Cupping therapy is commonly used to relieve the symptoms of respiratory conditions, such as common colds, allergies and bronchitis. It’s also used to relieve musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck and shoulders. The aim of cupping, which has been used in China for thousands of years, is to release any excess or stuck vital energy (qi or ch’i)* in the body.
At the Canberra Classic Chinese Medicine Centre, we perform both vacuum cupping and fire cupping. Both methods involve the placement of cups on the skin to create a partial vacuum, which causes the skin to redden and rise (as blood vessels expand). Many patients with a fear of acupuncture or moxibustion prefer to undergo cupping treatment.
* For further information on vital energy (qi or ch’i), please refer to What is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?