14/11/2019
Does Cupping help reduce menopause symptoms?
Traditional Chinese medicine brings to mind acupuncture and the use of natural herbs as healing remedies. Cupping is a lesser-known treatment that is also part of Oriental medicine. One of the earliest documentations of cupping can be found in the work titled A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, which was written by a Taoist herbalist by the name of Ge Hong and which dates all the way back to 300 AD.
Today I visited a treatment centre which specialised in Cupping therapy where they assured me it can bring huge relief to menopausal symptoms. The main effect cupping therapy offers, is the constant flow of blood. Where there is blood flowing freely, there will never be a lack of oxygen and nutrients provided to the cells. This ensures that hormonal production is optimal, ‘qi’ (life force) is well balanced in the body, toxins are removed and many symptoms will be reduced apparently!
The technique my therapist used involved placing glass cups on the skin which acted as suction devices. There are several ways that a practitioner can create the suction in the cups. My therapist opted for an alcohol-soaked cotton pad, which she then lit and placed in the empty cup to extinguish it before immediately applying to my skin, which created a warm, slightly prickly sensation. She assured me flames are never used near the skin and are not lit throughout the process of cupping, but rather are a means to create the heat that causes the suction within the small cups.
Once the suction had occurred, the cups were gently moved across the skin (often referred to as "gliding cupping). The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup and once suctioned, the cups were left in place for about ten minutes while I relaxed.
Apart from treating my menopausal symptoms, the suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system (which makes it an excellent treatment for high blood pressure). Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite. For weight loss and cellulite treatments, oil is first applied to the skin, and then the cups are moved up and down the surrounding area.
Like acupuncture, cupping follows the lines of the meridians. There are five meridian lines on the back, and these are where the cups were placed. Using these points, cupping can help to align and relax qi.
The down side of this treatment is the obviously, bruising type marks it leaves on the skin, which apparently should last no longer than a week.
Not ideal when you spend most of your life walking around in summer t-shirts regardless of the outside temperature, but hey, if it’s going to get rid of my hot flushes, I can live with a few strange marks on my body.
I have only just had this treatment done, so no idea if it’s going to be successful or not yet.
Will give you an update in a couple of days.