This ancient Chinese therapy has been around for over 3000 years and has made recent news, because swimmer Michael Phelps has been using it on his back (see those red, round welts on his body on photos all over the Internet). Although science is dismissing the effectiveness of the treatment, practitioners, as well as patients seem to agree that it works. Traditionally cupping was used 1) to speed recovery from knocks and falls in martial arts training, and 2) to treat early stages of an infection from an airborne pathogen, in other words, for respiratory ailments. Modern usage has expanded to speed and optimize recovery from hard training, heal or compensate for injuries, and improve performance. Here in the US it is most widely practiced among acupuncturists, doctors of oriental medicine and naturopathic doctors.
The method uses glass cups which are heated on the inside with a cotton ball lit on fire after it is soaked in alcohol. This creates a vacuum, burning out all the oxygen within the cup and softly sucking the skin into the cylinder. Depending on the level of pain, the cups are left on the body for three to five minutes. They are sometimes moved around, containing the pressure created by the vacuum, resulting in the same effects of a deep tissue massage to the area and improving circulation. The welts, a factor of broken capillaries at the surface of the skin, or bruising, typically go away in a couple days’ time if the procedure is done correctly and according to traditional Chinese medicine.
Are you looking for a practitioner who is well versed in this method? Here at Shambhala Wellness we have David Brochstein, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncturist and Herbalist. His website is http://dbacu.com/ He can also be reached via email at david@dbacu.com.