More on DAmpness/Phlegm (Cupping)

[Guest guest]

This is some general info on cupping. It's taken from Acupuncture: A

Comprehensive Text, Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine,

Translated and edited by John O'Connor and Dan Bensky.

 

" Cupping is a method of treating disease by causing local

congestion. A partial vacuum is created in jars, usually by means of

heat, which are then applied to the skin, drawing up the underlying

tissues and forming blood stasis. " (p. 444.) Unfortunately the text

doesn't explain why and how creating congestion and even a little

localized Blood Stasis works for some things. When people understand

the why and the how, they can use the info much more effectively.

 

There are a number of substances that cups can be made of: Ceramic,

iron, brass, etc. though the two most popular materials today are

glass or bamboo. The earliest cups were animal horns. (p. 444.)

 

There's also different ways of creating a vaccum though lighting a

piece of alcohol-soaked cotton on the end of a stick or prongs and

sticking it in the jar remains the most common. A very tiny piece of

cotton can be stuck to the jar. (One wants to be careful to use a

small piece so a burning piece doesn't fall on the skin.) (p. 444.)

Another method is to cut a thin piece of something that won't conduct

heat, place it on the skin over the area to be cupped, put the cotton

on top of the wafer, light it, and cover it with the cup. (p. 445.)

This will create a stronger suction than the other two ways.

 

A modern variation of cupping uses a syringe to draw air out of a

vial and create a vacuum. You know those ampuls that shots come in?

The bottom is cut off and the edge sanded smooth. Stick the

hypodermic needle in the top just like you are getting ready to draw

up medicine into the syringe but you draw up air. (p. 445.) Though I

have to wonder how this method would affect the effectivenss of the

treatment. There would not be the slight heat that burning a piece of

cotton causes. Would this make a difference in some conditions?

 

Herbal liquids like " ginger juice, hot pepper water, etc. " also can

be put in the cups. The authors say this takes some dexterity to

accomplish though some of the liquid will be lost regardless of the

healer's skill. (p. 446.)

 

Cupping also can be combined with acupuncture. The needle is placed,

Qi is obtained, and the area around the needle is cupped with the

needle still in place. The authors say that this is more effective in

treating rheumatism than cupping alone. (pp. 446-447.)

 

Cupping also can be combined with blood-letting. First let the blood,

then cup. (p. 447.)

 

Cups can be left in place or moved. If they're to be moved, a

lubricant is spread on the rim of the cup before cupping. The healer

slightly lifts the edge of the cup in the direction that s/he wants

to move the cup, being careful not to break the seal. Continue moving

the cup " until the skin has reddened. " (p. 446.)

 

" A cup can be alternately placed, lifted, and replaced in rapid

succession, producting many small suctions, until the underlying skin

is reddened. " From the brief description I'm not sure how this works.

Does the healer need to be careful not to break the seal? I would

think so. Anyway, this method is used " over local areas of numbness

or declining function, associated with Deficient conditions. " (p.

446.)

 

The size of the cups vary. The smaller ones are used over

joints. " When 'moving the cup', bony prominences should be avoided. "

(p. 447.) (They will break the seal, and the cup will lose suction.)

One cup or several may be used. " When using many cups, avoid placing

them too close together. This will pull the surrounding skin too

tightly and cause pain. " (p. 447.) The editors recommend placing the

cups at least 5 cm. apart. (Footnote, p. 446.)

 

When you get ready to remove the cup you don't pull it off from the

top. you use a finger to press against the skin at the bottom of the

cup. This breaks the seal. (p. 447.)

 

It's common for cupping to leave a purple mark. (This is creating

some localized Blood Stasis.) BUT if the mark is " very pronounced " , a

cup should not be placed on the spot a second time. (p. 447.)

 

Cups should be left in place only until there is local congestion

(usually 5-15 minutes). If retained too long a blister may form. If

a large blister does form, it should be punctured to drain the fluid

and then dressed to avoid infection. " (p. 447.)

 

Here are the " general indications " for cupping: " Arthritic pain,

abdominal pain, stomach-ache, indigestion, headache, hypertension,

common cold, cough, low back pain, painful menstruation, eyes red,

swollen, and painful, poisonous snake bite, non-ulcerated furuncle. "

(p. 447.) The intro at the beginning of the chapter on cupping

mentions animal horns being used to drain pus from sores. (p. 444.)

It also mentions, " Later this method was utilized in treating

consumptive and rheumatic diseases. For example, in the Tang Dynasty

work, Necessities of a Frontier Official, cupping is prescribed for

the treatment of a condition similar to pulmonary tuberculosis. " (p.

444.)

 

Here are the contraindications for cupping: " High fever, convulsions

or cramps, allergic skin conditions or ulcerated sores; over areas

where the muscle is thin or the skin is not level because of bony

angles and depressions; on the abdomen or lower back of pregnant

women. " (p. 447.)

[Guest guest]

Hello Victoria,

in this case the cup is lifted and the seal IS broken, and the

vacuum is quickly made again with a flame, and the jar reapplied,

in rapid succession. A common use of this particular technique is

for cellulitis.

 

Marcos

 

--- victoria_dragon <victoria_dragon escreveu:

 

> This is some general info on cupping. It's taken from

> Acupuncture: A

> Comprehensive Text, Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine,

>

> > " A cup can be alternately placed, lifted, and replaced in

rapid succession, producting many small suctions, until the

> underlying skin

> is reddened. " From the brief description I'm not sure how this

> works.

> Does the healer need to be careful not to break the seal? I

> would

> think so. Anyway, this method is used " over local areas of

> numbness

> or declining function, associated with Deficient conditions. "

> (p.

> 446.)

>

 

 

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