The Ancient Art of Cupping
As a practitioner of Japanese acupuncture in Portland, I am seeing a renewed interest in one of the most ancient are of cupping; the application of suction cups to the body. We really don’t know where cupping originated. Some say the practice began in China where archaeologists have found evidence of cupping dating back to 1000 B.C. However, the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, describes the systematic use of cupping by the early Egyptians, as far back as 1550 B.C. In both of these ancient societies, cupping was highly respected as a treatment for disease and as a method of routine health maintenance.
In the early days, cups were made of animal horns or bamboo. Later, they began to be made out of pottery and today, cups are usually made of glass or plastic. Typically, cups are round vessels, 1″ to 3″ in diameter, and are applied to the body with vacuum suction. The vacuum is created either by means of heating the air inside the cup or by a mechanical pump. The result is that the cup sticks to the body and creates a local area of low pressure, which causes the blood to gather under the cup near the surface of the body.
From a western scientific perspective, cupping creates pressure in the local tissues by drawing blood to the surface from areas underneath. Through this process, fresh blood moves into the areas below the surface. The result is an immediate improvement of circulation in the affected area. It has been found that cupping affects the circulation 4 inches below the surface of the skin where the cups are applied. As a result, cupping can directly influence the health of the underlying tissues and internal organs.
The general benefits of cupping are improved circulation, purification of blood, regulation of the autonomic nervous system and an overall cooling effect. In addition, cupping reduces pain and swelling and speeds the natural healing process in the specific areas of application. Cupping therapy is effective in the treatment of painful joints and muscles, digestive disorders, headaches, respiratory disorders, some skin conditions such as boils, eczema, etc., facial paralysis, weakness of the muscles, high blood pressure and common colds.
One of the side benefits of cupping is that it feels great. The mild pulling sensation helps to release the muscles and calm the sympathetic nervous system, thus allowing a deep relaxation to move through the whole body. It is not unusual for a patient to fall asleep while the cups are on, waking up afterward feeling relaxed and refreshed. Cupping therapy is available from most acupuncturists as well as some massage and shiatsu practitioners.
Precautionary Note: Cupping therapy should be preformed by a trained practitioner. Cupping should not be performed on the abdomen or low back during pregnancy or near surgical incisions within one year of surgery. Cupping is contraindicated in cases of allergic skin disorders, burns, severe edema, extreme fatigue, low blood pressure or bleeding disorders of any kind. Also, cancer patients with an active tumor or patients who are taking blood thinning medication should avoid cupping therapy.
Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:
Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805
Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncture Portland, circulation, Cupping, Galen, Hippocrates, Japanese acupuncture, portland, qi energy, Shiatsu