cupping

Cupping is a stimulus therapy and belongs to the diversion procedure. Depending on the indication, this is bloody, bloodless or used as a massage. Today, this old form of therapy is mainly used in naturopathic practices where it is used in a wide variety of diseases.

contents

Historical review
effect
execution
Application areas bloody cupping
Areas of application Bloodless cupping
cupping massage
areas of application
Contraindications

Historical review

Cupping is an age-old method of therapy that dates back to the 3300 BC. Goes back. At that time the cup was pictured as a symbol on the doctors' seals. Cupping is older than phlebotomy and leech therapy and has been widely used in India, Egypt and Greece. In Greece cupping was even a god of its own, dedicated to Telesphorus. In Chinese medicine, the cupping process established itself as well. Cupping means getting out, leading, facilitating. Who does not know the term cupping in the context of money, as a financial relief, if not in a positive sense.

The Greek physician Hippocrates (460 - 377 BC) also used cupping. In the time around 30 v. Chr. until about AD 38, Italian laymen used to work with cupping heads to treat suppurations or blood attacks. More and more Bader and stone cutters used this method - especially the bloody variant - in excess, making cupping more and more in disrepute. Later, in the 16th century, the bloody cupping art gained a boom. The German physician Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland (1762 - 1836) greatly appreciated this form of therapy and described it as an extremely effective skin cleanser, which in his opinion was far too neglected. He treated diseases of the ears, eyes, liver, pleura, musculoskeletal system and much more. In the 19th and 20th centuries, cupping was already known around the world.

effect

The special cupping glasses are placed on the skin under vacuum. The resulting suction stimulates blood circulation in the affected tissue, associated with smaller blood leaks. Cupping is one of the so-called irritant therapies and acts not only in the treated area but on segments on specific organs and thus on the entire organism. Flushing is bloody, dry or in the form of a cupping massage. In the beginning, only on diseased sites was scalded. Later, the Greek physician Galenos of Pergamon (129 - 201 AD) describes the use of cupping glasses on body parts, away from the actual course of the disease. In this way, the internal organs, such as stomach, liver and kidneys are reached and treated. This is based on the findings of Head, according to certain skin areas (Head'sche zones) are connected via nerve connections with specific organs.

execution

For cupping different sized cupping glasses are used. To create the vacuum, high-percentage alcohol is added to the glass, ignited and then brought to the skin. This application is not used as often these days. A simpler method is the use of cupping glasses, which are provided with a rubber ball. These vessels of glass or plastic are applied to the area to be treated and by squeezing the rubber ball, they sucked on the skin. Some therapists work with an electric vacuum pump, with which a cupping massage is possible.

Application areas bloody cupping

The bloody cupping is the further development of an ancient method in which the skin was scratched and then sucked out with the mouth. Later, animal horns were used for it. Only after the glass was invented, cupping glasses were used.

Bloody cupping is used in so-called "fullness states". This means that too much energy or accumulated pressure has to be dissipated. This manifests itself in a so-called red (hot) Gelose. This is a tissue swelling that is hot, elastic and painful. This usually occurs in the context of an acute illness. If a gelose is already longer, it usually changes its condition and becomes a white (cold) Gelose. Bloody cupping increases blood and lymph flow, tension in the smooth muscle decreases, metabolism is improved and the pain decreases.

The course of the bloody cupping is as follows: The skin is first disinfected, then scribed and then applied the cupping. The therapists usually use a so-called cupping scraper for scoring. With this instrument, the skin can be scratched in several places at the same time. The Schröpflgas is applied to the "opened" area and thus collected the blood. One session can be used in several places. The therapist observes the process very closely and stops it immediately when no more blood flows. The amount of blood has nothing to do with the effect. Just a few drops can be enough here and bring the desired success. After cupping, the skin is cleaned again and covered with a plaster. The process can be repeated after a few days.

The red glands that use this method are caused by fullness that has become jammed, for example, hypertension and tension in the neck area. A choleric, a person who gets red in the face of anger and quickly becomes "loud", is a type of person who tends to red roses. Bloody cupping is no longer used as often as it can cause inflammation and scarring. Hygiene is the alpha and omega in any case.

Areas of application Bloodless cupping

Dry or bloodless cupping is used for white (cold, empty) geloses. Energy is lacking in the affected areas, blood circulation is reduced. These are cold, pale, but equally painful zones. Dry cupping stimulates blood circulation, increases lymphatic flow, warms up the treated area, stimulates the metabolism, supplies energy, removes slag and reduces pain.

Cold Gelosen are present, if during a massage the fabric hardly changes color, thus gets no reddish color. Patients affected by this are longing for heat applications. Each type of constitution can receive white vouchers, especially if there is already general weakness, emptiness and / or lack of energy.

When dry cupping the skin does not need to be disinfected. The cupping head absorbs by pressing the rubber ball connected to the glass on the skin. In the somewhat outdated method, in which the glasses are rinsed with high-percentage alcohol, then lighted and immediately applied to the skin, care must be taken to prevent burns. How long the cupping glasses stay on the skin depends on the patient and the underlying disease. The average duration of treatment is ten to twenty minutes. Mostly caused by the suction bruises. The frequency of cupping depends on the individual situation of the patient. Normally, however, it is treated once or twice a week.

cupping massage

The cupping massage is a further development of dry cupping. This is mainly used in muscle tension, in areas with reduced blood flow when heat is announced. Especially with pain in the neck, in the thoracic and lumbar region, this form of massage often brings relief. First, a circulation-promoting oil is applied to the area to be massaged. For the cupping massage, a special cupping glass with rubber ball and rounded rim is used. This is available in different sizes. The glass sucks and now gentle movements follow on the skin. If the cupping head comes loose, it is simply fixed again and the massage continues. It should be noted that the glass is never applied to bones. In the area of ​​the cervical spine, a cupping massage is contraindicated because this area is very sensitive. Here are enough strokes with the curved glass edge completely. Plastic lenses are best suited because they will not break if they should come off quickly.

areas of application

Before cupping, it is first considered whether bloody, dry or a massage is appropriate. The areas of application are varied. These include tension in the spine, low blood pressure (hypotension), high blood pressure (hypertension), headache, tinnitus or tinnitus, menstrual problems, constipation, shoulder and arm syndrome, problems in the stomach, liver, bile and much more. In most cases, cupping is not the only form of therapy that is used. At the same time, other forms of treatment are frequently used, such as phytotherapy, anthroposophy, ear acupuncture or Schüssler salts.

Contraindications

As with all forms of treatment, there are some contraindications for cupping. Thus, in pregnant women is generally foreseen by any cupping treatment. Bloody cupping is contraindicated in children, whereas the dry variant can be done from school age. Here are often enough for a few minutes to achieve an effect. Should not be flabbergasted on moles, varicose veins, in the area of ​​phlebitis, on injuries, rashes, warts, sunburn and acute inflammation. Cupping is not intended for self-treatment, but belongs in the hands of a doctor or alternative practitioner. (Sw)