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Cupping therapy

Cupping therapy

by | 2424,Aug, 2023 | medical, medicaltcm

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

Tuina

Tuina

by | 3131,Jul, 2023 | medical, medicaltcm

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.

Pharmacopoeia

Pharmacopoeia

by | 2929,Jun, 2023 | medical, medicaltcm

Powerful, tailor-made therapeutics

In China, medicinal plants are considered a “national treasure” and are widely used for both preventive and curative purposes. Indeed, in its country of origin, Chinese pharmacopoeia is used as a priority therapy. It is considered more powerful than acupuncture.

Chinese pharmacopoeia is a traditional medical system that has been developed in China for thousands of years. It is based on a holistic approach to health, aimed at restoring the balance between body and mind. It is used primarily to maintain health, but also to heal. It is a living discipline that continues to evolve over time.

Chinese pharmacopoeia is based on a set of principles and theories that form the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The most important of these are: Yin and Yang, Qi (vital energy), and the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). According to these principles, health is the result of a harmonious balance between these forces and elements. Any imbalance or obstruction in the flow of energy leads to illness.

Before prescribing a herbal preparation, the Chinese doctor will carry out a diagnosis to assess the imbalances at the root of the patient’s symptoms. Each prescription, even if it’s based on existing recipes called formulas, will thus be tailored to each patient’s individual terrain and temperament.

More than 100,000 formulas registered

Since the origins of Chinese pharmacopoeia, numerous formulas have been developed by great physicians. Some have been enriched, and new ones developed over time. There are many treatises listing these formulas. For example, Zhu-su’s Prescriptions of Universal Help, under the Ming dynasty, contained 61,739 formulas from Ancient China. More recently, the Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Prescriptions, compiled by the Nanjing University of TCM, lists all the formulas in existence since the beginning of TCM. It contains over 100,000 prescriptions!

A formula is always made up of several plants or substances. Indeed, Chinese pharmacopoeia relies on the combined effect of several plants to create a synergistic effect. This also minimizes the side-effects of taking a single plant in large quantities, or eliminates the toxic effects of a single plant. Different substances can act on different aspects of the disease or on different organs.

The formula thus treats the disease with the aim of balancing the whole body and correcting underlying imbalances. With this in mind, the formula will be tailored to each patient’s specific condition. Likewise, depending on the evolution of the disease or changes in the patient’s state of health, the proportions and herbs used can be adjusted accordingly.

Thousands of plants and substances

The Chinese pharmacopoeia contains several thousand substances, of which around 300 are commonly used. Most of these substances come from plants, but they may also include other elements. For example, we find mineral substances (cinnabar, sulfur, magnetite etc.), animal substances (bones, shells, birds’ nests, pearl powder etc.), insects (ants, silkworms, scorpions etc.). Medicinal preparations can also include other substances such as beeswax, honey and resinous substances. The list is not exhaustive.

Medicinal plants are selected on the basis of their specific properties, taste, nature and interactions with the body’s organs.

Chinese pharmacopoeia takes into account contraindications and potential interactions between different herbs.

A formula is elaborated by respecting “the particular combination of the Monarch, the Minister, the Assistant and the Guide”.

The Monarch remedy is the essential ingredient of the formula, holding the curative role for the main symptom targeted. The Minister reinforces the curative effect of the Monarch; the Assistant cooperates with the first two to enhance their therapeutic effects and enable them to be better tolerated. Finally, the Guide remedy directs the effects of the other herbs towards the organs to be treated and regulates the properties of the other herbs.

Chinese pharmacopoeia uses various methods of preparing medicinal herbs, such as decoctions (Tāng), infusions (Zhǒu), powders (Sǎn), tinctures (Jiǔ) and pills/tablets (Wàn). Decoctions are the most common.

A therapy not conducive to self-medication

In the light of what has just been said, this may seem obvious. But let’s not forget. Chinese pharmacopoeia is effective, but it must be prescribed judiciously, following a diagnosis of Chinese medicine. Indeed, an illness, according to the criteria of Western or allopathic medicine, may conceal different pathological pictures in the eyes of Chinese medicine. This is why each patient will be prescribed a formula adapted to his or her case.

Moreover, Chinese medicine considers that a disease evolves over time. This is why treatments vary rapidly with each course of treatment. From day to day, a patient’s condition evolves. Medicinal plants are then adapted to the patient’s evolving diagnosis. This is why, even if a patient took a formula a few weeks or months ago, and it was beneficial, it will not necessarily be appropriate if certain – apparently similar – symptoms recur. They are strongly advised to consult their Chinese doctor again.

Bitter-tasting remedies?

If pharmacopoeia is the most widely used therapy in Chinese medicine, it’s because it’s effective. The Chinese are pragmatic, and are not there to please themselves, but to heal themselves. Many Westerners are more sensitive to the comfort aspect of a therapy. Yes, it must treat effectively, but as pleasantly – or as unpleasantly – as possible.

If acupuncture scares some people, it’s often much worse with Chinese concoctions! Some don’t even feel brave enough to swallow them, while others throw them in the garbage can. Western noses and palates have undoubtedly become too fussy about their own health…

Over and above individual tastes and dislikes, the taste of a preparation varies greatly from one formula to another, ranging from rather sweet to very bitter. Decoctions are generally drunk twice a day. The preparation of a decoction requires a certain amount of time, which may also put some people off. But many Chinese pharmacies now cook them and deliver them vacuum-packed to their customers.