"Where there's stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain."
The traditional healing techniques I use in my clinic are Cupping, Moxibustion and Gua Sha. All three are used to relief pain and underlying congestion and help restore the natural flow of energy.
CUPPING therapy is an ancient practice that spans from East to West.
In the East, the Chinese have been practising the art of cupping for at least three thousand years. Along with acupuncture and moxibustion, cupping forms part of the traditional bodywork of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Cupping is applied to relieve stagnation of Qi, blood and lymph fluids.
In the West, cupping therapy started in Egypt. The Ebers Papyrus from around 1550 B.C. states that healing by wet cupping removes foreign matter from the body. The Egyptians saw cupping as a remedy for just about every disorder.
The ancient Egyptians passed the art of cupping on to the ancient Greeks. Both Hippocrates and Galen were staunch advocates and users of cupping therapy. Herodotus, a famous Greek historian and physician, wrote, in 413 B.C.:
" ..cupping possesses the power of evacuating offending matter from the head; of diminishing pain of the same part; of lessening inflammation; of restoring the appetite; of strengthening a weak stomach; of removing vertigo and a tendency to faint; of drawing deep-seated offending matter towards the surface; of drying up fluxions; checking hemorrhages; promoting menstrual evacuations; arresting the tendency to putrefaction in fevers; accelerating and moderating the crisis of diseases.. these, and many analogous maladies, are relieved by the judicious application of the Cucurbits (cups).."
After falling out of favor with medicine in the modern era, cupping therapy is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, promoted by holistic healthcare practitioners.
One secret of cupping's popularity is its great ability to promote a state of deep pleasure and profound relaxation.
How Cupping Works:
Traditionally, naturopaths have long recognized the association between pain and conditions of congestion, stagnation and blockage. An old Chinese medical maxim states:
''Where there's stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.''
Not only pain, but the vast majority of all illness and disease comes from stagnation and blockage of vital energy (Qi), vital fluids, blood, phlegm and lymph. The suction applied by cupping sucks out and breaks up that congestion, stagnation, or blockage, restoring a free flow to the vital energies of the organism.
Actually, pain is the essence of disease. Suffering, or dis-ease, is experienced when things aren't flowing right, when there's some difficulty or obstruction to the natural flow and functioning of the body.
In addition to dispersing and breaking up stagnation and congestion in the flow of the life force, blood and other humors, cupping also disperses pathogenic heat, toxins and inflammation by bringing them to the surface for release. Pathogenic heat and toxins can fester and eat away at the organism when they're submerged and under pressure, but they find release at the surface.
By drawing congested energy, blood, or other humors to the surface, cupping is a form of derivation therapy which means the drawing away or diversion of vital energies or substances from the site of blockage in order to relieve congestion and restore health to the organism.
Toxins and other congested offending matter can do more harm when they're deep within the organism, obstructing the functioning of the vital organs at the body's core. The organism, whenever it can, will try to peripheralize such morbid matter by sending it to the service in the form of various cysts, boils or eruptions, even though they may be unsightly. Cupping is a way of activating and relieving pathogenic congestion to the internal organs, thus preventing more serious disorders.
By improving the circulation of blood, lymph and other vital fluids and breaking up and dispersing blockages and congestion of offending waste matter, cupping improves the evacuation of wastes from the organism. In Greek Medicine, the proper and timely evacuation of wastes from the body forms an important aspect of hygiene. Whether it be constipation, urinary retention, or even suppressed menses, the undue retention of anything that should be expelled is a major cause of morbidity and disease.
The Benefits of Cupping
On a general level, cupping improves the circulation of blood and lymph. It also regulates and improves the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
Locally, the most obvious benefit of cupping are a relief of pain and a relaxation and increased suppleness of stiff tendons and muscles. Cupping increases the cleansing flow of lymph, while removing congested blood from the muscles. If cupping is applied to the joints, the blood flow to the joint is increased and there's an increased secretion of synovial fluid into the joint cavity.
Cupping has a dramatic detoxifying effect on the skin and circulatory system. By increasing the flow of blood and fluids through the veins and arteries, cupping enhances the cleansing and removal of toxins. This detoxification may not be observable after just one treatment, but after about three to five treatments, there will be a noticeable improvement in the color of one's complexion.
How does Cupping work on scar tissue?
When the suction cup is placed on the scar tissue and its surrounding areas, the vacuum lifts the scar tissues above and below the skin, essentially pulling them apart so that fresh blood and lymph can circulate freely through them. This improved circulation in turn makes movement easier and as a result, healing of the scars is induced. While healing is always quicker and more effective on newer scars, cupping therapy works as well on old scars in a similar way. In case of C-sections, aside from the surgical scar, many patients experience a swollen sac at the base of the belly. Cupping therapy can reduce and even eliminate that after multiple sessions.
In the East, the Chinese have been practising the art of cupping for at least three thousand years. Along with acupuncture and moxibustion, cupping forms part of the traditional bodywork of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Cupping is applied to relieve stagnation of Qi, blood and lymph fluids.
In the West, cupping therapy started in Egypt. The Ebers Papyrus from around 1550 B.C. states that healing by wet cupping removes foreign matter from the body. The Egyptians saw cupping as a remedy for just about every disorder.
The ancient Egyptians passed the art of cupping on to the ancient Greeks. Both Hippocrates and Galen were staunch advocates and users of cupping therapy. Herodotus, a famous Greek historian and physician, wrote, in 413 B.C.:
" ..cupping possesses the power of evacuating offending matter from the head; of diminishing pain of the same part; of lessening inflammation; of restoring the appetite; of strengthening a weak stomach; of removing vertigo and a tendency to faint; of drawing deep-seated offending matter towards the surface; of drying up fluxions; checking hemorrhages; promoting menstrual evacuations; arresting the tendency to putrefaction in fevers; accelerating and moderating the crisis of diseases.. these, and many analogous maladies, are relieved by the judicious application of the Cucurbits (cups).."
After falling out of favor with medicine in the modern era, cupping therapy is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, promoted by holistic healthcare practitioners.
One secret of cupping's popularity is its great ability to promote a state of deep pleasure and profound relaxation.
How Cupping Works:
Traditionally, naturopaths have long recognized the association between pain and conditions of congestion, stagnation and blockage. An old Chinese medical maxim states:
''Where there's stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.''
Not only pain, but the vast majority of all illness and disease comes from stagnation and blockage of vital energy (Qi), vital fluids, blood, phlegm and lymph. The suction applied by cupping sucks out and breaks up that congestion, stagnation, or blockage, restoring a free flow to the vital energies of the organism.
Actually, pain is the essence of disease. Suffering, or dis-ease, is experienced when things aren't flowing right, when there's some difficulty or obstruction to the natural flow and functioning of the body.
In addition to dispersing and breaking up stagnation and congestion in the flow of the life force, blood and other humors, cupping also disperses pathogenic heat, toxins and inflammation by bringing them to the surface for release. Pathogenic heat and toxins can fester and eat away at the organism when they're submerged and under pressure, but they find release at the surface.
By drawing congested energy, blood, or other humors to the surface, cupping is a form of derivation therapy which means the drawing away or diversion of vital energies or substances from the site of blockage in order to relieve congestion and restore health to the organism.
Toxins and other congested offending matter can do more harm when they're deep within the organism, obstructing the functioning of the vital organs at the body's core. The organism, whenever it can, will try to peripheralize such morbid matter by sending it to the service in the form of various cysts, boils or eruptions, even though they may be unsightly. Cupping is a way of activating and relieving pathogenic congestion to the internal organs, thus preventing more serious disorders.
By improving the circulation of blood, lymph and other vital fluids and breaking up and dispersing blockages and congestion of offending waste matter, cupping improves the evacuation of wastes from the organism. In Greek Medicine, the proper and timely evacuation of wastes from the body forms an important aspect of hygiene. Whether it be constipation, urinary retention, or even suppressed menses, the undue retention of anything that should be expelled is a major cause of morbidity and disease.
The Benefits of Cupping
On a general level, cupping improves the circulation of blood and lymph. It also regulates and improves the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
Locally, the most obvious benefit of cupping are a relief of pain and a relaxation and increased suppleness of stiff tendons and muscles. Cupping increases the cleansing flow of lymph, while removing congested blood from the muscles. If cupping is applied to the joints, the blood flow to the joint is increased and there's an increased secretion of synovial fluid into the joint cavity.
Cupping has a dramatic detoxifying effect on the skin and circulatory system. By increasing the flow of blood and fluids through the veins and arteries, cupping enhances the cleansing and removal of toxins. This detoxification may not be observable after just one treatment, but after about three to five treatments, there will be a noticeable improvement in the color of one's complexion.
How does Cupping work on scar tissue?
When the suction cup is placed on the scar tissue and its surrounding areas, the vacuum lifts the scar tissues above and below the skin, essentially pulling them apart so that fresh blood and lymph can circulate freely through them. This improved circulation in turn makes movement easier and as a result, healing of the scars is induced. While healing is always quicker and more effective on newer scars, cupping therapy works as well on old scars in a similar way. In case of C-sections, aside from the surgical scar, many patients experience a swollen sac at the base of the belly. Cupping therapy can reduce and even eliminate that after multiple sessions.
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FIRE METHOD
Cupping, is the application of suction cups to the skin to draw out stagnant, congested blood and Qi (vital force) stagnation as well as other stagnant or morbid humors. One of the cupping techniques is called ‘Fire Method’ using cups made of glass. This classical method creates suction in the cup by using a flame to consume the air within it. In ancient times the cups or vessels were made of bamboo, bone or horn.
Cupping, is the application of suction cups to the skin to draw out stagnant, congested blood and Qi (vital force) stagnation as well as other stagnant or morbid humors. One of the cupping techniques is called ‘Fire Method’ using cups made of glass. This classical method creates suction in the cup by using a flame to consume the air within it. In ancient times the cups or vessels were made of bamboo, bone or horn.
MOXIBUSTION, or Moxa for short, is an ancient form of heat therapy that originated in China. Moxa uses the ground up leaves of the medicinal plant Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris). These are either rolled into sticks or the powdery substance is burned on a ginger slice (direct Moxa). During Moxa treatment, the burning Moxa stick is held about an inch away from the skin. The practitioner will monitor the heat level and work with the patient to provide a therapeutic level of heat while maintaining comfort and safety.
Burning Moxa has a distinct aroma which many people find very relaxing. The essential oils in Mugwort have a significant effect as a form of aromatherapy or medicinal incense. For centuries Mugwort has been used by healers and shamans to dispel evil. In European folk tradition Mugwort was placed into pillows to help prevent bad dreams and ward off nefarious spirits. Moxa in general has more or less the same efficacy as acupuncture. However, medical experiments have shown that Moxibustion exerts much wider and stronger effect on overall biochemical changes in the body than acupuncture. For example: it increases the production of white blood cells. The white blood cell count begins to increase immediately after direct Moxibustion treatment.
Moxa increases the production of red blood cells and haemoglobin. Clinical research validates that subjects who had an average haemoglobin ratio of 78% just before direct Moxibustion show a steady increase in haemoglobin production reaching a peak of 90% in eight weeks.
Moxa improves the overall blood and lymph circulations and the capacity to produce antibodies. Due to rather intense heat of burning Moxa over acu-points, impulses from nerve endings of the skin cause the dilation of capillaries (small vessels) to increase the blood and lymph circulations in the entire body. It is often the case that the patient feels warm, relaxed and sleepy from this effect after Moxibustion treatment.
Burning Moxa has a distinct aroma which many people find very relaxing. The essential oils in Mugwort have a significant effect as a form of aromatherapy or medicinal incense. For centuries Mugwort has been used by healers and shamans to dispel evil. In European folk tradition Mugwort was placed into pillows to help prevent bad dreams and ward off nefarious spirits. Moxa in general has more or less the same efficacy as acupuncture. However, medical experiments have shown that Moxibustion exerts much wider and stronger effect on overall biochemical changes in the body than acupuncture. For example: it increases the production of white blood cells. The white blood cell count begins to increase immediately after direct Moxibustion treatment.
Moxa increases the production of red blood cells and haemoglobin. Clinical research validates that subjects who had an average haemoglobin ratio of 78% just before direct Moxibustion show a steady increase in haemoglobin production reaching a peak of 90% in eight weeks.
Moxa improves the overall blood and lymph circulations and the capacity to produce antibodies. Due to rather intense heat of burning Moxa over acu-points, impulses from nerve endings of the skin cause the dilation of capillaries (small vessels) to increase the blood and lymph circulations in the entire body. It is often the case that the patient feels warm, relaxed and sleepy from this effect after Moxibustion treatment.
GUA SHA, or scraping, is a technique of rubbing the skin with a smooth blunt object until it reddens. This pulls the underlying congestion out of the surface of the skin. It is generally done over a painful, stiff neck, the shoulders or along the spine. It can be painful, but a 'good' pain, as at the same time the pain of the stiff congested area becomes tremendously reduced.
While Gua Sha is most commonly used to eliminate pain, it can also be utilized to address conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, colds, flus, fever, sprains, strains and muscle spasm. There are several theories that may explain why this ancient technique works: Gua Sha increases blood flow (microcirculation) in the soft tissue, potentially stimulates the body's natural pain-relieving opioid system, and it may block the pain response pathways leading to pain relief.
A study published in a 2011 edition of Pain Medicine demonstrated that GuaSha decreased pain for people suffering from chronic neck pain, noting that “neck pain severity after 1 week improved significantly better in the Gua Sha group compared with the control group (heat therapy).”
Researchers have used various techniques, including Doppler images, to show that microcirculation is indeed increased in the treated area, therefore decreasing both local and distal areas of pain.
While Gua Sha is most commonly used to eliminate pain, it can also be utilized to address conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, colds, flus, fever, sprains, strains and muscle spasm. There are several theories that may explain why this ancient technique works: Gua Sha increases blood flow (microcirculation) in the soft tissue, potentially stimulates the body's natural pain-relieving opioid system, and it may block the pain response pathways leading to pain relief.
A study published in a 2011 edition of Pain Medicine demonstrated that GuaSha decreased pain for people suffering from chronic neck pain, noting that “neck pain severity after 1 week improved significantly better in the Gua Sha group compared with the control group (heat therapy).”
Researchers have used various techniques, including Doppler images, to show that microcirculation is indeed increased in the treated area, therefore decreasing both local and distal areas of pain.
(A special thanks to http://greenalchemy.org for contributing a large body of research material for this article)
