HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The latest A-list celebrity craze to take off is the rather odd 'cupping therapy'. What's more, the celebrity proponents of this therapy are very keen to show off the results and so recently we have witnessed Jennifer Aniston following in the footsteps of Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham by stepping out in public - beautifully dressed, manicured and coiffed - but sporting tell-tale bizarre circular red marks on her back.

Other well-known advocates of the therapy include Geri Halliwell, Paris Hilton, David Arquette, Lady Gaga, Denise Richards, Cate Blanchett, Sadie Frost, Patsy Kensit, Ralph Fiennes and even British tennis champion Andy Murray.

What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine just like acupuncture. Suction is created on the skin in order to mobilize blood flow which in turn is said to promote healing. The suction is created using heat from fire or hand or electrical pumps. Celebrities claim that cupping therapy alleviate aches and pains, reduces stress, increases energy levels, and aids weight-loss because it simulates blood flow.

Where Does it Come From?

The practice of cupping is thought to date back to as long ago as 3000 B.C. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping as early as 1550 BC. Archaeologists have also uncovered evidence of cupping in China dating back to 1000 B.C. It is known that Hippocrates (c. 400 B.C.) used cupping for internal disease in Ancient Greece. The practice then spread into medicine throughout Asia and Europe.

How is Cupping Therapy Performed?

Cupping is a relatively simple practice that involves creating a partial vacuum within cups that are placed on the skin. The vacuum is created either by means of heat or suction. It does leave temporary bruised marks or blotches on the skin and there is a small risk of burns.

There are several types of cupping: dry cupping and bleeding or wet cupping. Wet cupping is thought to provide a more "curative-treatment approach" for patients whereas dry cupping appeals more to those seeking therapy and relaxation.

Dry Cupping

Cups vary in size and shape; they can be balls or bells and are anything from 1 to 3 inches at the opening. The cups used are generally plastic or glass although historically horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups would have been used. Low air pressure is created by heating the cup or the air inside with an open flame or by placing in a bath in hot scented oils. The cup is then laid on soft tissue. As the air inside the cup cools down, it draws the skin up slightly. The same effect can also be created using a cup with a mechanical suction pump acting through a valve on the top.

The number of cups used varies. They can be used singly or in groups placed over a larger area. Sometimes they are placed over an acupuncture needle. In therapy, the skin may be lubricated in advance so that the cup moves across the skin easily.

Fire Cupping

For fire cupping, a cotton ball is soaked in 95% alcohol, clamped with a pair of forceps and lit. The cotton ball is then rapidly dipped into the cup, quickly removing the oxygen, and the cup is placed onto the skin. Massage oil can be applied as this helps to create a better seal and the cup will move easily over the skin.

Why Have Cupping Treatments?

It is claimed that cupping can treat a broad range of medical conditions such as blood disorders including anaemia and haemophilia; rheumatic diseases such as arthritic joint and muscular conditions; fertility and gynaecological disorders; and skin problems such as eczema and acne. Proponents argue that cupping helps general physical and psychological well-being.

Traditionally, Chinese practitioners claimed that creating a vacuum on a patient's skin dispels stagnation within the body and improves the flow of qi. This is the perfect condition for treating respiratory diseases.

Is it Safe?

In the USA cupping therapy is widely used as an alternative treatment for cancer, unfortunately the American Cancer Society has stated that "available scientific evidence does not support claims that cupping has any health benefits".

Conventional medical experts argue that while a suction cup may cause the skin to constrict and therefore increase blood flow, the idea that cupping could treat any medical condition is implausible. In 2012, a review of 135 studies on cupping therapy published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that cupping may be effective for conditions such as acne, facial paralysis and herpes but only when used in combination with other treatments such as acupuncture.

While cupping has not been found to be effective for the treatment of any particular disease it is considered safe. Depending on the particular cupping treatment undertaken, skin marking is common. This may be a simple red ring that disappears quickly, or discolouration from bruising - especially where the cups have been dragged. In fire cupping, dark circles may appear where the cups were placed due to rupture of capillaries just under the skin. However cupping treatment is not usually painful.

It is not advisable for pregnant women to undergo cupping therapy.

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