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Cupping therapy

Cupping therapy

by | 2424,Aug, 2023 | medical

Relax and detoxify with cupping

Cupping is an ancient technique adopted by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese. Rediscovered and praised by Hippocrates, it was practiced by our grandmothers until the end of the First World War, before the advent of antibiotics.

Used in China as a healing method for millennia, the technique has evolved over time to become part of the arsenal used by Chinese doctors. Cupping therapy aims to balance the flow of vital energy (qi) in the body. Cupping is used to stimulate blood circulation, lymph and energy in the body.

Cupping draws pathogenic factors such as wind, cold and heat to the surface, draining and eliminating them. This is what makes this technique so effective for colds and bronchitis. By drawing blood to the surface, cupping also helps relieve pain caused by muscular tension or stiffness; in fact, it frees the blood stases at the origin of such pain.

Once made of cow horn or bamboo, suction cups are now more often than not made of glass, plastic or Plexiglas.

How does a suction cup work?

According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the appearance of pain at an acupuncture point is a sign of dysfunction in the corresponding organ. Suction cups are placed on the skin at acupuncture points along the meridians, and more precisely in the areas felt to be painful.

The application of one or more suction cups frees the organ from blockages, helping to relax and relieve congestion.

The vacuum under the glass bell is created by burning oxygen with a flame, or with a hand pump on more modern plastic suction cups. Suction cups can be fixed on the body’s points of tension, or mobile as a massage tool on oiled skin.

Cupping causes blood to flow upwards, generally indicating a high level of impurities. The hematoma will be visible for 2 to 4 days. As the sessions progress, the phenomenon will fade.

Cupping can be an effective aid, complementing ongoing treatment such as acupuncture. In the event of crisis or acute pain, they can be used more regularly.

Some patients like to receive a cupping treatment once a week as a preventive measure.

In cases of stress, joint or muscle pain, when waking up, before sleeping, before physical effort or after intense exertion, cupping will always have its place to relieve and make our patients’ days more comfortable.

The different cupping techniques

Techniques for using suction cups vary according to the suction method, suction power, area treated, other materials used with the suction cups… Techniques include suction cups:

  • Dry :
    A vacuum is created inside the suction cups using fire or a hand pump. Dry suction cups are also known as static suction cups.
  • Mobile (massage):
    Oil is applied to the skin and the suction cups are moved with gentle suction. Massage suction cups are also known as dynamic suction cups, sliding suction cups and mobile suction cups.
  • Eclair (or empty suction cups):
    Suction cups are applied over a short period of time, less than 30 seconds at a time. This is also known as empty cupping.
  • Wet:
    The skin is lightly pierced before the cups are applied. This method is also known as bleeding cupping.
  • Herbal:
    The practitioner boils an herbal solution, soaks bamboo cups and applies the slightly cooled cups to the skin.

It should be noted that techniques are evolving towards magnetic or electrical systems. As far as we’re concerned, we’re committed to maintaining traditional techniques.

The benefits of cupping

Generally speaking, the influx of blood to the area where the suction pad is positioned will drain toxins.

The suction effect activates blood circulation where the suction pad is placed.

This localized congestion reduces pain, unblocks blockages, accelerates recovery of tired muscles and enhances tissue repair.

Cupping therapy has a reputation for relieving discomfort and improving quality of life. The following conditions can improve with this technique:

  1. Low back pain. Cupping helps reduce pain and improve function in people with acute and chronic low back pain.
  1. Fibromyalgia. Cupping therapy, alone or with acupuncture, helps relieve pain in patients with fibromyalgia.
  1. Chronic neck pain. Cupping helps to relax neck muscles and make them more flexible.
  1. Heavy menstrual bleeding. Dry cupping helps reduce menstrual blood flow in women with menorrhagia.

Cupping therapy also shows improvements in :

  • digestive problems,
  • lung and respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia,
  • high blood pressure,
  • cellulite,
  • tendonitis,
  • sprains,
  • cramps,
  • sports recovery,
  • sleep disorders,
  • skin problems.

Traditional cupping therapy session

La thérapie par les ventouses

La thérapie par les ventouses

by | 2424,Aug, 2023 | Traditionnal chinese medicine

Décontracter et détoxifier par la cupping thérapie

Le cupping – thérapie par les ventouses – est une technique ancestrale adoptée par les Egyptiens, les Grecs, les Romains et les Chinois. Redécouverte et vantée par Hippocrate, elle fut pratiquée par nos grands-mères jusqu’à la fin de la première guerre mondiale, avant l’arrivée des antibiotiques.

Utilisée en Chine comme méthode de guérison depuis des millénaires, cette technique a évolué au fil du temps pour devenir partie de l’arsenal utilisé par les médecins chinois. La cupping thérapie vise à équilibrer le flux d’énergie vitale (qi) dans le corps. Les ventouses sont utilisées pour stimuler la circulation sanguine, la lymphe, et l’énergie dans le corps.

La ventouse attire vers la surface les facteurs pathogènes comme le Vent, le Froid, la Chaleur, pour ainsi les drainer et les éliminer. C’est ce qui rend cette technique efficace en cas de rhumes ou de bronchites. En attirant le sang en surface, la ventouse permet aussi de soulager les douleurs liées à des tensions musculaires ou à des raideurs ; en effet elle libère les stases de sang à l’origine de ces douleurs.

Autrefois en corne de vache ou en bambou, les ventouses sont aujourd’hui le plus souvent en verre, en plastique ou en plexiglass.

Comment la ventouse agit-elle ?

Selon les principes de la Médecine traditionnelle chinoise (MTC), l’apparition d’une douleur en un point d’acupuncture est le signe d’un dysfonctionnement de l’organe correspondant. Les ventouses se posent sur la peau au niveau des points d’acupuncture, le long des méridiens, et plus précisément aux endroits ressentis comme douloureux.

La pose d’une ou plusieurs ventouses permet de libérer l’organe de ses blocages en vue de décontracter et de désengorger.

Le vide d’air sous la cloche en verre est obtenu par la combustion de l’oxygène réalisée à l’aide d’une flamme, ou à l’aide d’une pompe manuelle en version plus moderne sur des ventouses en plastique. Les ventouses peuvent être fixes sur les points de tension du corps, ou mobiles comme outil de massage sur une peau huilée.

Certains patients aiment recevoir un traitement de ventouse une fois par semaine en prévention.

En cas de stress, de douleurs articulaires ou musculaires, au réveil, avant de dormir, avant un effort physique ou après un effort intense, le cupping aura toujours sa place pour soulager et rendre à nos patients des jours plus confortables.

La ventouse fait monter le sang, signe généralement de beaucoup d’impuretés. L’hématome va être visible durant 2 à 4 jours. Au fur et à mesure des séances, le phénomène va s’estomper.

L’utilisation de ventouses intervient comme une aide efficace, en complément d’un traitement en cours, par exemple par l’acupuncture. En cas de crise et de douleur aigue elles peuvent être utilisées plus régulièrement.

Les différentes techniques de cupping

Les techniques d’utilisation de ventouses varient selon la méthode d’aspiration, la puissance d’aspiration, la zone traitée, les autres matériaux utilisés avec les ventouses… Les techniques comprennent les ventouses :

  • Sèches :
    Un vide d’air est réalisé à l’intérieur des ventouses à l’aide du feu ou d’une pompe manuelle. Les ventouses sèches sont également appelées ventouses statiques.
  • Mobiles (de massage) :
    On applique de l’huile sur la peau et on déplace les ventouses avec une faible aspiration. Les ventouses de massage sont également appelées ventouses dynamiques, ventouses glissantes et ventouses mobiles.
  • Eclair (ou ventouses vides) :
    On applique les ventouses sur une courte période, moins de 30 secondes à la fois. C’est ce qu’on appelle aussi les ventouses vides.
  • Humides :
    On perce légèrement la peau avant d’appliquer les coupelles. Cette méthode est également connue sous le nom de ventouses saignantes.
  • A base de plantes :
    Le praticien fait bouillir une solution à base de plantes, trempe des tasses en bambou et applique les tasses légèrement refroidies sur la peau.

Il est à noter que les techniques évoluent vers des systèmes magnétiques ou électriques. En ce qui nous concerne, nous tenons à maintenir des techniques traditionnelles.

Les bienfaits du cupping

De manière générale, l’afflux de sang sur la zone où est positionnée la ventouse va drainer les toxines. L’effet aspirant active la circulation du sang à l’endroit où la ventouse est posée.

Cette congestion localisée réduit la douleur dénoue les blocages, accélère la récupération des muscles fatigués et améliore la réparation des tissus.

La thérapie par ventouses a la réputation de soulager l’inconfort et d’améliorer la qualité de vie. Les conditions suivantes peuvent s’améliorer avec cette technique :

  1. Lombalgie. Les ventouses aident à réduire la douleur et à améliorer la fonction chez les personnes souffrant de lombalgie aiguë et chronique.
  1. Fibromyalgie. La thérapie par ventouses, seule ou avec l’acupuncture, contribue à soulager la douleur chez les patients atteints de fibromyalgie.
      1. Douleurs cervicales chroniques. La thérapie par ventouses participe à détendre les muscles du cou et à les rendre plus flexibles.
      1. Saignements menstruels abondants. Les ventouses sèches aident à diminuer la quantité de flux sanguin menstruel chez les femmes ménorragiques.

      La thérapie par ventouses montre également des améliorations dans :

          • les problèmes digestifs,
          • les maladies des poumons et des voies respiratoires, y compris bronchite, asthme et pneumonie,
          • l’hypertension artérielle,
          • la cellulite,
          • les tendinites,
          • les entorses,
          • les crampes,
          • la récupération sportive,
          • le stress,
          • les troubles du sommeil,
          • les problèmes de peaux.

      Une séance de cupping

      Tuina

      Tuina

      by | 3131,Jul, 2023 | medical

      An ancestral energy technique

      According to the ancient Chinese, animals practised massage long before humans did. They used it for comfort, grooming and even healing. So it’s only natural that humans, because of their animal instincts, should have used massage on themselves, their children or their partners. We all know the reflex of immediately rubbing an area of our own body after receiving a blow.

      Chinese massage is therefore considered to be the oldest branch of Chinese medicine. Massage techniques have evolved, refined and systematised over the centuries. Tuī Ná is the culmination of this science, born of this natural instinctive gesture.

      Old writings dating back to the Shang dynasty (1800 BC) describe massage methods for treating infants.

      The most famous ancient text on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)’ Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine), completed between the first century BC and the first century AD, includes passages on the use of these massage techniques and their use in the treatment of certain illnesses.

      Chinese massage is listed as a major treatment method. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties (220 – 420 AD), Tuī Ná massage departments have been official specialities in the Chinese government health system.

      One branch of TCM

      Tuī Ná, literally to push (tui – 推) and to grasp (na – 拿), is a discipline in its own right in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is also sometimes referred to as An Mo (按摩), which refers to massage in general and means ‘calming through touch’.

      Tuī Ná massage therefore obeys the Taoist principles that underpin this medicine based on energy balance.

      The practice of Tuī Ná is therefore specifically Chinese, and takes account of the meridians and acupuncture points. Tuī Ná comprises around thirty techniques and manoeuvres designed either to disperse energy blockages or to stimulate or tone up the qi or vital energy. These techniques include “mo fa”, which means circular rubbing, “Ya fa” or overpressure, and “ma fa”, which means wiping (or rubbing). It also includes massage of certain acupuncture points (acupressure), stretching techniques and joint mobilisation.

      By acting on reflex zones, this massage balances and stimulates both body and mind. Its aim is to circulate and rebalance energies, which also has an impact on emotional balance, since in TCM everything is linked. In fact, any muscular or ligament tension will lead to an energy blockage, affecting the free circulation of qi and therefore overall health. Similarly, a strong emotional charge can, over time, lead to energy blockages and even muscular tension. This can lead to pain.

      Numerous health benefits

       

      Tuī Ná massage is generally performed without oil, sometimes on clothing or through a piece of cotton cloth. It promotes the proper functioning of the organs, particularly through acupuncture points, thus preventing illness from taking hold. It is also effective in reducing or even eliminating muscle and joint pain.

      According to modern research, Tuī Ná is a therapy that regulates the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the endocrine system, the immune system and the nervous system. It also aids digestion and improves muscle and skin metabolism.

      Among other things, it has been shown to : 

      • Alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
      • Reduce the pain associated with fibromyalgia
      • Improving dizziness associated with cervical osteoarthritis
      • Relieve the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea
      • Contribute to the treatment of cervical radiculopathy

       

      The qualities of a Tuī Ná practitioner

      It’s difficult to explain in technical terms what makes a good Tuī Ná, because it’s all about energy.

      That’s why a Tuī Ná practitioner needs several years’ training in this energetic dimension.

      According to the tradition of Chinese medicine, he will first take care to develop his energy through disciplines such as qi gong, tai chi and even kung fu. These practices will enable them both to optimise their own vital energy and refine their sensitivity to perceive and identify the energies around them. They will spend time in nature, learning the language of plants. They can also learn to understand and use the healing energy of sacred places. Over time, they will be able to feel stagnant energy and blood.

      In fact, a good Tuī Ná massage depends on the practitioner’s energy, his feeling and his ability to transmit energy. This presupposes that the practitioner is well anchored to the ground, with joints that are supple and relaxed, in order to guarantee a good flow of energy. The breath should be abdominal and full. If they are tense, they won’t be able to deliver the same quality of energy. The whole body is involved in the massage.

      This is why a good Tuī Ná massage is a genuine therapeutic tool that has a profound effect. Although it can often be painful, it is nonetheless life-saving.

      Awaken your inner Tuī Ná masseur!

      We encourage everyone to find the ultimate bliss. Since massage is instinctive and natural, why not give it a go? We suggest you start by working on deep relaxation and breathing. You can do this by practising tai ji tchuan, qi gong or any other mindfulness practice.

      At the same time, you can start Tuī Ná with friends and family. To do this, put on loose-fitting clothes, release all your tension and start with a technique. Initially, you should not exceed ten minutes. Then debrief with your partner so that they can express their feelings.

      You can use this simple video as inspiration. Don’t hesitate to spend time in nature or with your favourite animal before practising Tuī Ná. Practising this art will develop your feelings and help you to reconnect with yourself. This will gradually improve your health.

      Never practise Tuī Ná in the following circumstances:

      • A bad mood or upset
      • After an argument
      • In a state of great sadness or anger
      • Immediately after your secular work
      • In the event of illness

      This list is not exhaustive. As you will have realised, massage is an exchange. So it’s with a warm heart that you offer the best to those around you… and to yourself.