We’ve seen in recent Olympic competitions with the eagle-eyed spotting dark circles on many of the pro-athlete’s bodies diving into the pools.Those marks are the result of cupping therapy. Cupping, is an ancient technique that has been used in China for more than 2000 years, obtaining greater popularity in recent times with its use by athletes in the 2016 Olympic Games, especially by swimmers, although in countries such as the United States it is frequently used by American football players.
In this technique, a kind of cups are applied to the body, creating a suction effect on the skin, and causing a vacuum effect that acts on the soft tissues and muscles and achieving a beneficial effect on them, as well as achieving better local blood circulation. These circular cups are made of different materials, from bamboo in ancient times to glass, metal or plastic today, with a diameter between 25 and 75 millimeters, approximately.
The vacuum effect is usually maintained between 5 and 10 minutes on the area to be treated, generating an intentional edema, erythema and ecchymosis. The application of cupping is usually related to acupuncture points or the journey of energy channels or meridians according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to act on the circulation of Qi and Blood (Xue) in the treatment area with the aim of achieving physiological and body balance or harmonization.
Suction cups can be applied using a gun that controls the suction force, or by the traditional vacuum method, known as fire suction cups. The later method involves lighting an alcohol-soaked cotton ball inside the suction cup to remove oxygen, creating the vacuum needed for suction. This method is mainly applied with glass or bamboo suction cups.
In just one cupping session, changes can be evidenced, such as a better mood, more energy, less stress, less anxiety, better activity in the lymphatic system, etc.
However, if you decide to take the therapy regularly, it can help treat migraines, backaches, muscle tension, tiredness, allergies, constipation, poor circulation, insomnia, and varicose veins, among other benefits.
This therapy can treat obesity problems, since Chinese medicine assures that this technique eliminates moisture stagnation and helps mobilize stagnant fats, it is also highly recommended in facial and body treatments due to its drainage effect. Cupping therapy is definitely considered as a new way of taking care of the body and mind.
Since it not only improves the internal functions of the body, but it is also reflected in the face, in the change of attitude because the therapy helps to release endorphins, stimulating the acupuncture points achieves a peaceful and pleasant mood.
Benefits sought with cupping include:
- Blood Vessel Strengthening
- Better Tissue Nutrition
- Eliminate pain, especially at the Dorso-Lumbar level
- Eliminate toxins
- Balance the Nervous System
- Stress Regulation
- Increases and improves the Synovial Fluid of the Joints
What does the scientific research show?
A report published in 2015 in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine notes that it could help with acne, shingles, and pain management.
A similar 2012 report, published in PLOS ONE, in which Australian and Chinese researchers reviewed 135 studies on cupping, concluded that cupping therapy can be effective when combined with other treatments, such as acupuncture or medications, for various diseases and conditions, such as:
- Herpes infection
- Acne
- Facial paralysis
- Cervical spondylosis
The British Cupping Society says that Cupping therapy is used to treat:
- Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia
- Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
- Fertility and gynecological disorders
- Skin problems such as eczema and acne. Hypertension
- Migraines
- Anxiety and depression
- Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma
- Varicose veins.
Cupping therapy is quite safe as long as it is applied by a trained professional, although it can cause some effects adverse side effects or certain discomforts such as:
- Local pain and tenderness, which can be reduced by decreasing the suction force.
- Erythema or redness of the application area.
- Bruises or ecchymoses that can last up to a week or so.
- Feeling dizzy or sick and/or sweating
Certain precautions should be taken into account or they could be considered as contraindications in fragile patients such the elderly or very young children, in areas of open wounds, skin infections, fractures or patients who are medicated with anticoagulants or coping with leukemia, pernicious anemia or hemophilia. In pregnant women, avoid applying them to the abdominal area; It can be applied to the back or extremities area with light suction until the 6th month of pregnancy. No more than the 6th is advisable.
Currently Cupping Therapy is applied in Public and Private Hospitals in China, Japan and in some Anglo-Saxon countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, with some success especially combined with other techniques within TCM such as Acupuncture or Chiropractic or Osteopathic Therapy, within Sports Medicine for the treatment of injuries
tendomuscular and/or joint.
Currently there is some controversy in the use of this technique, in which it is said that it is not effective or causes certain skin lesions such as bruises, small burns, etc…, but several comparative studies and systematic reviews do demonstrate the effectiveness of the cupping technique, especially in acute and chronic low back pain. acting on local blood circulation helping to decrease or interrupt inflammatory processes and the autonomic nervous system, which contributes to the reduction or reduction of pain, such as a study published in the Journal of the Spanish Association of Specialists in Occupational Medicine, or systematic reviews and comparative studies in Pubmed databases, Medline, Cochrane or Web of Science.
In conclusion, the cupping technique is widely used in Eastern countries (China and Japan), for various pathologies such as respiratory pathologies, fever, inflammation and musculoskeletal pain, and in the West especially.
