Acupuncture, the traditional Chinese medical treatment defined by the insertion of thin needles into certain points on the body, work well as relief from back pain, nausea, cramps, and can even help more serious conditions, such as infertility and cancer. However, to reap the most benefits from the acupuncture method, use it hand in hand with another traditional Chinese medical art – cupping.

Performed since ancient times to relieve many of the same pains as acupuncture is meant to relieve, cupping should be researched by those who are interested in alternative energies, especially acupuncture. This technique can usually be done at your acupuncturist’s office, and he or she can probably give you more information on the process.

The basic concept of cupping is suction. Traditionally, small cups or jars (usually made from glass or bamboo) are heated from the inside with fire to create a vacuum and then placed on the body. The cups suction fast to the skin where they are placed and are usually left on the body for about 15 minutes, although some treatments last longer. Today, this technique can be done with a suctioning pump as well. This allows more regulation of the suction created. In either case, the placement of the suctioning device is crucial. Sometimes, they are needed exactly over the inflicted area, but often the acupuncturist (or the professional doing the cupping) places the suctioning devices over acupuncture spots.

It was thought in ancient China that by stimulating these areas, you could rid the body of negative energies like diseases and pain. It was also believed that cupping “opens” the lungs-that is, cupping will draw toxins out of the air in your body through the skin and make it easier for you to breath. It is also believed to draw the cold and dampness out of your system, creating a healthier body overall.

Today, studies have show that the benefits of cupping are not simply old wives’ tales. Cupping helps stimulate the blood vessels in an affected area, drawing out old blood that settles in a bruise or otherwise pained area and making room for new blood, with a fresh supply of oxygen, to make its way to the area. This creates a better environment for tissues to repair themselves.

Of course, cupping is not right in every situation. Those who are pregnant need to be especially careful, and cupping should not be done where there are open wounds. It can also not be done in places that cannot create a good suction, such as parts of the body with excess hair or parts of the body with odd surface angles.

After cupping, you may see large bruises where the cups have been, but this indicates that the process has worked and these should disappear within a week. Patients who use cupping in combination with acupuncture usually feel immediate relief, so if you are interested in alternative medicines, cupping may be right for you.

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