MedVed

05/13/2026

🔥 FIRE ON TOP OF CUPS — WHY? 🔥

This ancient technique goes back thousands of years.
In the cold mountain regions of Tibet, practitioners used heated copper cups with fire on top to warm the body deeply while relaxing tight, painful muscles at the same time.

In China, ceramic cups were also traditionally used for fire cupping therapy.

✨ The material changes the effect:

• Copper heats up quickly → stronger warming effect, deeper pe*******on
• Ceramic warms more slowly → gentler, steady heat relaxation

The fire is not “burning” the skin.
It creates warmth and suction that helps:
✔ improve circulation
✔ release muscle tension
✔ move stagnant Blood & Qi
✔ warm Cold conditions
✔ relax the nervous system

For centuries, fire cupping was used for:

back pain
stiffness
fatigue
Cold & Damp conditions
recovery after physical labor
Ancient medicine understood something modern people are rediscovering:
Sometimes the body doesn’t only need pressure…
it needs warmth to let go.

🔥 Ancient technique. Modern recovery.

05/03/2026

There are many techniques that can be used together with copper cupping. Copper has excellent conductivity and heats up very quickly, delivering soothing warmth to tight muscles and a cold body.

Fire Dragon is a slow, warming technique.

Make sure you know how to use both moxa and cupping properly. Always check medications and contraindications beforehand. Stay next to your patient at all times to prevent burns.

Feel the cups and communicate with your patient—ask them to tell you when it feels “warm,” and remove the moxa from the cup immediately. Use heat-resistant gloves or mitts if you need to handle the cup quickly to avoid burning yourself. (The patient may not feel it, but the surface of the cup can become very hot.)

04/20/2026

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), putting water inside cups is part of a specific cupping method—most often called water cupping (水罐法). It’s not random; it actually changes how the treatment works compared to dry cupping.

Here’s what’s going on:

1. Stronger suction with gentler tissue effect

When a small amount of warm water is placed inside the cup and then vacuum is created, the seal can become tighter and more stable. At the same time, the water softens the pull on the skin, so it feels less harsh than strong dry suction.

2. Heat + moisture = deeper therapeutic effect

TCM often combines heat and moisture to:

relax muscles more effectively
open pores
improve circulation of Qi and Blood
This is similar in principle to how steam therapy works—moist heat penetrates deeper than dry heat.

3. Enhanced movement of Qi and fluids

Water inside the cup is believed to:

support movement of Body Fluids (Jin Ye)
help with conditions involving dryness or stagnation
improve lymphatic and blood circulation
So it’s often used for:

muscle stiffness
chronic pain
internal cold or deficiency patterns
4. Combination with herbal therapy

Sometimes the water isn’t just water—it can be an herbal decoction. This turns cupping into a hybrid treatment:

mechanical (suction)
thermal (heat)
herbal (topical absorption through pores)
5. Different from fire cupping

In standard fire cupping, like what’s commonly practiced today, a flame briefly creates suction. Water cupping is an alternative technique that modifies:

intensity
temperature
therapeutic focus
Clinical perspective

Water cupping is less common in modern clinics (especially in the U.S.)

But traditionally, it was valued for gentler yet deeper nourishment and fluid movement, especially in patients who are:

deficient
sensitive
or have dryness patterns

04/19/2026

Your abdomen is your center of energy — when it’s blocked, everything slows down.

Restore flow. Ignite your core. Feel lighter instantly.

MedvedClinic WellnessReel

04/17/2026

Did you know?
Originally, ear and facial piercings were used for medicinal purposes—and only later became a fashion trend, often without understanding their potential effects on the body.

Ear and facial piercings have long been more than simple decoration. In Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), they are believed to influence energy flow, stimulate acupuncture points, and support organ function as well as emotional balance.

04/12/2026

⚠️ Acupressure Points to Avoid During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body becomes more sensitive—and certain acupressure points can actually stimulate uterine contractions or affect blood flow. That’s why it’s important to know what to avoid.

🚫 Forbidden Points:

🔴 LI4 (Hegu) – located between the thumb and index finger
👉 Strongly moves Qi and can stimulate contractions

🔴 SP6 (Sanyinjiao) – above the inner ankle
👉 Influences uterus and pelvic organs

🔴 BL60 (Kunlun) – behind the ankle
👉 Known for promoting labor

🔴 BL67 (Zhiyin) – on the little toe
👉 Used to turn breech babies (very stimulating)

🔴 GB21 (Jianjing) – top of the shoulder
👉 Can trigger downward energy and contractions

💡 Why avoid these points?
These points are traditionally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to induce labor, move stagnation, and stimulate circulation. During pregnancy, this can be unsafe if not properly supervised.

✨ Always consult a qualified practitioner before trying acupressure while pregnant.

WomensHealth NaturalMedicine

04/06/2026

🌿 Postpartum Herbal Chicken Soup (气血双补汤)

🥣 Ingredients

1 whole chicken
8–10 cups water
6–8 slices fresh ginger
3–5 pieces dried red dates (Hong Zao / 红枣)
1–2 tbsp goji berries (Gou Qi Zi / 枸杞子)
10–15 g Dang Gui (Angelica root – key for blood tonification)
10–15 g Huang Qi (Qi tonic, boosts immunity)
Salt to taste
🍲 Instructions

Blanch the chicken
Quickly boil chicken for 2–3 minutes, then rinse (removes impurities).
Start the soup
Add chicken, water, ginger, and all herbs into a pot.
Simmer gently
Bring to boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1.5–2 hours.
Add goji berries
Add during the last 20 minutes to preserve nutrients.
Season lightly
Add salt at the end.
🌸 Benefits (TCM perspective)

Tonifies Blood → helps recovery after delivery
Boosts Qi → reduces fatigue and weakness
Warms the body → especially important postpartum
Improves circulation → supports uterine recovery
💡 Clinical tips

Best started after initial digestion stabilizes (day 3–5 postpartum)
Drink warm, not hot
Can be taken daily for 1–2 weeks
Combine with easy-to-digest foods (congee, stewed vegetables)

03/29/2026

03/27/2026

In this video, a classic cupping therapy protocol for shoulder conditions is demonstrated. We do not begin treatment with stationary cups—first, the cups are moved to increase blood circulation in the affected area. The sliding movements are intentionally firm; the appearance of red lines is normal and reflects the level of muscle stagnation and inflammation.

The next stage involves placing stationary cups.

Unlike massage therapists and physical therapists, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners use specific point combinations when applying cups. The cups are placed not only on the area of pain but also on distal points, which help reduce pain and inflammation.

pain

03/23/2026

Mud Moxibustion Therapy: Natural TCM Healing for Pain

Modern lifestyles often leave us with stiff shoulders, fatigue, and recurring aches that don’t go away easily. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers an ancient yet effective solution: mud moxibustion therapy. This treatment combines mineral-rich volcanic mud with the warming power of moxa to dispel cold, improve circulation, and relieve discomfort deep within the body.

Our mud moxibustion therapy is more than just a surface treatment—it is guided by TCM diagnostic methods. After a careful assessment of your condition, we apply warm herbal mud to selected areas while integrating other therapeutic techniques. The result is a comfortable, deeply relaxing session that helps release muscle tension, boost energy, and support your body’s natural healing—without needles or invasive methods.

pain

03/19/2026

Want to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine cupping protocols?
Feel free to contact us:
(858) 705-7934
Or go to our website:
https://medvedacupuncture.com/classes/private-one-day-training/