Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston caused quite a media frenzy when she stepped out onto the red carpet bearing the marks of an ancient healing technique. Many were curious if she was a victim of a burning injury or has been physically abused by someone
For people who know a thing or two about cupping treatment, the marks were a confirmation that Miss Aniston firmly believes in the healing efficacy of cupping therapy. This modality is a three millennia-old procedure that is still leaving its mark in Modern Western medicine today.
What can one expect from a cupping therapy? These days, the treatment mainly uses glass cups although about three thousand years ago, bamboo wood and animal horns were used. In fact, during that time, the ancient Chinese referred to cupping as ‘horning’.
To decrease the pressure inside the cups, they are traditionally heated with fire and alcohol on the inside then applied onto the skin. The skin is suctioned towards the cup as the cup cools down.
A pump action is cupping therapy’s newest innovation which does away with the dangerous fire. It is also a more precise way of measuring the force of suction and obviously, takes out the risk of burning.
Cupping is used by Japanese shiatsu therapists and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. They apply the cups onto different areas of the body where meridian channels lie underneath. These meridians are the same channels used in acupuncture treatment. In the back, practitioners usually target five meridians particularly the one associated with the bladder system.
The ankles, legs, and hands can also be cupped since they have meridian channels that can be targeted to treat certain types of illnesses.
Practitioners often use cupping when they determine cold energy residing in the meridian channels of the patient. Cupping generates warmth that stimulates the skin. Suction moves blood to the affected areas promoting localized healing. The chi is warmed and starts to flow freely down the meridians.
Cupping therapy has the power to treat several disorders and diseases. The earliest writings from ancient China that first mentioned cupping discussed its use in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Nowadays, practitioners still use cupping to treat respiratory disease and other health conditions such as lymphatic obstructions, dizziness, headaches, gynecological conditions, and digestive disorders. Cupping can also help treat the common cold as well as soft tissue injuries and insomnia.
Cupping causes bruises that only last for two days and are not painful. If you desire to try out this therapy for yourself, it’s very important to seek treatment from a trained practitioner who can tell you where you need a bit of extra energy and where you don’t.
During ancient times, the Chinese and Japanese cultures were not the only ones to exclusively use cupping for various therapeutic reasons. The Arabs were also practicing this therapy at those times, which they called Al-hijamah. Now that it has been introduced by Hollywood stars and recently by US Olympic athletes, it will probably be now used by millions of people over the world.
So, the next time you see Jennifer walking on the red carpet covered in bruises, you know that she wasn’t just physically attacked by someone or anything like that. She just invested a little of effort and time into her health.
Ni Nan Gilbert is a licensed acupuncturist in Bellmore, NY with certification in Chinese Herbology and over 16 years experience in traditional Chinese medicine.
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