It is speculated that acupuncture started as a method of pricking boils of the skin, then expanded to letting out “bad blood” that was generated by injuries or fevers and finally allowing invisible evil spirits and perverse atmospheric qi (most notably “wind”) escape from the body (Unschuld, 1985).įocussing attention back to the research into Chinese healing traditions, the discovery of Acupressure and Acupuncture analgesia has proved that they can elicit the release of morphine like substances (Endorphins), Serotonin or Cortisol which can ultimately lead to pain relief and alter the physiological status of the individual (Schulte, 1996).Īcupressure and Acupuncture in fact are being utilised and proven useful in pain and addictive management (Schulte, 1996 Hinze, 1988 Cadwell, 1998).
Letting out blood is in fact among the oldest of acupuncture techniques (Dharmananda, 2004). The principles of Acupuncture and Acupressure are very similar to that of Wet Cupping Therapy, except for the fact that Wet Cupping involves the letting of blood whereas Acupuncture and Acupressure utilise suction and stimulation of points to attain the desired results. Additionally, mainstream healthcare, whilst requesting further evidence for CAM, are increasingly interested in some forms of CAM (Hoffman, 2001).Īccording to Hennawy (2004), Cupping Therapy is indicated for blood disorders, pain relief, inflammatory conditions, mental and physical relaxation, varicose veins and deep tissue massage and quotes up to 50% improvement in fertility levels. Surveys show that approximately one third of the UK's population (Ernst, 1996) and slightly higher in the USA (Wootton and Sparber, 2001) have used CAM. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is becoming more popular with the public and gaining credibility within biomedical health care (Hill, 2003). Dry Cupping Therapy tends to be practiced more commonly in the Far-East whereas Wet Cupping is favoured in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.įor the purpose of this research Wet Cupping Therapy will be investigated and the referred to as Cupping Therapy. Of the western world, the first to embrace Cupping Therapy were the ancient Egyptians, and the oldest recorded medical textbook, Ebers Papyrus, written in approximately 1550 BC in Egypt mentions cupping (Curtis, 2005).Ĭupping Therapy can be divided into two broad categories: Dry Cupping and Wet Cupping. The practice of Al-Hejamah has been part of Middle-Eastern cultural practice for thousands of years with citations dating back to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC). to return the body back to its natural state. The Arabic name for Cupping Therapy is Al-Hejamah which means to reduce in size i.e. In the UK the practice of Cupping Therapy also dates back a long way with one of the leading medical journals ‘The Lancet' being named after this practice.Ī lancet is a piece of surgical equipment that was traditionally utilised to release excess blood i.e. Traditionally, Cupping Therapy has been practiced in most cultures in one form or another.
The aim of Cupping is to extract blood that is believed to be harmful from the body which in turn rids the body of potential harm from symptoms leading to a reduction in well-being.