Cupping is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice dating back at least 2-3000yrs.
It's popular in many parts of the world and it's methods of application are as varied as are the reasons for use. But is it just a placebo? More trendy voodoo then functional treatment? More Gwyneth Paltrow than Michel Phelps? Lets explore.
In TCM cupping is used to treat the blocked flow of 'Qi' , or energy in the body. In this traditional method of 'fire' or 'dry cupping', cups are made of glass, but around 1000yrs ago there's records of them being made from animal horns, bamboo, or even clay. "Honey, just off to have some warmed up goat horns suctioned onto my back to clear this village fever"....Lovely. I'll bet the hygiene standards were nothing to write home about either. The glass cups are warmed with a flame to burn off some oxygen inside then placed upon the bare skin of the patient, where a natural suction occurs and lifts the skin up inside the cup. The longer the flame is held inside the cup before placement, the stronger the suction. It goes without saying that very strong suction can also come hand in hand with mild burns on occasion. Ouchie. The bruising that's left after treatment is thought to be a favourable outcome, removing toxins and bringing 'thicker blood' to the surface for the body to flush. Sounds a bit hocus pocus right? It gets better. 'Wet' cupping is a slightly different treatment. A lancet is used to prick the skin before the cup is applied, which draws blood out of the skin and into the cup. In TCM this practice is used to dispel toxins and cool inflammatory conditions. I've always been a bit sceptical about this method, but around a decade ago I met a great manual therapist from Russia who actually specialised in this technique. His clinic was always fully booked. He mainly saw patients with chronic pain conditions who returned for the relief they felt after treatment. I've tried to keep and open mind since.

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