"Cupping"

[KickChick]

You're sure to see this pic of Gwyneth Paltrow's bruises as a result of her having "cupping".

Cupping is a form of alternative pain therapy in which the practitioner creates suction in a cup. And then applies that cup to the body, which then draws the skin up around the cup, under the cup.

Cupping brings fresh blood to the area improving circulation. It also helps open up the chest and benefit the lungs and can even benefit menstrual problems and digestive problems also. Most commonly, it’s used for aches and pains of various types as well as respiratory problems.

There are very few conditions in which cupping should not be used, such as high fever, skin disease or tendency to bleed easily.

Each cupping session last about 10 to 15 minutes and it can be repeated, once the marks are cleared, until the problem is resolved

[RichieRich]

Is it eastern medicine / along similar lines to acipunture?

[neryo_tkd]

anyone ever tried it?

[KickChick]

Is it eastern medicine / along similar lines to acipunture?

Cupping is described as a "form of acupuncture" or "middle-class leeching".

The treatment is believed to have originated in China and was brought to Europe by the Jesuits in the 13th or 14th century.

[dragon_bunny]

had a medical doctor on radio one to talk about it.. he nearly laughed when asked if it worked.. v. amusing.. totaly the wrong person to ask that too :)
saw a piece on it being done, the practiioner lit a wick in the cup then blew it out and put in on this guys back, caused a vacuum and sucked his skin in alittle.. he seemed to like it :)

only one question, other than for publicity, why on earth would you have it done on your back get nasty bruises then wear a back- less dress out where you knew you'd get photographed?? Is she son commision from the cupping people? :D

[RichieRich]

This thread will get a lot of hits, because cupping sounds rude / kinky / fun! :D

[KickChick]

This thread will get a lot of hits, because cupping sounds rude / kinky / fun!

It's NOT "spooning" :D

That same pic was posted on this thread.... :)
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12913

[RichieRich]

"he gently cupped her, oh the sweet ,ecstatic suction.."

Ngghhhhh!

[Capt Ann]

anyone ever tried it?
I've heard of something similar that does seem to work: if you hurt your knee, you can bang on your toes with a hammer. Eventually, you forget all about the pain in your knee. :D

[KickChick]

why on earth would you have it done on your back get nasty bruises then wear a back- less dress out where you knew you'd get photographed?? Is she son commision from the cupping people? :D


... obviously Gwynie wants the world to know it!
Her and hubbie are known to be big fans of traditional healing.

[Kwajman]

I know the answer to this question already, but any links?

[neryo_tkd]

I've heard of something similar that does seem to work: if you hurt your knee, you can bang on your toes with a hammer. Eventually, you forget all about the pain in your knee. :D

does it have to be the toes??? :D :D :D

[Capt Ann]

Fingers work, too, but that can mess up your nails.

[Paratus]

does it have to be the toes??? :D :D :D

It could be a mallet to the groin :D

[johndoch]

Reminds me of that episode of friends where Chandler goes to Joeys tailor for a pair of trousers and finds that the tailor does a little "cupping" ;)

[El Tejon]

*Sigh* if only my back were as hairless. :D

It's sort of like having your ears candled. That feels great and you can hear better, maybe a placebo, don't know. However, since I wear plugs with my electronic ears while training, like to think it helps clear the junk out.

Have had it done as part of acupuncture for my shoulder. Old militree injury that was reinjured in Judo and qin na.

[KickChick]

I know the answer to this question already, but any links?

:D :D :D :D
'Cupping' Takes The Pain Away (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/12/earlyshow/health/main628788.shtml)... a cupping segment which I saw shown on the Early Show onTV. Link has video also!

[aikiwolfie]

It's sort of like having your ears candled.
Does this involve making candles from your ear wax :confused: eeewww :p

[El Tejon]

aiki, right, you've had your fun. Move along then. :D

No, just saying that the vaccuum effect theory is the same.

[SenseLess]

well from wat ive noticed theres atleast 2types around....traditional ones where u burn the herbs and then put the cup on...and some newage magnetic ones....no idea how it works....but found it intersting theres 2types thats all

[KRONOS]

A friend of mine broke his ankle in china riding a motorcycle. He went to a Chinese doctor and was asked if he wanted the quick fix (full recovery in 1 week) or the slow fix ( full recovery in 4 weeks), he took the quick fix. The doctor had to cut off his boot due to swelling then he took a needle and started poking about 200 holes all over the swollen ankle, then he took the cupping jars, created the vacuum with a candle and started sucking all the black stagnant blood out until it was gone and he could easily feel and reset the bones. He wrapped it up, gave him some acupuncture and herbs to take, and said stay off it for a week. He's never had a problem with it sense.

[Ad McG]

A friend of mine broke his ankle in china riding a motorcycle. He went to a Chinese doctor and was asked if he wanted the quick fix (full recovery in 1 week) or the slow fix ( full recovery in 4 weeks), he took the quick fix. The doctor had to cut off his boot due to swelling then he took a needle and started poking about 200 holes all over the swollen ankle, then he took the cupping jars, created the vacuum with a candle and started sucking all the black stagnant blood out until it was gone and he could easily feel and reset the bones. He wrapped it up, gave him some acupuncture and herbs to take, and said stay off it for a week. He's never had a problem with it sense.

Pretty awesome if it's true. I think you have to find a really good practitioner and it's the bad ones the give eastern medicine some of it's bad name. Hey, at least tai chi is accepted in western science now, progress is still coming.

[KRONOS]

The U.S.A.'s governing medical Association won't even let an acupuncturist think about setting a bone in the U.S. its highly illegal. So its not a matter of finding a skilled one here, you won't find anyone who even practices it.

[SenseLess]

well finding a skilled one that knows how to wouldnt be too hard but finding one thats WILLING to practise is the tricky bit

[MattN]

My mom's been talking about how they used to do this back in her lil village in Indonesia (Sumatra, I think) when she was a kid. But the way she describes it seems like they just heated the glass and put it on the person's back....which doesnt sound very fun. There's no real point to this post, more of a just bragging about my mom knowing how ot make circular bruises on ppls backs before western medicine said it was ok.

[Poop-Loops]

Is it eastern medicine / along similar lines to acipunture?

I don't know, but I have a cupping set at home. I think it's just and old style of healing. It's pretty popular in Poland. I've had it done. Supposed to reduce fever too. I was a kid then, so I don't remember much. We have the "new fangled" ones, where you just suck the air out via a "syringe" like thing. Used to be where you just burn the air out and quickly put it on the person's back.

PL

[antiskeptic]

I had to say that initally when i heard of cupping, i was rather sceptical and to be honest didnt know too much about it all..
However just recently I sustained a rather severe back injury playing sports and even after visiting the chiropractor, was still left with not much movement in my one arm and suffered from imense pain with every breath taken. As a result i turned to cupping as an alternative method and even though i had little knowledge, i figured "what the hell, im in enough pain as it is"..
Well..I had the cupping done on tuesday morning...and since then, I am competing again in my chosen sport, in the mens league aswell, despite being female.. I have complete movement in my arm and the pain has virtually disappeared... This is in contrast to the specialists predictions that the pain will be around and the injury for the next two or three months.
If I hadnt had the cupping done I would still be unable to drive/play sport and live a "normal" life... Although it did hurt somewhat to have it done, and the bruises are tender, the fact that my muscles, nerves and ribs are no longer providing my with worry... it was well worth it..
I would recommend it to anyone...
Here is a picture showing the bruises...taken one day after treatment..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/sammolaw/PICT0020.jpg

[David]

Ah that's more like the cupping bruises that I've seen - Paltrow's looked a bit dainty and half-baked.

[Chojin]

My girlfriend had 'Cupping' aswell as acupunture when she had a back problem, The marks were terrible, But she insisted it didnt hurt, And must admit it worked really well! They also applied kinda like wet wipes type things with herbs on, Which brings blood to the surface when heated! Worked wonders!

[Nick K]

A review of medical literature on Pub Med reveals no randomised controlled trials to support it's efficacy. There are a number of open non controlled case series that suggest efficacy in a number of conditions with high placebo response rates. There are no publications in Western Journals of first rank impact. Most of the references are old. In short - there isn't a lot of evidence to support it.

[nzric]

(I also posted this in another thread - "Acupuncture")

I've had acupuncture for digestion problems which worked wonders.

I've also had acupuncture in the past for a badly stubbed toe, which fixed it up instantly - I highly recommend it!

I had cupping last week for my digestion problems but it did absolutely nothing for me (and I've still got bruises).

[JonTheDestroyer]

only one question, other than for publicity, why on earth would you have it done on your back get nasty bruises then wear a back- less dress out where you knew you'd get photographed?? Is she son commision from the cupping people? :D


Perhaps she is a pretentious idiot in a macrobiotic marriage to a crooning whinger who would call her offspring (who we can only sympathise for) 'Apple'. I mean, seriously, what is wrong with '****** aspirin? And normal names? Kill all hippies

I shall now self destruct in rage at these idiots

[munkiejunkie]

Matt " I spout so much bullcrud" Furey has had cupping done and recomends it.