From the Guidelines
Cupping therapy is a traditional technique that involves creating suction on the skin to promote healing and relaxation, but its effectiveness and safety should be approached with caution due to limited scientific evidence and potential side effects. In cupping, small cups are placed on the skin and suction is created, either by heating the air inside or using a pump, which draws the skin and superficial muscle layer into the cup, with sessions typically lasting 5-15 minutes 1. While some find it relaxing, cupping can cause side effects like bruising, skin irritation, and burns, and it's not recommended for people with bleeding disorders or certain skin conditions. If you want to try cupping, it's essential to seek a licensed practitioner experienced in the technique and start with a single short session to see how your body responds before considering regular treatments. The proposed mechanism is that cupping increases blood flow to the area, which may help reduce muscle tension and promote healing, however, many of the claimed benefits are not well-supported by research, as noted in the development of guidelines for traditional Chinese medicine interventions, including cupping 1. Key aspects of cupping, such as the technique, frequency, and duration, should be clearly described and reported, similar to other acupuncture-related interventions like moxibustion, to ensure transparency and reproducibility 1. Overall, while generally safe when done properly, cupping should be viewed as a complementary therapy rather than a primary treatment for medical conditions, and its use should be guided by the principles of minimizing harm and maximizing benefits, particularly in the context of public health emergencies where evidence-based practices are crucial 1.
From the Research
Definition and History of Cupping Therapy
- Cupping therapy (CT) is a cornerstone of traditional Chinese and Persian medicine, with its roots in the history of therapy 2.
- It has been used to treat musculoskeletal impairments for about 4000 years 3.
Mechanisms and Applications of Cupping Therapy
- Although its exact mechanisms of action have not been fully understood, cupping therapy is widely used as an alternative or complementary treatment for a broad spectrum of diseases, mainly musculoskeletal pain and muscular tension 2.
- Some practitioners use cupping therapy to cure dermatoses, but the most common adverse events occur at the skin level 2.
- Cupping therapy has been used to treat various conditions, including chronic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and hypertension 4, 5, 6.
Efficacy and Safety of Cupping Therapy
- The evidence of cupping therapy on increasing soft tissue flexibility is moderate, decreasing low back pain or cervical pain is low to moderate, and treating other musculoskeletal conditions is very low to low 3.
- Cupping therapy might be a treatment option for chronic pain, but the evidence is still limited by clinical heterogeneity and risk of bias 4.
- Wet-cupping therapy is effective for reducing systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients for up to 4 weeks, without serious side effects 6.
- Adverse events are more frequent among patients treated with cupping compared to no treatment, but the incidence of adverse events is very low 3, 4.