During suction cup therapy, multiple suction cups, made of glass or plastic, are applied to certain parts of your body. Different types of suction cups are selected based on the acupuncturist’s treatment objectives. A thousand years ago, however, the cups were made of bamboo, clay or animal horns. According to Ann Michelle Casco, L. Ac., a practitioner and acupuncturist of traditional Chinese medicine, the classic suction cup technique is called ba guan zi, which are fire or dried suction cups. This means that the cup is placed on an aship point or an acupuncture point along an energy meridian.
Since suction cups also help reduce inflammation in the body, athletes can expect an improvement in their blood flow, which in turn is beneficial when it comes to boosting their body’s immune system. TCM teaches that it is the stagnation of qi and blood that causes pain and illness. The suction cup stimulates the local blood circulation of qi and blood in the area to be treated, so that swelling, pain and tension are resolved. From a Western physiological perspective, the suction cup loosens the connective tissue or fascia and stimulates blood flow to the surface. Cutting stimulates tissue relaxation and better cell-to-cell communication. Research by the American physiologist and acupuncturist Helene Langevin has documented changes at the cellular level using an ultrasound camera.
If a person has any of these side effects after suction cup therapy, he should speak to a medical professional. Some people may have health problems, such as blood clotting problems, making the suction cups unsuitable. While health professionals and researchers continue to study the benefits of suction cups, this traditional alternative care technique will gain more acceptance and wider practice in holistic healthcare institutions in the US.
A therapeutic treatment for the suction cup includes heating and placing cups, usually made of glass, on the skin. Heating the air in the cup creates a vacuum and when applied to the skin, the tissue is inserted into the cup. This increases blood flow, releases the fascia or connective tissue and is believed to stimulate healing. It is similar to how deep tissue massage can be used to break scar tissue and reduce pain.
Cutting can cause temporary bruising and pain depending on the degree of suction caused by the vacuum and the level of internal stagnation. According to TCM, this would be a favorable result, suggesting that the treatment has successfully eliminated toxins and stagnation. The cups are removed by lifting an edge, allowing air and breaking the seal and void. Windy therapy, often simply called ‘cut’, is an ancient form of alternative medicine believed to have originated in China to relieve muscle tension. Practice is to place cups on the skin surface to create suction, and suction is supposed to increase blood flow to promote healing. Cups can be made of different materials, but are more often made of plastic, glass, bamboo or silicone.
The cups remain in place for five to twenty minutes, depending on the nature of the individual condition. A general course of treatment includes four to six intermittent sessions starting at three to ten days. In general, the suction cup is combined with acupuncture in one treatment, cupping massage but can also be used alone. The suction power and negative pressure of the suction cup can loosen the muscles, stimulate blood flow and calm the nervous system . The cut is used to relieve back and neck pain, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism and even cellulite.
Windy is a therapeutic process that uses a glass, ceramic, bamboo or plastic cup to create suction on the skin. The professional usually applies a flame on the inside of the cup to remove oxygen before placing the cup on the skin, creating a negative pressure that draws the skin into the cup. Some cups have a suction device so that it is not necessary to heat the cup.4 The cut increases blood circulation in the target areas where the cups are placed, relieves muscle tension and promotes cell repair. For athletes, suction cups help increase blood flow in sore muscles to reduce pain and promote rejuvenation. Windy, acupuncture and muscle scraping are forms of traditional Chinese medicine, also known as complementary or alternative Eastern medicine.