What is cupping therapy?
Using cups made of glass or plastic to suction the skin over acupuncture points, sore spots, or reflex zones is known as cupping. Over the past year, many East Asian nations have turned to cupping as a traditional and alternative treatment for a wide range of ailments. It has also lately grown in favor in Australia, particularly for conditions involving pain, such as osteoarthritis of the knee, neck, and low back.
How does cupping work?
TCM philosophy states that cupping encourages Qi and blood circulation in the treatment area to reduce pain and tension brought on by stagnation and expels pathogenic elements, ultimately leading to the restoration of physiological harmony and balance. Cupping can thereby increase subcutaneous blood flow to the muscles and skin while also energizing the autonomic nervous system. Additionally, cupping is employed for elevating connective tissues, releasing adhesions, and emptying excess fluids and toxins.
What kind of populations are suitable for cupping therapy and who arr not suitable?
Due to the impact of various types of stimulation, cupping therapy can treat a wide range of disorders. Musculoskeletal pain, generalized low back pain, neck discomfort, fibromyalgia, and other painful diseases can all benefit from cupping therapy. Headaches and migraines can also be treated with cupping therapy. Cough, asthma, acne, the common cold, urticaria, facial paralysis, cervical spondylosis, soft tissue damage, arthritis, and neuro-dermatitis are among the other disorders treated with cupping therapy. Due to the fact that cupping is pain-free, it is excellent for children and others who are sensitive to pain.
Patients with heart illness, fractures, cancer, and pregnant ladies shouldn't be cupped.
Are there any adverse events caused by cupping?
It's secure to use cup therapy. Adverse effects of cupping therapy are rarely documented, and the majority are mild to moderate in intensity. Although cupping is not painful, it may leave markings on the places that resemble bruises. Due to the client's health, these color marks from cupping usually go away in a few days but can take up to a week.
What kind of measures do Sean Family Clinic take to have infection control for cupping therapy?
Following infection control measures is an essential part of the Sean Family Clinic practice for preventing cupping therapy related infection.
1. Hand washing.
2. Glass Cups are washed with soap and water and disinfected with a high level disinfection (HLD) solution, immersion in 7.5% hydrogen peroxide for the prescribed 30 min.
3. Wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, protective eyewear.
4. Disinfection of the skin before cupping.
5. Disinfection of patients’ beds or using disposable plastic bed covers.
6. Using disposable cups, vacuum pumps and surgical blades.
7. Using a secondary disposable container for lubricants/skin disinfectants used on a single patient before disposal. Use on another patient is prohibited
