Cupping therapy, also known as vacuum cupping, or healing therapy, is an ancient traditional medicine used in the treatment of a broad range of medical conditions. It’s an alternative medicine that involves placing the cups on the skin and creating a suction. The suction improves the flow of energy and provides healing. The vacuum creation restores the flow of chi Or energy and helps in extracting blood that is harmful to the body and in turn, overcomes the potential adverse effects leading to physiological and psychological well-being.
Cupping therapy can be performed using different ways and methods of suction, depending on the conditions that one is suffering from. Different medical conditions are treated using different ways and different combinations of cupping. For example, wet cupping therapy can make improvements in conditions like reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, migraines, and headaches while wet cupping combined with flash cupping and acupuncture can treat facial paralysis. Dry cupping combined with pulsatile cupping can relieve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
Here are some of the different ways of performing cupping therapy that one can employ to improve various medical conditions.
1. Wet cupping:
This entails a therapist, that creates suction and then makes small cuts or incisions with a needle at a few points in the area and places the cups with a second suction. The waste blood is drawn out into the cups. It is employed for treating conditions like herpes zoster, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, chronic idiopathic urticaria, acne vulgarise, migraine and headache, non-specific low back pain and neck pain, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
2. Dry cupping:
Dry cupping generally involves placing the cups on the skin and creating a vacuum to apply negative pressure. Dry cupping can be done by setting a flame and covering it with a glass which will create a partial vacuum or it can also be done simply with the help of a manual hand pump which will create a negative pressure when the cups are applied on the skin. The suction created can be strong, medium or light. It is useful in improving conditions such as chronic asthmatic bronchitis therapy, musculoskeletal and muscle tension, and blood circulation at the point of injury.
3. Flash cupping:
It’s also known as empty cupping wherein the cups are removed without delay after suction. The cups are applied for a short period to stimulate the area. It is very useful in increasing blood circulation. When combined with moving cupping, it’s useful in improving urticaria.
4. Needle cupping:
Acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin and the needles contact the tension thereby relieving the pain. It is then followed by flash cupping or dry or wet cupping. Acupuncture is applied initially with the subsequent disposition of cups over the needle. This may help in the treatment of erysipelas, infection of lower limbs, and facial paralysis.
5. Herbal cupping:
In this method of cupping, bamboo cups are used where herbs are boiled as aqueous dispersion followed by the application of suction on specific points. It plays a vital role in postherpetic neuralgia treatment.
6. Sliding cupping:
It’s also known as moving cupping, gliding cupping, or massage cupping. In this method, oil is first applied to the affected area or the area of pain. The cups are placed on the skin of the affected area and the suction is created using a manual hand pump or a flame. The cups are then moved up and down until the skin is made hyperaemic.
7. Pneumatic pulsation:
A device that consists of cupping bells attached by vacuum to the skin. The device generates rhythmic impulses under a suction glass that vibrates the skin surface and generates negative pressure. It is used for treating chronic neck pain.
8. Coiling dragon needling:
It’s also known as Panlongci. The distribution of the needle is like a dragon coiled at the back of the patient. After acupuncture, cupping therapy is performed. It has a positive effect on chronic fatigue syndrome.
9. Fire cupping:
This cupping therapy involves a flame being lit inside the cup using a candle or a flammable substance that will create a vacuum effect. The skin sucked into the mouth of the cup will increase energy and blood flow in the region. Thereby, enhancing the function of blood circulation.
10. Raktamokshana:
As the name implies “rakta” means blood and “moksha” means liberation. It’s a type, where impure blood is let out using different means such as leach, alabu( plant pitcher), or a cow horn.
11. Water cupping:
Water Cupping consists of adding one one-third cup filled with water to the cups before applying them to the body. The cups have to be applied quickly to avoid spilling the water. Weak, medium, or strong suction is then applied to the cups.
There are various methods of suction employed while performing cupping therapy. Some of the major methods of suction employed to perform cupping are:
1. Manual suction:
A method of suction where a manual hand pump is used to create negative pressure each time the cups are applied to the skin. The suction created can be strong, medium, and weak.
2. Fire suction:
A candle or a well-lit flame is placed and is exhausted when it is covered with a cup or glass on the skin. The flame exhausts the supply of oxygen and creates a partial vacuum. The skin is sucked into the mouth of the cup or a glass. This method of suction can be used in dry cupping, flash cupping, or fire cupping.
3. Yantra prayoga:
Also known as ghati yantra. A hemispheric device made of copper is used for creating suction. It can be used while performing wet or dry cupping therapy.
4. Jalouka prayoga:
A type of suction where medicinal leeches are used to suck the impure blood underneath the skin by placing them on the affected area of the skin.
5. Sringa prayoga:
A cow horn is used for suction where both ends are kept open. The larger open end of the horn is placed on the skin and the impure blood is sucked from the other end after the incisions. It is mostly used for performing wet cupping therapy.
6. Alabu prayoga:
A pitcher gourd is used as a means to create suction. Incisions are made and a flame is lit inside the pitcher creating a vacuum. The toxic blood is sucked inside the pitcher.
