An Introduction to Modified Cupping Therapy
In traditional Chinese glass cupping, the glass cup is placed on the patient’s skin after the cup is quickly heated with fire for one to two seconds. As the therapy cup cools, it creates a weak partial vacuum with maximum negative pressure of -150 mm Hg. Over 30 years, my father and I designed more […]
Types and Methods of Cupping
Generally, dry and wet cupping are the two main types of cupping therapy. Dry cupping pulls the skin into the cup without scarifications, while in wet cupping the skin is lacerated or punctured with a lancet device so that blood is drawn into the cup. Traditional Chinese dry cupping involves the application of a glass […]
Cupping Therapy Marks and Explanations
Cupping therapy usually leaves a discoloration of the skin caused by bleeding from the ruptured capillaries. In traditional Chinese medicine, different skin discolorations suggest various diagnoses. For example, an intense red cupping mark signifies excess internal heat. Purplish red discoloration means damp heat. Bluish purple cupping marks indicate cold dampness. Cupping marks with an intense […]
History of Cupping Therapy
Although the true origin of cupping still remains uncertain, the consensus is that the action of suction has been part of therapeutic efforts throughout human history. The application of suction cups is recorded in ancient Egyptian, Hindu, Greek, and Chinese medical writings. Ancient cultures used hollowed-out animal horns, bones, bamboo, gourds, and seashells to purge […]
Ancient Theories of Cupping
This article will summarize three of the nine ancient and modern theories of cupping that are covered in my book, Ancient and Modern Cupping Therapy. The theories covered here are: Blood stagnation or Eohyeol Theory Meridian Cupping Theory Counterirritation Theory Blood stagnation or Eohyeol Theory In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), many symptoms and illnesses are […]
An Overview of Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy is a traditional therapy that has been employed worldwide for thousands of years. The oldest mention of this treatment is in an ancient Egyptian papyrus. It was promoted by famous ancient physicians, such as Hippocrates and Galen, for a variety of conditions. Various forms of cupping were used effectively in western medicine until […]
Yin-Yang Theory
Although these five fundamental Substances are central to understanding Traditional Eastern Medicine, one cannot comprehend them outside the framework of the theory of Yin-Yang. The theory of Yin-Yang holds that every object or phenomenon in the universe consists of two opposite aspects— yin and yang. They are not forces or material entities, nor are they […]
Eastern Medicine Concepts & Theory
On a global scale, eastern and western therapeutic doctrines lie at the heart of medical practice today. The western approach of scientific analysis is the basis of our understanding of the human body, while eastern medicine offers an equally coherent empirical model of health. Both are distinct in principle and approach and are rooted in […]
Principles of Integrative Medicine
During my third year of medical school, my attending admitted an elderly Korean patient with a diagnosis of pneumonia and fever. Her recovery was a slow process until I, with approval from my attending, allowed her family to bring Korean food into the hospital. Her condition improved dramatically within 24 hours and she was discharged […]