Demystifying the Mark -Cupping
By Jackie Christensen, BS, HHP, NC, MH
Faculty Member of GCNM
Cupping, a 3,000 year old therapy is literally still leaving its mark today! Cupping is a practice mostly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, in which a vacuum is created in a glass cup, and is then placed flush against the patient's skin. The vacuum pulls up on the skin, stimulating the acupressure effect. Some practitioners use a flame to heat the air in the cup to create the vacuum. However, the newest innovation in cupping does away with the flame and uses a pump action instead. The pump is a more accurate way of gauging the degree of suction and eliminates the risk of burning the skin. Most commonly, a total of about 8 to 12 cups are applied to the client’s back in two parallel 'vertical' columns, midway between the spine and each edge of the body. The cups are spaced about 4 inches within each column over acupuncture meridians. In some cases, medicated massage oils (with extracts of herbs) are applied to the skin and the cup may be moved while the suction of skin is active; causing a regional pulling of the skin and muscle, this technique is called gliding. An application of about 10-20 minutes is average, for the back; however this varies with the individual. The longer a cup is left on, the skin becomes reddened due to the congestion of blood flow. As the skin pores are more open the patient may have a feeling reminiscent of a sunburn. When the cup is ready to be removed the practitioner will press the skin alongside the edge of the cup to allow some outside air to leak into it, thus equalizing the pressure and releasing it. Quite often circular bruises will result from cupping. The bruises however, are not painful and only last a day or two.
Cupping was originally used to drain toxins out of snakebites and skin lesions, traditionally bamboo and animal horn were used as cups. Now practitioners who use cupping as part of their therapeutic regime use glass cups that are roughly shaped like a light bulb with a capacity of about 4 fluid ounces. The introduction of glass cups helped greatly, since the bamboo cups would deteriorate with repeated heating. No one is quite sure where cupping originated. However, once the Chinese were introduced to cupping they expanded the modality and included it in surgery to divert blood flow from the surgical site. Eventually cupping was developed into its own therapy and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to dispel stagnation of blood and Chi. From China cupping spread to Egypt where the Egyptians used cupping as a healing method for conditions such as fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual issues, and as a means to facilitate the body in its natural healing process. From Egypt cupping spread to Greece and eventually through many European countries and finally to the Americas in the late 1800’s.
Today, cupping is mainly recommended for the treatment of pain, gastro-intestinal disorders, the treatment of respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis, paralysis, and when there is cold energy in the client’s meridians. Cupping may also be used to treat back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain. However, there are also a few conditions in which cupping should not be used, such as high fever, skin disease, or if there is a tendency to bleed easily. If you are interested in experiencing cupping for yourself, be sure to go to a trained practitioner; someone who can tell where you need a bit of extra energy and where you don't.
Book Review
Acupuncture: Visible Holism
By Bai Xinghua MD with RB Baron
While this book does address the conditions acupuncture can treat and how acupuncture works, it begins by focusing on the origins of acupuncture and why the ancient Chinese began to treat diseases by puncturing the body with needles. After a thorough study of the historical background of acupuncture, which included ancient documents and recent archeological finds, the authors present a new theory concerning the origins and development of acupuncture. Unlike the standard theory that suggests acupuncture originated in the Late Stone Age (8000-3500 BC) and developed gradually over thousands of years through a process of trial and error, Bai Xinghua suggests that it was a great and relatively sudden invention based on theory and practice during the early Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- 24 AD). The authors end their discussion of the origins of acupuncture by explaining how acupuncture is a tangible expression of holism or visible holism.
The next three sections of the book address meridians, acupoints, and acupuncture in practice. Using clear visual examples and straightforward organization, the book presents information about the system of the meridians, applications of meridian theory, Disorders of the Fourteen Meridians, and a selection of acupoints. After discussing a selection of acupoints, the book goes into further detail about acupoints by discussing the discovery of the acupoints, the classification of the acupoints, the effects of the acupoints, specific acupoints, and acupoint diagnosis. The last section of the book examines acupuncture in practice. It begins by examining the holistic interaction of the practitioner, patient, and needle. Then the focus on the section shifts to specific needling methods and enhancing the needling sensation with clear, step-by-step instructions or directions. The last, but not at all the least important, concept addressed in the book are the indications and contraindications of acupuncture. The importance of finding the proper scope of acupuncture is central to the discussion of the indications and contraindications of acupuncture.
One should pay particular attention to the notes and references at the end of each chapter. They contain quite a bit interesting information if one is looking for further detail. Also, make sure to check out the appendices. They expand upon concepts, such as The Ancient Medical Relics of Mawangdui and Pattern Identification.
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Bai Xinghua was born in a small village in Northeastern China. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and a Master’s degree in Acupuncture, he has been working as a lecturer and acupuncturist since 1989. In addition to being a member of the Chinese Association of Acupuncture and Medicine, he has also published a plethora of articles and books on the subject of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
RB Baron is from Albion, California. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Modern Chinese History, she has been dividing her time between China and the United States since 1991. She has translated a wide range of Chinese literary and scientific materials into English.
Student Profile
Diana Rodriguez
Diana is a current student of GCNM’s Bachelor’s of Science in Holistic Health (BSHH) degree program. She has been gracious enough to share not only some of her experiences with GCNM, but also to give us a little background into what lead her to GCNM’s BSHH degree program.
After 30 years of health problems, Diana and her husband began the journey of their lives to improve their health. Neither of them wanted to follow any particular “diet”. Instead they wanted to eat a nutritionally sound diet that would not only help them obtain a healthy weight, but also obtain a healthy body. Not only did they change the way they ate, but they also changed their lifestyle by exercising and switching to natural health and beauty products. Diana’s extensive research on healthy eating and living was proving itself to be true in the positive changes her and her husband were experiencing. Diana stated, “We believe that to make the transition to a healthy diet meal plan we must acquire knowledge, knowledge, knowledge. Having the right knowledge will be one of the keys to success. Lack of knowledge will be one of the reasons we could possibly fail to make the transition permanent”. As Diana continued researching a healthy lifestyle while her and her husband’s health was improving, she came across GCNM. She had fallen in love with the holistic health field and wanted to learn more. GCNM was exactly what she wanted and needed to do. Along with her other educational interest, such as massage therapy and foot reflexology, Diana is hard at work studying her Bachelor’s of Science Holistic Health materials.
Diana has been kind enough to share her experiences and aspirations with us in the interview below. Thank you again!
Q. Why did you choose the BSHH program?
A. I wanted to get the degree that would offer me the best preparation I could possibly get so that I would be able to begin my holistic private practice and be successful. I also wanted to be able to be Board Certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and The American Naturopathic Medical Certification Board. I will be practicing in Honduras and this field is not licensed or regulated there, but titles there are very important. I wanted to at least get my Bachelor's if not higher.
Q. What expectations did you have for the BSHH degree program?
A. That GCNM's courses would provide me with the best possible education and prepare me to be proficient with academic writing, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, health belief system theory and community assessment, advanced nutrition, homeopathy, naturopathy, advanced research, as stated on your website. I wanted to be a source of knowledge for various holistic healing modalities and felt that GCNM could make that happen.
Q.What was your experience with the materials provided and information presented in the BSHH degree program?
A. I have very impressed with the quality of the materials, and the wealth of information that is provided. I also like the ability to have the downloadable modules for the purpose of searching for information easily.
Q. What have your experiences with distance study been like?
A. I find that I have been much more dedicated than I thought I would be. I never dreamed that something could mean so much to me and keep me focused on a goal like this at the age of 59. I have learned that while it is harder to learn at this later stage of my life, it is possible with a lot of hard work and dedication, and the support of my husband.
Q. What have your experiences with the GCNM staff been like?
A. I have had the total support of the staff any time I have needed it. Although it took me awhile to have the time amid my studies to access the forums, I have been impressed with the wealth of knowledge provided there both by GCNM staff and students. There is great reference material there and so much to be learned. I don't think I've ever waited more than a couple of hours for an answer to any questions that I have had. The staff has been very responsive to my needs.
Q. What do you plan on doing with the knowledge gained by the BSHH degree program?
A. My husband and I will be opening an Eco-Tourism and Wellness Center in the Copan Ruinas, Copan, Honduras, Central America. I plan to add massage therapy and reflexology to my studies later this year and will be offering those services along with my HHP, NC and MH services to residents and tourists alike in Copan.
We will also be opening a nursery and botanical garden which will have special areas set aside to emphasize the importance of the growth of herbs. I also plan to develop and market my own line of herbal products. I believe that with the wealth of information I have gained through my studies that the sky is the limit, and that I will have the tools necessary to succeed.
Once again, I thank Diana for taking the time to share her experiences with us. All of at us at GCNM wish her the best.
Interviewer, Kate Marcinak, HHP, BA, C-PT, GCNM Newsletter Editor
Learn more about the Global College of Natural Medicine by logging on at http://www.GCNM.com, where you will find details on the school, its programs, tuition, and contact information.
Exercise Tips
Exercise Description:
Kneeling Chest Stretch with ball
Instructions:
- Start by assuming the position of being on your hands and knees.
- Place one arm on top of a stability ball placing the elbow at 90 degrees.
- Now slowly shift your body towards the ground until a stretch is felt in your chest area of the outstretched arm.
- Hold for the desired time and repeat with the other side.
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Search online for values in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
