Chinese cupping
Chinese cupping dates back 3,000 years and is designed to strengthen the immune system and revitalise and rebalance the organs of the body.
It is also used to treat specific problems:
- joint pain
- muscle injury
- headaches
- infections
- bronchial congestion
Suction cups are placed at various points on the body and a vacuum is created to "draw up" the skin beneath the cup. This encourages the flow of Qi and blood in the area beneath the cup and unblocks stagnate Qi in the area.
Traditionally the vacuum was created by burning off the oxygen in special cups once made from horns or bamboo but now made from glass. A more modern approach to creating the vacuum is to use plastic cups and pump the air out – a better option for those not keen on fire!. Cupping naturally draws blood to the external capillaries of the body and as a result minor weal or bruises may be left after a treatment. These tend to completely disappear after a few days .
