12 Jan, 2008
Chinese Cupping Therapy
Posted by: healthnut In: Studies on Health Alternatives|Trad Chinese Med (TCM)
Ever had glass cups laid on your back? If you haven’t, and your experiencing back pain or just general fatigue. Maybe it’s time to try it. Cupping is an ancient Chinese practice where heat is trapped in the glass and then placed on your back. I tried it a few years back and it helped a lot with my back pain. Basically, in cupping, a suction and negative pressure is placed on your back which is supposed to drain excess air, fluids and toxins. After the cupping, you will normally be applied with liniments, analgesics, plant hydrosols or essential oils to aid absorption deep into the tissue.
The increased local blood supply will nourish the muscles and skin and allow toxins to be carried away. The massage will also stimulate the peripheral nervous system; bring blood flow to stagnant muscles and skin; and loosen adhesions, connective tissue and stubborn knots in soft tissue. (This is the painful part and if your masseuse is not trained well, could actually end up damaging you more than helping. Ideally you should feel lots of pain and be sore but surprisingly better afterwards.)
Be warned as well that although cupping is not an irritant to the skin or body, since it draws the air out of the body and helps with blood circulation, your skin will redden and for some people this could last for weeks. Thank goodness you can’t see the marks yourself!
Oh yeah, and for the ladies, cupping can actually help with cellulite. But I haven’t seen anyone lose them yet!
