Clinic Update: Dr. Troy Sing from Health Wise has been featured in the latest South China Morning Post: "What is cupping therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?"
Dr. Troy Sing shares his insights into different types of cupping, the benefits, who should seek professional advice before going, as well as the risks and side effects.
We've distilled the article into an easy 2 minute read for your convenience, keep scrolling to the sections below.
If you would like to read the full version on SCMP, visit the link here:
Clinic Update Contents:
Therapies at Health Wise
South China Morning Post Article Highlights
How cupping works
First, a vacuum is created inside the cup, either by burning the oxygen inside a glass cup or by sucking the air out from the top of a plastic cup. The cup is then quickly placed on selected acupuncture points on the patient’s skin, and the vacuum draws the skin up into the cup.
The low pressure inside the cup mobilizes the free flow of qi and blood around the body through channels known as meridians. This process facilitates the removal of toxins, and ultimately restores balance in the body.
The suction effect breaks the tiny blood vessels underneath the skin, resulting in slight discoloration in the area. When the brain picks up signals of this minor injury, it triggers the body’s self-healing process, leading to an increase in blood circulation, improved lymphatic flow, and the release of built-up fluid.
Types of cupping
1. Dry Cupping
Dry or fire cupping involves the use of a flame to create negative pressure inside the cup; the cup is then left on the skin for three to 15 minutes. This type is the most commonly used in Chinese clinics.
2. Wet Cupping
The second type, called wet or bleed cupping, comprises three steps: first, the practitioner creates a mild suction by leaving the cups on the skin for three minutes. He or she then pricks the skin using a triangular-tipped needle or plum blossom needle.
The cup is applied to the skin for the second time to draw out a small quantity of “toxic” blood.
3. Slide Cupping
move or slide cupping, which involves the practitioner applying the cup to the skin before slowly moving it in one direction in a specific area.
4. Empty Cupping
Sing adds: “Other types include empty cupping, which sees the cups being removed from the skin immediately after suction.
5. Needle Cupping
needle cupping, which involves acupuncture followed by the application of the cups over the needles.
6. Herbal Cupping
medicinal or herbal cupping, which uses bamboo cups that have been boiled with herbs.
7. Water Cupping
water cupping, which involves filling a glass or bamboo cup one-thirds-full with warm water and then quickly applying it to the skin.”
What cupping helps with
The therapy works on a range of issues, including:
Pain in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and legs;
The common cold, flu, or cough;
Gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and constipation;
Facial paralysis and stroke;
Respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis and asthma;
Gynecological issues such as period pain and infertility;
Weight loss, and;
Sleep disorders.
Risks and side effects
Sing warns that pregnant women, children, the elderly, people on blood-thinning medication, and people with certain health conditions such as cancer, organ failure, haemophilia, oedema, blood disorders, and some types of heart disease should not get cupping.
Cupping should be done by a trained practitioner. The treatment often leaves behind suction marks, which disappear within 24 hours in healthy individuals, according to Sing.
Stop the treatment immediately if you experience side effects in the area where the cups touch your skin, These include:
Sweating;
Dizziness or lightheadedness;
Fainting;
Nausea or vomiting;
Mild discomfort;
Swelling;
Burns (if you received fire cupping);
Bruises;
Skin pigmentation changes, and;
Skin infections (if you received wet cupping).
“Cupping also shouldn’t be done on areas where the skin is broken, irritated or inflamed, over arteries, veins or lymph nodes, or on the eyes, orifices or fractures,” Sing says.
Health Wise Chinese Medicine Consultancy
Health Wise Chinese Medicine Consultancy led by Dr. Troy Sing, has been home to one of Hong Kong's best-regarded Chinese Medicine Practitioners, since 1990.
The clinic provides individualized treatment plans to address each patient’s internal landscape. At HealthWise, you’ll receive a 60-minute initial consultation and treatment with custom-made formulas for your body's constitution.
We aim to provide a caring and compassionate environment. To allow you to tell your story and not just recite medical results and outcomes.
Health Wise provides customized treatment plans for:
Dedicated Care With Meaningful Results
Our approach is deeply rooted in Classical Chinese Medicine, yet integrates seamlessly with the Western medical care that our patients receive. We look forward to joining you on your journey.
Therapies at Health Wise
Health Wise has over 30 years of clinical experience providing leading Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies including cupping.
Our expert practitioners can diagnose your unique pattern of symptoms and formulate a holistic treatment plan for your condition. The process is dynamic and is adjusted according to the changes in your situation.
We provide the following Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment therapies at Health Wise:
Learn More About Chinese Medicine
Visit our Health Wise Blog, we have a number of informative articles to help our patients. Here's a series of articles that we think may be beneficial:
Acupuncture For Chronic Pain Relief
We aim to continue to provide more useful Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture information at our Health Wise Chinese Medicine's Newsletter page.
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