Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which cups are placed on theskin to create suction. The cups can be made of a variety of materials, including:

• Glass
• Bamboo
• Earthenware

Supporters of cupping therapy believe the suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments.

Cupping therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians were using cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

In general, Western medical societies are skeptical of the health claims made by cupping therapy supporters. "Available scientific evidence does not support cupping as a cure for cancer or any other disease," states the American Cancer Society. "Reports of successful treatment with cupping are mainly anecdotal rather than from research studies."

But a 2012 study published in the journal PLoS ONE suggests that cupping therapy may have more than a placebo effect. Australian and Chinese researchers reviewed 135 studies on cupping therapy published between 1992 and 2010. They concluded that cupping therapy may be effective when combined with other treatments like acupuncture or medications in treating various diseases and conditions, such as:

• Herpes zoster
• Acne
• Facial paralysis
• Cervical spondylosis

But the researchers acknowledge that many of the studies in their review may have contained some bias. They say better studies are needed to draw a definite conclusion.

Types of Cupping Therapy

There are various types

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