Cupping is a very old method, the first recorded description of the technique was in Mesopotamia about 4,000 BC. Various types of cups were used, like bamboo, silver, animal horns & the purpose of the treatment was to suck out “bad” body liquids such as blood or pus.
Cupping is a technique that involves applying a glass, plastic, or silicone cup to the skin & creating a vacuum inside using heat, a squeezable bulb, or a suction gun. This bursts blood capillaries under the cup, the skin can become red or darker as a bruise. The suction effect of the skin & the tissue can be regulated & is based on intensity we discuss about weak or strong cupping. The cups are left on the body for about 5 – 30 minutes & then they are carefully removed.
The cupping procedure varies from region. The most typical method in Europe is to place the cups to the painful muscles or the therapist is guided by manual thermodynamics differentiation. Cups are placed only on the back. Blood or wet cupping is abundantly used where blood is drawn by local suction from a small skin incision.
In Asia the cups are directly placed to meridians or directly to acupuncture points as per the Traditional Chinese Medicine. Blood cupping is not so common. Cupping can affect the body & cause tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear the veins, stimulate chi & blood, eliminate the pain & liquids, blood, chi & food stagnation.
Gua sha is another technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine that uses a jade massage tool to scratch the surface of the skin. Gua means scratching & sha means eruption. The therapeutist scrapes your skin with short or long strokes to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue, which increases blood flow. The massage itself is not painful, the rubbed places become red & warm, the feeling is very pleasant. The Gua sha technique eliminates stagnation & both blood & energy can begin to flow. A typical reaction after the massage is tiredness. Gua sha pushes dense blood & toxins through capillaries network into the tissue & between the cells, where lymphatic system then drives them out of the body. The flow of chi & blood is harmonized. The method brings almost immediate effect, it is well applied in acute conditions. It is appropriate to combine it with other techniques such as cupping.
Contraindicated for both methods is bleeding, skin damage or inflammation, pregnancy, acute trauma, use of blood thinners or clotting disorders.
