Many studies have doubted the effectiveness of cupping, but there are people who still believe in its ability to treat diseases and undergo it from time to time
What is meant by cupping?
It is a form of alternative medicine, used by the ancient Egyptians to heal from diseases and get rid of body diseases.
it is based on placing cups on the pain site of the body for a few minutes, with the aim of activating blood circulation and getting rid of toxins.
Types of cupping
- wet cupping:
it is one of the old therapeutic methods used in the treatment of some diseases, through the cups, and to create some small wounds in the skin using a medical scalpel, and then press it using the cups until the bad blood and impurities come out of the body and replace the new blood cells.
dry cupping is done without making any cuts to the skin, but internal and external pressure is carried out, where red spots form in place of cupping glasses and go away after a period.
Cupping therapy technique
- The therapist places a flammable substance in the cup, such as paper or alcohol, or herbs. then he fires this substance
- The he puts the cup directly on the skin.
- After that he leaves the Cup on the skin for 3 minutes, without moving it.
Therapists these days replace the first step, setting a fire, with a rubber material, which creates a vacuum inside the cup.
Most therapists use silicone cups because they are easy to move on the surface of the skin during massage.
Therapists use wet cupping, a small scalpel, to make light cuts on the skin, to perform secondary suction, and draw out harmful blood. Also, the therapist may put an antibiotic and a bandage to prevent infection.
The number of cups used in cupping ranges from 3 to 5 cups.
Recovery period after cupping
the skin returns to normal again 10 days after the cupping procedure, according to the British cupping Association.
Benefits of cupping therapy
Cupping has lots of advantages like but not least:
- treatment of blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia.
- migraine treatment
- high pressure treatment.
- treatment of anxiety and depression.
Side effects of cupping
Cupping is safe if they are done by a trained specialist, but the cups used in this process may have some side effects on the skin, like:
- mild infections.
- burns.
- bruises.
- infection of the skin.
Therefore, the British cupping Association stresses the need to speak with the specialist, to ensure that he has extensive experience in this field, considering the selection of places that observe safety and hygiene standards, to get the most benefit from the therapeutic cupping without causing any harm.
Is everyone allowed to have this therapy?
The prohibited category of cupping is people with:
- liver disease.
- Diabetics.
- Patients with ruptures of ligaments.
- The Pregnant.
- Patients with cancer
Best time for cupping
Many people are wondering about the best time for cupping.
it is indicated that it is recommended to be performed on the individual days of the lunar months, specifically on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
These days correspond to the guidance of the Sunnah which indicated that the best time to perform cupping is on the 17th, 19th, and 21st day of each lunar month.
Tips before cupping
one of the tips and instructions to follow before cupping is as follows:
- Drink enough water; equivalent to 6-8 glasses before a cupping session.
- Wear loose and comfortable clothes.
- Inform the therapist about all medications taken as well as the history of the disease.
- Do not eat for 2-3 hours before the cupping session or only eat snacks during that period, to achieve the best results.
- Take a shower at least 2-3 hours before cupping, avoid bathing immediately before the cupping procedure
Tips after cupping
One of the tips and instructions to follow cupping is:
- Drink enough water
- After cupping, a person may experience flu-like symptoms, such as headaches or general body pain, or may feel more tired than usual, due to a temporary immune system reaction to waste products that have been removed from cells with the help of cupping.
- Avoid sexual intercourse for 24 hours after a session of cupping.
- Keep the body warm by covering the areas where cupping was performed.
- Avoid eating meat and dairy products for 24 hours.
- Take a shower with warm water, while avoiding the use of soap or shower gel on cupping areas.
