Cupping

Excerpts from the entry on Cupping in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Cupping is an ancient method of treatment in which a cup of some type is heated and applied to the skin. This creates suction, which draws the skin and underlying muscle area into the cup. Many types of cups can be used for this process, including ones made of bamboo, glass, plastic, rubber, or even the hollowed-out animal horns that the Chinese used. A partial vacuum is created in cups placed on the skin when heat (fire) or suction is used. Another, newer type of cup creates suction by using a pump. The cups come in various sizes depending on the area to be treated.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Cupping
• How Cupping Works
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Cupping
• Advantages of Cupping
• How Cupping Is Used
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.