Cupping
Have you ever heard the term 'cupping' before? Cupping is an alternative form of treatment widely used over here. According to one article, cupping treatment dates back all the way to 300AD. Cupping is basically a treatment that uses cup like equipment, nowadays they are made from glass, and being uses on the skin as suction devices. I won't bore you with details of cupping because basically you can browse through the net and can find all the benefits derived from cupping.
A few weeks back, my sister and I decided to try this alternative treatment. We had been talking about it for quite while, but we had been putting it off because we were a bit afraid. I've seen some video footage which shown people getting this treatment, and to be honest it look really gross and hurtful.
Why gross and hurtful? Because your skin needs to be pricked with needle or cut with sharp knife and then blood will be sucked using those cups. Ewww!!! Sound gross and hurtful, right?
Anyway, we decided to give it a go, and made an appointment. The lady told us to make sure to eat something at least two hours before the treatment. So, on that Saturday, I had to wake up early and made a simple breakfast because our appointment was at 10 am.
When we reached the house, apparently she just moved into the area from another state, so she is yet to set up her shop, I asked my sister to go first. Hehehe ... I admit, I was being a chicken. While doing the procedure at my sister's back, the lady explained a little bit about each point. Though I concentrated very hard to understand what each point represents, I had to admit I only remember a few.
There were 12 points or cups that were placed at the back. Each cup representing points such as spine, neck, right and left shoulders, heart, liver, colon, kidney, and a few more. There are a few techniques that being used for cupping. The lady told used that she had studied a few of them and decided to practice the current technique used to treat us.
Some practitioner will heat the cups before placing them on the skin, but this lady did not do that. Instead she used some sort of pressure. First round of treatment, she put all 12 cups on the back and left them for a few minutes. Not long after putting them on the skin, I could see at certain points of my sister's back, there were some sort of fog/cloud gathered in the cup. The lady told us that it was the 'wind/gas' from our body. Apparently, the first round will release some unwanted gas from the body which making our body feel lethargic and tired.
For the second round of treatment, she used some kind needle to prick the skin. When the skin had been pricked, blood will start to gather inside the cups. The amount of blood and the thickness of the blood all depend on the level of toxicity of the body. She also explained that for most ladies, the amount of blood will be only minimal as compared to men. She also told us that for areas that may have some internal issue, the blood will be thicker; gel like, as compared to area that maybe healthy.
As for me, I have some issue with my shoulder blades and my back. After the treatment, I found that my shoulder was much better. I don't know about some of you guys, but seeking an alternative treatment seemed to be less expensive and yet working for me. Now I'm looking forward to seek the treatment in the future.
Note :
Sorry if some of you found these photos a little bit offensive.
Comments
Oh my dearest!!!!! It is very.....very painful, I can tell. I had this painful experience before several years.
Hi Lady Noor, thank you for comment. Yes, the lady practitioner did mention about the more 'afdhal' dates which coincide with the certain Islamic dates. Even after one treatment, I found that I'm happy with the result. My shoulder feels so relax.
I too will try not to consume too much modern medicines. I will try to use alternative ways except when I have to. I do hope some people will look at this safer alternative treatments with more acceptable manner.
Welcome back my dear Sweet Tweetie. I know the treatment looks a bit scary. It looks like a many Vampires suck your blood. LOL.
I haven't heard too many scary side effects from people taking this treatment. Maybe some experienced fainting spells. But in the first place they should inform the practitioners why they seek the treatment, and they have to inform the practitioners if they have low blood pressure or suffering from acute migraine or headaches.
Mishaikh, maybe people are also looking for alternative treatments in your country.
I m reading this for the first time... So, just browsed thro' internet and learnt that there are so many treatment centres in india also.... It is also called as "hijama" therepy... There are benefits and side effects of this treatment they say... so take care..
But the treatment is little scary u kno..
It is also getting familiar here in my country.
Elen, I did this for no specific reason. When I met the lady, the first question she asked me was, "Why do I want to do this? Is there any specific reason?" I said it was for no apparent reason. Just to detox my body. This kind of treatment can be used as an alternative method for detoxing our body. It's not just when we have cold or back pain.
Over here, some traditional practitioners are still using the heat method as what you've mentioned. But even then they will prick the skin to draw the blood out. This is to draw the toxic blood out from our body. And the amount of the blood and the thickness of the blood all depend on the level of toxicity in our body.
Mary, I know it's kind of weird, but at the same time, this kind of treatment had been practice over here for as long as I can remember, (and that is a very very very long time.) Previously it was seek by mostly the elderly. But nowadays it seemed to be making a comeback and young generation are getting this treatment too.
About acupuncture, I don't think I will be seeking this kind of treatment though I know it's effective in curing some ailments too. This is because of those needles. LOL.
I prefer alternative treatments such as homoeopathy, detox programmes and of course massage rather than the modern treatments which are using too much chemical. Personally I think our body is absorbing too much chemical which resulting in various ailments. Thus, to counter back this, alternative treatments sounds more logical.
I hope one of these days, you may give it a try and feel the difference. :D :D :D :D
Can i ask what was the reason you did this treatement? As i know it is for when you got cold or pain in the back. I remember that my grandparents did this some times. But it was with the traditional way with the fire. They put the fire in the cup to create pressure and then the cup on the back. Like this pic that i found in internet. But they never pricked the skin to have blood. First time i hear about the blood.
I've never heard about the word 'cupping', but I know there was a kind of treatment like this some centuries ago... didn't know was so old as you mention here tho
I remember also to see something similar at end of the movie 'Dangerous Liaisons' (here, at the minute 1'58s) Anyway, it seems to be a weird treatment... but it's great, as long as it works :D
I'm very cautious with the so called 'alternative treatments', mostly because you can find lot of silly crap without any serious scientific basis, that can be even dangerous and counterproductive. But it's also true that there are many others really efficients that can be a very good alternative to another more 'chemical remedies'. For instance, I remember I was very skeptical with the acupuncture's therapy, till I saw myself how very good worked this treatment for two close friends of mine.
It's great if this is working good for you noaslpls, and you feel better. It doesn't look too 'tempting' for trying it myself in the future, but thanks for the info! :)
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