Cupping therapy

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Cupping treatment is a type of Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years. It is founded on the concept that stagnant blood and poor energy flow through the body are some of the causes of various health conditions.

According to Natural Therapy Pages, the pressure created from applying cups at specific body points creates suction, which draws blood to that area. As a result, blood flow is increased. Much like acupuncture, cupping is based on the meridian theory of the body.

Ashley Marcin wrote an article on Healthline, which was medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PHD., MSN, R.N., C NE, COI. Marcin reports that by increasing blood circulation to the areas where the cups are placed, cupping relieves muscle tension, promoting overall blood flow and cell repair. Cupping may also help in the formation of new blood vessels and connective tissue.

There are two types of cupping; wet and dry cupping.

Although there is little literature on how cupping therapy works, Natural Therapy pages say that it relieves pain by increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and supporting the body in self-healing.

Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Havard Health publishing, says that cupping is used in the treatment of;
• Back and neck pain
• Acne and hives
• Migraines and headaches
• Knee pain
In addition to these benefits, Huijuan Cao, Xun Li, and Jianping Liu of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology wrote that cupping therapy improves symptoms of respiratory diseases such as Pneumonia, Bronchitis, and asthma. These symptoms include dyspnea and cough.

They also documented that cupping therapy relieves pain associated with nerve compression and nerve root disorders like Bell’s palsy.

Cupping improves the immunity of the body. Therefore, people use it to complement their treatment for a variety of health conditions.

The side effects of cupping occur during or after treatment.
They include;
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Infection
• Bruising
• Scarring
Cupping contraindicated in the following groups of people;

• Children under four years old
• Seniors
• Pregnant people
• People on blood thinners
• People with open ulcers, sunburn, and internal organ disorders.

Works Cited
Wei-Bo Zhang,guang-Jun Wang,Kjell Fuxe. “Classic and Modern Meridian Studies: A Review of Low Hydraulic Resistance Channels along Meridians and Their Relevance for Therapeutic Effects in Traditional Chinese Medicine.” NCBI (2015): n. pag. Web.
Huijuan Cao,xun Li ,jianping Liu. An Updated Review of the Efficacy of Cupping Therapy. N.p., 2012. Web.
Marcin, Ashley. “What Is Cupping Therapy?” (2019): n. pag. Web.
Pages, Natural Therapy. “Cupping.” Web.

Acupuncture

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Acupuncture is an integral part of Chinese medicine practice used to treat several symptoms and diseases. According to Michele Van Hal, Alexander M. Dydyk, and Michael S. Green, acupuncture has been recognized worldwide as a form of treatment. Still, there are only a few randomized clinical trials to prove its efficacy. Therefore, acupuncture is only recognized as a complementary treatment.

“Acupuncture treatment is administered by applying small needles or pressure on specific points of the body. Lasers can also be used in place of needles. Because the needles used in acupuncture are much smaller than those used in drawing blood, acupuncture is often painless.”healthdirect.

Deare JC, Zheng Z, Xue CCL, Liu JP, Shang J, Scott SW, and Littlejohn G say that acupuncture is useful in treating fibromyalgia. It does this by reducing inflammation, stimulating the release of endorphins, referred to as natural painkillers, and calming the mind.

Acupuncture is also useful in alleviating chronic low-back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and sciatica. It may also be useful in the treatment of migraines and headaches.

According to an article by Better Health Channel, after carrying out a systemic review of the evidence for acupuncture use in the treatment and management of various disorders, the British National Health Service found that acupuncture effectively treats dental pain and jaw pain. It may also control post-chemotherapy and post-operative nausea.

Acupuncture is not only useful in the treatment of symptoms and diseases but it may also be used to improve overall well being 

Johns Hopkins Hospital states that traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe the human body contains over 2,000 acupuncture points linked by pathways or meridians. These pathways allow energy (Qi, pronounced “chee”) to flow through the body, responsible for overall health. 

Health disorders can be caused by a disruption in the flow of energy. Acupuncture at specific points is thought to improve the flow of Qi, thereby improving health.

Acupuncture is considered generally safe, but it may be associated with adverse effects in individual cases as with all treatment modalities. These effects include;

  • Bleeding or bruising at the puncture site
  • Infections at the puncture site

Works Cited

“Acupuncture.” Gov.au. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 July 2021.

“Acupuncture”—. Hopkinsmedicine.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 July 2021.

Deare, John C. et al. “Acupuncture for Treating Fibromyalgia.” Cochrane database of systematic reviews 5  (2013): CD007070. Print.

Healthdirect Australia. “Acupuncture.” (2021): n. pag. Web. 6 July 2021.

Van Hal, Michele, Alexander M. Dydyk, and Michael S. Green. “Acupuncture.” StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2020. Web.