Cupping
Alternate names: Bleeding Cupping, Blood-Letting Cupping, Cupping Massage, Dry Cupping, Fire-Cupping, Flash Cupping, Hijamat, Liquid Cupping, Medicinal Cupping, Momentary Cupping, Moving Cupping, Multiple Cupping, Needle Cupping, Pneumatic Pulsation Therapy, Pulsating Cupping, Retained Cupping, Shuiguanfa, Traditional Cupping, Ventosaterapia, Ventousothérapie, Water Cupping, Wet Cupping, Wet-Cupping
Background
Cupping is a therapeutic method that involves applying a heated cup to the skin. It's used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture.
As the air inside of the cup cools, it creates a slight suction on the skin. This is thought to improve blood flow. In a specific type of cupping, called wet cupping, a small cut is made in the skin before the heated cup is applied. This causes bleeding (blood-letting) when suction is created.
People use cupping for back pain. It is also used for metabolic syndrome, acne, fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, high blood pressure, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
As the air inside of the cup cools, it creates a slight suction on the skin. This is thought to improve blood flow. In a specific type of cupping, called wet cupping, a small cut is made in the skin before the heated cup is applied. This causes bleeding (blood-letting) when suction is created.
People use cupping for back pain. It is also used for metabolic syndrome, acne, fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, high blood pressure, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
Cupping is possibly safe when used appropriately. Side effects rare, but can include bruising and bleeding.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cupping is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Back pain. Various types of cupping, including dry cupping, wet cupping, and pulsatile cupping, seem to reduce lower back pain. Wet cupping might also reduce the use of pain medication.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- A grouping of symptoms that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (metabolic syndrome). Wet cupping doesn't seem to improve heart disease risk factors in people with metabolic syndrome.
Dosing & administration
Cupping involves applying heated cups to specific locations on the body based on symptoms. The locations may or may not be traditional acupoints. Cups can be made of silicone, glass, bamboo, metal, rubber, and wood.
The two most common types of cupping are dry cupping and wet cupping. In dry cupping, heated cups are applied to intact skin. As the air inside of the cup cools, it creates a slight suction on the skin. This is thought to increase blood flow. In wet cupping, a small cut is made in the skin before the heated cup is applied. This causes bleeding (blood-letting) when suction is created. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of cupping might be best for a specific condition.
The two most common types of cupping are dry cupping and wet cupping. In dry cupping, heated cups are applied to intact skin. As the air inside of the cup cools, it creates a slight suction on the skin. This is thought to increase blood flow. In wet cupping, a small cut is made in the skin before the heated cup is applied. This causes bleeding (blood-letting) when suction is created. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of cupping might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if this treatment interacts with any medicines. Before using this treatment, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 01/05/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 22/08/2015 03:10:55. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
