Functions of cupping

1. Introduction of TCM
(1) Strengthening healthy qi (energy) to eliminate evils (pathogens) and regulating yinqi and yangqi: In TCM, healthy energy means the disease resistance and positive functions; evils mean various etiological factors. Under normal circumstances, various organizations can coordinate with each other well. In other words, they can keep a relative balance between yinqi and yangqi.

(2) Deoppilation to meridian qi and blood: Organizations and organs such as five-zang organs and six-fu organs, four limbs and all bones, nine orifices, skin and muscle keep connecting as a whole by meridian system. Dredging meridian qi and blood makes people health while disorder of yin and yang, leading qi and blood block, causes diseases. Click here to learn Sciatica in TCM.

(3) Detumescence to relieve pain: because of eliminating evils and drawing out toxicity, cupping increases blood current which takes away evils so that it can eliminate swelling to relieves pain.

(4) Dispelling dampness and smoothing joint movement: Qi will freeze due to dampness and blood will silt in node due to frozen qi. Qi and blood can dispel dampness if they run currently.

(5) Prevention and life-cultivation: Cupping prevention includes health care and disease protection.

2. Recent research
(1) The function of mechanical stimulus: Cupping therapy is a kind of stimulation. When doing cupping, the negative pressure, traction of push-pull cupping, squeezing stimulation will make the regional organs a high degree of congestion, strengthen the exchange of air. As capillary permeability increases, the destruction of red blood cells leads to a large number of hemoglobin discharge, thus create a positive stimulus to the organs.

(2) Thermy and heat stimulating function: Dry cupping and bamboo cupping has distinctive effect. Thermal stimulation can expand the local blood vessels, speed up the circulation and strengthen the metabolism, as well as speed up eliminating the wastes and toxins and improving nutritional situation. Click here to learn Lumbar Herniated Disc in TCM.

(3) The regulating function: Many clinical studies have proved that cupping therapy can regulate the nerve system and the blood system, and improve the immune capability of human body.