So, I went to my acupuncturist the other day. Besides my regular acupuncture treatment, he decided to give me my first cupping treatment. I have a bad shoulder & he thought that my muscles needed to be loosened up before even a massage would even really do me any good. It was really painful, but my back feels so much better!
For those of you who don't know what cupping is, it is where someone takes actual glass cups and -- with the use of a lighter to create suction -- puts them on your skin to pull your blood up to the surface (think reverse massage). The cups can be moved around (the skin area is covered with oil) but then are often placed just in one area of extreme pain.
The range of motion in my shoulder was great after the treatment and my pain decreased significantly. It has been a couple of days since the treatment, and I still feel great!
Warning -- you can't wear any backless dresses for a couple of days (cup marks)!
Anyone else out there have any experience with cupping?
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That is the short answer. He is a TCM practitioner, though, and I am already taking supplements he recommended.
July 18, 2008 - 4:17pmThis Comment
My husband and I tried acupuncture for the first time this year and I have to admit it did provide some short-term relief for my allergies. My husband tried cupping specifically to help with a little pain he was having in his shoulder and back.
He went to four sessions and while he said it seemed to lessen the pain, it didn't necessarily eliminate pain. Several weeks later, however, he said that he pain returned to its original level. Perhaps, he needed a longer treatment for long-term results.
Were you encouraged to use any specific herbs as part of your treatment or given any special instructions?
July 18, 2008 - 4:02pmThis Comment