, glass, bamboo, or the earliest known device being an animal horn, is attached to the skin using negative pressure to create local congestion. The placement of suction cups upon the skin brings blood to the surface, thereby encouraging the movement  of blood. In this article I will explain it’s wide and varying therapeutic advantages.

 

There are many appropriate uses for cupping. It is often used to help relieve tight muscle following injury, repetative stress and emotional stress. The most common uses are for acute or chronic back, shoulder and neck pain. It is also used for gastrointestinal upset such as stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Cupping is also a very effective method of treatment for respiratory congestion as it provides a mild detoxification and encourages the proper movement of fluids. For example, cupping assists in recovery from conditions such as cold, flu, asthma, brochitis and pneumonia.

 

Cupping is safe for people of all ages. Infants and young children generally respond very quickly. For example, when my sons were little I would do cupping on their back at the onset of an illness such as a cold or flu. After cupping, they would generate a fever, (which helps to rid the system of the virus) fall asleep, and wake up on their way to recovery. With more serious conditions involving a cough or bronchitis, a combination of treatment is used, and I follow up with another round of cupping after the bruises have faded. As we age, healing generally takes longer and a combination of therapeutic techniques such as acupuncture and moxibustion are used.

 

For more information, please email me at daisylear@gmail.com or call me at 303.587.3557