Introduction
Massage therapy refers to the manipulation of soft tissues in the human body to promote well-being or manage pain symptoms. Many different types of massage therapy utilize various methods and modalities. Cupping therapy is a type of massage that uses the power of suction to increase the blood flow in the area and promote healing or reduce pain. While cupping differs from other types of massage as it does not target the application of pressure to soft tissues, there are several cases in which cupping can be more effective than other massage types. This research paper will explain the mechanisms behind cupping therapy and summarize how cupping is used in modern healthcare.
Cupping Therapy Mechanisms
Firstly, understanding the mechanisms behind cupping therapy requires defining the core elements of the procedure. Traditionally, cupping applies the power of suctioning to acupuncture points or painful areas in the human body. Glass or bamboo cups are placed on the skin, and heat from a flame or electrical pump is used to create a suction effect (Wood et al., 2020).
Depending on the method, dry or wet, the suctioning power is used to draw blood to subcutaneous tissues to improve the blood flow or lacerated skin to promote blood circulation and drain excess fluids (Choi et al., 2021). While cupping therapy has recently become popular in Western countries, the technique has long been used to treat various conditions in traditional medicine in China, Korea, and East Asia (Choi et al., 2021). There, cupping therapy was utilized to promote Qi energy circulation and, therefore, was associated with the overall promotion of psychophysical wellness.
The Use of Cupping in Modern Practice
Next, exploring how cupping massage therapy is used in modern healthcare determines its core difference from other types of massage. In modern healthcare, dry cupping is primarily used to treat musculoskeletal pain and reduce pain in cases such as chronic neck pain and non-specific low back pain (Wood et al., 2020). Considering the prevalence of patients with musculoskeletal pain and attributes of the therapy explains the widespread use of dry cupping. Moreover, dry cupping minimizes the risks of side effects from the therapy, such as skin discoloration, scars, and burns.
However, the stimulation effects caused by the suction power have many other valuable uses besides pain reduction. For example, cupping can be used to reduce blood pressure in healthy people to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease (Al-Bedah et al., 2019). C cough, asthma, and standard cold treatment can benefit from the immune-modulation effects of cupping therapy (Al-Bedah et al., 2019).
Some studies of cupping therapy also pointed to the potentially effective use of the technique to treat plaque psoriasis and migraines (Choi et al., 2021). Thus, compared to traditional massage techniques that rely on the manipulation of soft tissues, cupping therapy has a broader range of effects, from pain reduction to hematological adjustment (Al-Bedah et al., 2019). However, modern healthcare underutilizes the effects of cupping massage therapy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper focused on researching the cupping type of massage therapy and defining how it is used in modern healthcare. The paper determined that in comparison with traditional massage techniques, dry and wet cupping therapy that utilizes the effects of suction power has significantly more cases for use. However, modern healthcare underutilizes the positive effects of cupping therapy, prioritizing its use for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
References
Al-Bedah, A. M. N., Elsubai, I. S., Qureshi, N. A., Aboushanab, T. S., Ali, G. I. M., El-Olemy, A. T., Khalil, A. A. H., Khalil, M. K. M., & Alqaed, M. S. (2019). The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 9(2), 90–97. Web.
Choi, T. Y., Ang, L., Ku, B., Jun, J. H., & Lee, M. S. (2021). Evidence map of cupping therapy. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(8), 1-13. Web.
Wood, S., Fryer, G., Tan, L. L. F., & Cleary, C. (2020). Dry cupping for musculoskeletal pain and range of motion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 24(4), 503–518. Web.