Cupping is a tool that uses methods such as burning fire and air to generate negative pressure, so that it is adsorbed on the body surface, causing local blood stasis, so as to dredge meridians, promote Qi and blood circulation, reduce swelling and pain, expel wind and cold, etc. Cupping therapy has a long history in China, and was also popular in ancient Greece and Roman times.
There are three main principles of cupping, namely, mechanical stimulation, negative pressure, and warming. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Stimulating effect.
Cupping therapy creates negative pressure in the tank by exhausting air. The edge of the tank can be tightly attached to the surface of the skin, pulling nerves, muscles, blood vessels and subcutaneous glands, that can cause a series of neuroendocrine reactions and regulate vasomotor function and blood vessels.
2. Negative pressure effect.
The strong suction and pulling force of the negative pressure of cupping can fully open the sweat pores, stimulate and strengthen the functions of sweat glands and sebaceous glands, and shed senescent cells on the surface of the skin, thereby accelerating the discharge of toxins and waste from the body.
3. Warming effect.
The local warming effect of cupping not only expands blood vessels and increases blood flow, but also enhances the permeability of the blood vessel wall and the phagocytic ability of cells.