The Cupping Therapy of TCM
By admin on 2014-12-19

Summer is coming and for some people this is a good season for going to the beach or organizing a picnic with friends.

But for some others summer is not so good with the strong sun rays and the high temperatures causing sunstroke, and even vomiting or gagging.

Sunstroke, which sometimes is very serious and life threatening, can be avoided by taking a few easy preventative steps. One important factor to consider whenever you will be outdoors for an extended period of time under the sun is to protect your skin from the rays.

Do you feel that is so annoying? Where is the best place for citizens to go for a rest this summer so that they need not worry about the sun rays and sunstroke?

Well, why not try cupping therapy?

Cupping is an ancient Chinese method of causing local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left in place on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and localized healing takes place.

Cupping therapy has been further developed as a means to open the 'Meridians' of the body. Meridians are the conduits in the body through which energy flows to every part of the body and through every organ and tissue. There are five meridians on the back that, when opened, allow invigorating energy to travel the whole length of the body. It has been found that cupping is probably the best way of opening such meridians.

Cupping has also been found to affect the body up to four inches into the tissues, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, help activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear stretch marks and improve varicose veins. Cupping is the best deep tissue massage available. Cupping is very useful and very safe and can be easily learned and incorporated into your family health practices.

Renewal Spa

A renewal Spa is a great place to try cupping for the first time. For 68RMB, the trained masseuses can perform traditional fire and positioning cupping, and will ease you through the process.

First, fragrant oil is rolled over your back to help you relax, and then ignited cups are applied for around ten minutes, followed by a pressure point massage.

See how the first treatment goes, if your skin turns purple or dark red then they will suggest more treatment. The optimum color your skin should turn is light red.

Guo Yi Tang Hospital

Upon arriving at Guo Yi Tang (or the Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Medicine, as the sign reads), you will enter what seems like a bustling supermarket where all sorts of herbs and medicines are being swiftly wrapped up for the elderly punters.

But what you really need is Dr Guan in the south building. Dr Guan speaks great English and specializes in acupuncture and cupping. A proper consultation is essential before she can ascertain what procedure you need, but she says on average clients need six to eight treatments.

She will often incorporate massage, acupuncture and scraping depending on the condition of the patient. It usually costs 50-60RMB per session. There’s no need to make an appointment, and all the practitioners are graduates from the Chinese medical school.

Bai Ao Health Salon

If you want no-frills cupping, then Bai Ao on Nanluoguxiang might be the best place. It’s a cheap option, with 15 minutes costing a mere 30RMB, and there’s a whole range of other beauty services.

Staff at Bai Ao promise to prevent an impending cold, and also claim that theirs is a popular spot for the Australian football team.

Oriental Taipan

Oriental Taipan provides suction cup therapy services only. Using heat and suction, underlying tissues are sucked within the cup, and will open up and stimulate the meridians of the body, enabling an energy flow through all your organs and tissues.

They recommend the Chinese Meridian Oil Massage (318-358RMB for 80 minutes, depending on which oil you select), which incorporates cupping massage technology and additional cupping services (68RMB for 20 minutes).

Double Tree

Double Tree only provides traditional fire cupping and gliding cupping procedures, and doctors insist on a consultation before your treatment.

Dr Liu is the man in charge, and he is keen to demonstrate all the different techniques. Unfortunately, nobody here speaks any English, and the ‘Chinese torture’ treatment on the sign may put some people off.

However if you can cope with the simplicity of the treatment rooms, the rates are cheap. A one-hour therapeutic massage (70RMB) followed by 20 minutes of fire cupping (30RMB) is recommended.