I’ll never forget the bruises. Circular and a deep red, they covered my best friend’s back once or twice a year while we were growing up. Back then I was worried that my buddy was experiencing some form of child abuse, but I now understand that cupping therapy is part of Korean healing (and other Asian cultures).

Cupping is related to acupuncture in that it is an ancient practice most often used to treat blockages of qi. The treatment brings new blood to the area, which improves circulation and helps respiratory issues, menstrual problems, and digestive ailments. Cupping is also used to treat general aches and pains (my friend used it to ease her achy back).

The traditional cupping method can be a bit intimidating in its antiquity. A practitioner holds an open flame in a small glass cup (this eliminates the oxygen in the cup and creates a vacuum) and then places the cup on the targeted area — cupping usually takes place on the back. The skin under the cup is pulled up by the vacuum, enhancing the healthy flow of qi and alleviating any pain. Cupping can also be performed with a pumping method that creates a vacuum without using a flame. Both forms of treatment do not hurt in any way — they just look like they do. Those who are cupped will walk away with painless red bruises that will fade in a few days.

There are few precautions with the treatment. People with skin ailments, high fever, or a tendency to bleed easily should probably refrain from cupping. Though there have been no clinical trials on cupping, most people find it an effective form of healing with little to no side effects. Professor Edzard Ernst from the department of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter summed it up quite nicely for the BBC:

“There is no evidence for its efficacy. It has not been submitted to clinical trials, but there have certainly been satisfied customers for 3,000 years.”

Ask your local acupuncturist about cupping.

[via Cupping Therapy]

Image: Squarenergy.com