Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine that was used in China, Egypt, the Middle East and Europe and is becoming increasingly popular. It is a technique in which cups made out of clay, glass or bamboo are suctioned onto the skin to create a negative pressure using a pumping or fire method. The two cupping techniques are wet and dry. Dry cupping is noninvasive and just pulls the skin into the cup. On the other hand, wet cupping is invasive and involves laceration of the skin so that blood is drawn into the cup. The therapist needs to practice sterility, handwashing, and wearing appropriate protective equipment such as gloves to prevent infections. The site where cups are placed depends on the condition being treated. A variety of conditions and illnesses such as headache, pain, muscular tension, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and skin disorders have benefitted from cupping therapy. In a study done for pain management with wet cupping therapy, there was a 66% reduction in average headache severity and a decrease in headache occurrence of 12.6 days per month (Ahmadi). Contraindications for cupping therapy include cancer patients, patients with a pacemaker, organ failure, hemophilia or other blood disorders. The specific mechanism of action of cupping therapy is not well known but there are numerous theories on how it works. Some theories include an increase in endogenous opioid production in the brain, an enhancement of blood circulation to remove toxins in the body, an increase in immunity through activation of the immune system, etc. More studies need to be done in the future on cupping therapy to support its beneficial effects.
References
Ahmadi A, Schwebel DC, Rezaei M. The efficacy of wet-cupping in the treatment of tension and migraine headache. Am. J. Chin. Med. 2008;36(1):37-44
Al-Bedah AMN, Elsubai IS, Qureshi NA, et al. The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. J Tradit Complement Med. 2018;9(2):90-97. Published 2018 Apr 30. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2018.03.003
Furhad S, Bokhari AA. Cupping Therapy. [Updated 2020 Feb 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538253/
Cupping and Message Therapy
Yu Feng Lin & Fawziya Twam
Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine which can be traced back to ancient Chinese, Egyptian and parts of the Middle East. Cupping is one of few techniques which can be found in The Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world. This would indicate that Egyptians were using the cupping technique from at least 1550 B.C. The use of this technique being ancient and still present today should show that cupping has many benefits and is proven to work. There are many reasons one may turn to cupping. Some reasons being to reduce inflammation and/or pain usually present in the back, neck or head. Other reasons being to increase blood flow. Some may get cupping for no reason other than to relax and receive a deep tissue massage.
Cupping is performed by a variety of healthcare providers. Training is required prior, but some of those who are eligible to receive training are acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, medical doctors and massage therapists. The way cupping works is through suction. Cups made of glass, ceramic, metal, silicone or bamboo are placed on to the skin. The cups may be placed on the back, stomach, arms or legs. To get the cups suctioned on pumping or a fire method is used. The use of suction is to draw blood either away or towards certain areas of the body. The force of the suction expands and even breaks tiny blood vessels in the body found under the skin. These tiny blood vessels are known as capillaries. This is what leaves behind bruising on the skin. Afterwards, the body will work on replenishing the damage done. Healthier blood flow takes place as the capillaries are repaired. The healing process after cupping is at a cellular level, basically renewing the capillaries.
The general idea of cupping is the same, but there are different ways to perform cupping. The steps may vary depending on the method chosen, so it is important for the one performing the technique to be knowledgeable and experienced. There are three main cupping methods; dry, running and bleeding. Dry cupping is a method which keeps the cups where they are placed. The skin is prepped and must be dry prior to starting. In ancient methods, and when performed traditionally, a cotton ball is soaked in alcohol and set aflame. It is placed within the cup prior to placing it on to the skin. The aflame cotton ball directs oxygen out of the cup. Since the cup is placed on to the skin, the air is now limited creating that suction desired. The suction will pull the skin into the cup. This is when bruising will start to occur as the capillaries start to expand and break. One change in the method over the years is the replacement of the aflame cotton ball for a suction device which removes the air instead. The next method, running, is very similar to the dry method. The difference is that the cups are meant to be moved around over the skin throughout the procedure. Instead of starting with dry skin, the skin is prepped and then covered in oil or a lotion. Once the cups are placed and suction is seen, the one performing the procedure will start to gently move the cups around. By moving them in different directions, more parts of the affected area will be relieved and it mimics a massage. Lastly, the bleeding method is also very similar to the dry method, but there is an additional step in comparison. Before placing the cups, a needle is used to puncture the skin. The reason for the puncture is to draw out any toxins in the blood through the suction of the cups. During the procedure, patients should not feel pain. It is common to experience tightness. After cupping, regardless of the technique used, it is expected to have red round marks, marking the placement of the cups. The bruise like marks will last up to 2 weeks before it starts to fade. The marks may be sore, but should not be painful or severely uncomfortable.
There can be many benefits to cupping as spoken about earlier. Benefits being a reduction in pain and inflammation, decreased muscle tightness, and improvement in blood flow and range of motion,. However, although risks are low, they are still present. Most commonly seen side effects are; bruising, fatigue, headache, nausea and muscle tension or soreness. It is important for the one performing the technique to be experienced, as an improper technique can lead to burns from the heated cups. With the bleeding method, skin infections may occur if not cared for properly. On rare occasions, vasovagal syncope may occur. This is when a person faints due to a drop in blood pressure and heart rate. This can be seen in patients who commonly faint during blood tests or other forms of needle stick.
References
WebMD. (n.d.). What is cupping therapy? uses, benefits, side effects, and more. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/cupping-therapy
professional, C. C. medical. (n.d.). Cupping therapy: Does it really work?. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16554-cupping