Cupping principles and effects

I believe everyone must have seen cupping, a treatment method used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the eyes of most people, cupping is a relatively dangerous treatment method because it uses the principle of air pressure to remove excess moisture and toxins from the human body, so it will form lumps of congestion on the surface of the skin. But in fact, if the cupping method is correct, it can have a very obvious therapeutic effect. The following will explain to you the principles and effects of cupping.

What is the principle of cupping?

Mechanical stimulation

Cupping therapy creates negative pressure inside the cup by exhausting air, allowing the edge of the cup to adhere tightly to the skin surface, pulling the nerves, muscles, blood vessels and subcutaneous glands, which can cause a series of neuroendocrine reactions, regulate vasodilation and contraction function and vascular permeability, thereby improving local blood circulation.

Warming effect

The local warming effect of cupping not only dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, but also enhances the permeability of blood vessel walls and the phagocytic ability of cells. The changes in vascular tone and mucosal permeability at the cupping site accelerate lymphatic circulation and enhance phagocytosis, which undoubtedly create a good environment for resisting biological causes of infectious lesions. In addition, the chronic stimulation of hemolysis has a health-care function for the human body.

Negative pressure effect

The negative pressure of cupping causes local congestion and blood stasis rapidly, small capillaries may even rupture, red blood cells may be destroyed, and hemolysis may occur. The release of hemoglobin in red blood cells is a benign stimulus to the body. It can bidirectionally regulate the functions of tissues and organs through the nervous system, while promoting the phagocytic action of white blood cells, increasing the skin's sensitivity and tolerance to external changes, and thus enhancing the body's immunity. Secondly, the powerful suction force of negative pressure can fully open the sweat pores, stimulate and enhance the functions of sweat glands and sebaceous glands, and cause aging cells on the surface of the skin to fall off, thereby accelerating the discharge of toxins and waste in the body.

What are the effects of cupping

Respiratory system indications

Treatment: acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pleurisy.

Main acupoints: Dazhui, Fengmen, Feishu, Yingchuang.

Digestive system indications

Treatment: acute and chronic gastritis, gastric neuralgia, indigestion, and hyperacidity.

Main acupoints: Liver Shu, Spleen Shu, Stomach Shu, Diaphragm Shu, Zhangmen.

Treatment: acute and chronic enteritis.

Main acupoints: spleen point, stomach point, large intestine point, Tianshu point.

Circulatory system indications

Treatment: hypertension.

Main acupoints: Liver Shu, Gallbladder Shu, Spleen Shu, Kidney Shu, Weizhong, Chengshan, Zusanli; focus on the back and lower limbs.

Treatment: Insufficient blood supply to the heart.

Main acupoints: Xinshu, Geshu, Gaohuangshu, Zhangmen.

Indications for sports system

Treatment: cervical vertebrae joint pain, shoulder joint and scapula pain, elbow joint pain.

Main acupoints: cupping around tender points and joints.

Treatment: back pain, lumbar pain, sacral pain, hip pain.

Main acupoints: Cupping according to the painful area and around the joints.

Treatment: knee pain, leg pain, heel pain.

Main acupoints: Use small glass cupping cups to cup the painful area and around the joints.

Neurological Indications

Treatment: neuralgia, occipital neuralgia.

Main acupoints: Dazhui, Dazhui, Tianzhu (with facial pad), Zhiyang.

Treatment: intercostal neuralgia.

Main acupoints: Zhangmen, Qimen, and cupping in the intercostal painful areas.

Treatment: sciatica.

Main acupoints: Zhibian, Huantiao, Weizhong.

Treatment: Paralysis of the limbs caused by rheumatic strain.

Main acupoints: Dazhui, Gaohuangshu, Shenshu, Fengshi, and paralysis areas.

Treatment: cervical muscle spasm.

Main acupoints: Jianjing, Dazhui, Jianzhongshu, Shenzhu.

Treatment: Gastrocnemius spasm.

Main acupoints: Weizhong, Chengshan and the gastrocnemius muscle on the affected side.

Treatment: facial nerve spasm.

Main acupoints: Xiaguan, Yintang, Jiache. Use a small cupping jar and keep it in place for only 6 seconds. Remove the cupping jar and pull it out 10 to 20 times in a row.

Treatment: diaphragm spasm.

Main acupoints: Geyu and Jingmen.

Gynecological indications

Treatment: dysmenorrhea.

Main acupoints: Guanyuan, Xuehai and Ashi points.

Treatment: amenorrhea.

Main acupoints: Guanyuan, Shenshu.

Treatment: menorrhagia.

Main acupoints: Guanyuan, uterus.

Treatment: leucorrhea.

Main acupoints: Guanyuan, uterus, Sanyinjiao.

Treatment: pelvic inflammatory disease.