Many saw cupping, a chinese medicine practice, in the mainstream during the 2016 Olympics. When Olympic Swimmer, Michael Phelps, appeared on the global stage during his swim meet with circular bruises on his back and legs it gained a lot of attention. Many athletes are now using cupping to manage pain, muscle tension and even anxiety. As I continue to bring my body back from a pretty significant injury I’ve devoted myself to healing using many modalities.
Locally in San Diego area I see Elizabeth Pasimio at South Bay Family Acupuncture for the greatest care possible. In addition to her gentle spirit and wisdom, when it comes to chinese medicine, I greatly appreciate her attention to mind, body, spirit focused care.
Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups or bamboo jars as suction devices that are placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood, energy or other humors to the surface.The old Chinese medical maxim holds that pain results from the congestion, stagnation, and blockage of Qi, or vital energy, vital fluids, lymph, phlegm, and blood.
If pain is the essence of disease, then suffering is a result of obstructed or irregular flow in the body. Chinese cupping is therefore a method of breaking up the blockage to restore the body’s natural flow of energy.
WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY:
Here’s a few studies I found regarding cupping: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23762355/https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/pes_synthesis/62/
