Cupping Therapy
The British Cupping Society (BCS) defines Cupping Therapy as “an ancient medical treatment that relies upon creating a local suction to mobilise blood flow in order to promote healing” (BCS 2008).
Cupping Therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures. The Ebers Papyrus 1550 B.C., one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, describes how Cupping Therapy was used to treat fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual problems and many other ailments. The Greeks used cupping as a cure for almost every illness. In traditional Chinese medicine, cupping is closely linked to acupuncture. In Islam, Hijama (a type of cupping) is a prophetically prescribed medical procedure known to heal a variety of ailments by effectively releasing toxins from the body tissues and organs.
Cupping Therapy is usually categorised into two types: Dry and Wet. Both types involve applying a negative pressure, suction, using a cup to a specific area of the body to draw toxins to the surface of the skin. The cup stays on the skin for a short period of time before being removed. In Wet Cupping (also called Hijama), after removing the cup at the end of Dry Cupping, superficial small scratches are made to the cupped skin area to excrete the toxins out of the body. The cup is reapplied with suction for a few minutes so that a very small amount of ‘toxic/unhealthy’ blood, tissue fluid and potentially harmful substances are removed from the body.
Cupping Therapy is believed to be both a curative and preventative treatment. It is practiced in several countries. Many people first became aware of it after seeing purplish circles on the body of swimmer Michael Phelps during the 2016 Olympics. In many western health trusts, some hospitals are using Cupping Therapy in disciplines such as physiotherapy and sports medicine due to its various health benefits.
Cupping Therapy can help with so many conditions, including back, shoulder, elbow, knee and foot pain, muscle and joints pain, sciatica, gout, rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, fertility and gynaecological disorders, menopause, skin problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, migraines and headaches, anxiety and depression, bronchial congestion caused by allergies and/or asthma, body cleansing and detoxification.
Cupping therapy is believed to be a healing therapy for the mind, body and soul.
