Cupping Therapy 14 Cupping Education Cupping and Pain Science 17 7 Mechanical Effects of Cupping Fluid Dynamics 18 About Rocktape Neuro-Chemical Effects
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CUPPING 101 Unlocking myofascial manipulation with cupping 1 Table of CONTENTS History of cupping and Cupping and sensory maps 3 types of modalities 11 Cupping research 5 Benefits of cupping therapy 14 Cupping education Cupping and pain science 17 7 Mechanical effects of cupping Fluid dynamics 18 About RockTape Neuro-chemical effects 2 HISTORY OF CUPPING and types of modalities History Traditional Cupping (hijama in Arabic) is an ancient, Chinese Medicine holistic method for the treatment of a variety of (TCM) conditions. Though the exact origin of cupping TCM teaches that it is the stagnation of qi and blood that causes pain and therapy is unclear, its use has been documented disease. Cupping invigorates local in early Egyptian and Chinese medical practices. circulation of qi and blood in the area The Ebers Papyrus, written c. 1550 BC and one being treated, resolving swelling, pain, of the oldest medical textbooks in the Eastern and tension. By drawing impurities to the surface, it removes toxins. world, describes Egyptians’ use of cupping, while mentioning similar practices employed by other Saharan peoples. In Chinese medicine the classic cupping technique CUPPING THERAPY is an ancient form of alternative medicine. Cupping is is called ba guan zi, which is fire or dry cupping. used in more than 60 countries. Its usage This involves the practitioner placing the cup over dates back to as far as an ashi (painful area) point or an acupuncture 1,550 B.C. point along an energy meridian. CHINA 281-341 AD Currently, the scope of cupping therapy is Earliest recorded use of expanding, and a growing body of research CUPPING IS IN CHINA is providing evidence-based data for the from the famous Taoist alchemist and herbalist, advancement of cupping therapy in the treatment of a variety of conditions and its integration into GE HONG chiropractic care. Typically, cups are made of glass, earthenware, bamboo or silicone. GREECE C.400 BC In ancient Greece, HIPPOCRATES used cupping for Western Physioloy internal disease and structural problems. In Western perspective, cupping loosens connective tissue or fascia and stimulates blood flow to the surface. Cupping stimulates tissue relaxation and better neurosensory awareness. 3 HISTORY OF CUPPING Types of modalities There are eight types of cupping techniques in use today. Before offering any type of cupping, check your local and state laws to make sure it falls under your scope of practice. The eight types of cupping technique used today, according to Advanced Massage Arts & Education school owner Jimmy Gialelis, LMT, BCTMB, are: FIRE CUPPING employs the usage of LIQUID CUPPING employs bamboo either a cotton ball soaked in alcohol or cups filled approximately one-third with a 1 simply alcohol alone to create a flash fire 5water-based herbal solution. This solution within the cup. The fire and heat are quickly is said to bathe and cleanse the skin of impuri- eliminated before cup inversion is performed. ties. This intensifies the negative-pressure force. MASSAGE CUPPING mobilizes the DRY CUPPING uses cups to create a cups upon the skin, gliding over various vacuum over the skin. A combustible ma- 6 pathogenic regions. Therapeutic massage 2 terial such as moxa or alcohol is lit, placed oil may be placed upon the skin to help the into the cup, then inverted over the region. The cups glide upon the skin surface. hot-to-cold effect creates a vacuum affecting subcutaneous tissue. Skin is then allowed to VACUUM CUPPING, also called air cup- rest for 10-20 minutes. To avoid burning the ping, uses a pump designed to thrust air skin, a therapist must quench the flame imme- 7out of the cup. The therapist sterilizes the diately. selected region, then applies an herbal oil or cream. A therapist may control the thrusting of WET CUPPING begins similarly to dry air out of the cup with a valve atop the cup. cupping with the cup remaining on the 3 skin for 3-5 minutes. The therapist then FACIAL CUPPING is employed in the makes tiny incisions on the skin to extract esthetics and massage fields. The facial drops of blood from the body. In theory, this 8 skin is prepared with an application of blood possesses toxic elements that need to herbal oils or creams. Specially-designed glass be eliminated. A sterile, antibiotic dressing is cups are engaged to stimulate greater blood affixed to prevent infectious spread. flow upon the facial structures. In theory, col- lagen and elastic fibers are restored to aid in CHINESE CUPPING employs the use a client receiving a more youthful appearance. of needles, either heated or unheated, The skin of the face is thinner; therefore, this 4 to further extract blood and heat from a method necessitates less suction force. pathogenic site. The needle may be a tradition- al single-edged acupuncture needle or more sophisticated multi-pronged, thicker needles. METHODS WET FIRE DRY Cups areis appliedcreated, onto pulling the theskin skin and up. a suction 4 BENEFITS THERAPY OF CUPPING Practitioners of cupping know that cupping therapy helps relieve pain, improve circulation, dispel stagnant blood and lymph, improve energetic flow, and even serve as a method to treat THE (when within scope of practice) such conditions as MAXIMUM respiratory disease, bronchitis and pneumonia. number of cups usually applied Ranging from bamboo cups, animal horns, bronze per session and pottery to glass, plastic and silicone, cupping tools have evolved over time. The theories behind 7 the methods, however, haven’t deviated much from tradition — until recently, that is. Deeply rooted in ancient practices often tied to religious beliefs, cupping has been mostly viewed as the black sheep with no scientific validity” in the eyes of modern, Western medical science for, well, pretty much ever. However, with the medical lens having recently broadened to consider fascial and neuroanatomy of the dermal and fascial subsystem, the cup might actually be looking half full versus half empty. As health care providers we’re inundated with a plethora of education, certifications, modalities and techniques that promise to leave our clients moving and feeling better. Let’s continue on and see how cupping fulfills this promise. 5 BENEFITS OF CUPPING THERAPY How cupping works What causes the Cupping can be used to reduce pain and improve movement. The potential mechanisms fall into 3 red circles? main categories: Sustained cupping creates two key physiological » Mechanical changes events: diapedesis and ecchymosis. Diapedesis is » Neurological changes the passage of blood cells through the capillaries. » Fluid dynamics Ecchymosis refers to a discoloration of the skin. The cup lifting the skin creates mechanical changes Cellular effects of cupping therapy: and the vacuum effect on fluids promotes diffusion and osmosis. The sensation of cupping also has Negative pressure significant effect on the nervous system and provides a sensory stimulation that can reduce pain and improve proprioception (course 3 will detail these effects). Dilation of capillaries Capillary rupture/diapedeses Ecchymosis Macrophases digest the red blood cells Heme oxygenase 0 1 (HO-!) digests the heme Heme breakdown produces carbon monoxide. The negative pressure of the cup causes release of blood under the skin. This causes color changes but unlike a bruise, soft tissue damage is not the cause. Practitioners should explain the procedure and effects and gain consent. Also, be cognizant of location of cupping therapy. 6 CUPPING AND PAIN SCIENCE With cupping’s popularity rising into mainstream therapeutic settings thanks to its use by Olympians such as swimmer Michael Phelps, some modern medical researchers are taking a closer look from a different vantage point in an attempt to understand and explain what might be happening physiologically and neurologically during cupping sessions. With any type of touch therapy, whether performed with our hands or with tools, we automatically incite a cascade of chemical, neurological, physical and emotional responses in our clients, according to sports massage and movement therapist, and ROCKTAPE educator, Stacey Thomas, LMT, SFA, Diseases commonly FMS, NKT, ART, CF-L2. treated: Much of the formal research on cupping has Carpal tunnel syndrome involved its use with athletes, in the area of Ankle sprains pain relief. A 2018 research review published in Low back pain the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Elbow tendonitis Medicine looked at 11 trials involving nearly 500 Lumbar disc herniation athletes in various sports and found a wide Cervical spondylosis variation in conclusions. Cupping “Cupping was reported as beneficial for perceptions of pain and disability, increased range purposes: of motion, and reductions in creatine kinase when » Pain compared to mostly untreated control groups,” the » Inflammation authors wrote, going on to say they could not make » Blood flow a recommendation either for or against cupping’s » Relaxation and well-being efficacy or safety. 7 CUPPING AND PAIN SCIENCE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– This ability to decompress versus compress the tissue offers a unique method for mobilizing the underlying structures to enhance interlayer glide. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In another research study of 50 subjects, published in Complementary Medicine Research in 2017, Mechanical effects the authors found that cupping “appears to be The mechanical effects and benefits of cupping effective in reducing pain and increasing function are fairly easy to observe and understand. Unlike and quality of life in patients with chronic non- the compressive characteristics of massage specific neck pain.” techniques, cupping primarily decompresses tissues and creates space between multiple layers. Cupping research has largely focused on the The mechanical stress created by cupping helps mechanical effects, with little attention given to improve the interlayer gliding of tissues starting the neurological aspects. In recent years, however, at the skin, moving through superficial and deep pain science leaders such as Lorimer Mosely and fascia and into the underlying tissues such as fascia researchers such as Robert Schleip have muscles, tendons, ligaments or organ structures.