Modern Cupping Therapy

Remodelling the fascia to correct hip pain and immobility

It's difficult, unless at hand, to appreciate the value of any therapeutic intervention, including cupping, unless some of the gains are for all to see. This series of photos were taken during an HT Modern Cupping workshop in Sydney. They portray the benefits of using flexible silicone cupping vessels to remodel the superficial fascia and release trigger and acu-points, to achieve increased flexibility and mobility, and provide pain relief throughout the hip region.

After consultation with the group of students in attendance, the person who was most in need volunteered to receive treatment. She said her right hip was her most problematic side. I would like to make it clear that before these pics were taken, no other treatment of any type had been performed. Commentary, in brief, proceeds from the upper left pic and clockwise.

1. Diagnosis by palpation to check the condition of the superficial fascia.

2. Stationary cups are applied to the left hip, to benefit the secondary problem region, and in turn release the deeper aspects of the right hip. Note also the aqua cup placed on the trigger point of the quadratus lumborum m. and the clear cup insitu, above infraspinatus m. (and clearing blockage at Tianzhong, SI 11). This diametrically opposite location on the left side aims to release the right-sided gluteus maximum m., and specifically Huantiao, GB30, according to the time-tested centuries old traditional Chinese medical strategy of treating polar opposites. There is also a corollary of sorts relating to a neurophysiological criss-cross mechanism.
Once these are in place, the "mending the fascia" method is applied to the featured hip.

3. Rectifying the fascia with the "snail's pace" sliding cup method. Note the active impression of the course of the cup.

4. Pressing down on the rim of the cup - close to the tat, and the two small cups applied bilaterally beside L5 to release the complex of adjoining ligaments - to dig in and then be drawn laterally to release the binding tightness of the glut max attachments engaged at the sacrum.

5 & 6. Pre and post treatment demonstration of the flexibility of the hamstrings. I do note a bend in the knees in pic 6, although the feet are positioned closer to each other.

7 & 8. Significant improvement, dependent on the release of quadratus lumborum m. and complimentary surrounding fascia is demonstrated. What we can't see is the report from the recipient about her immediate sense of pain relief and freedom of movement, when she walked around the room after treatment.

Posted 12 August, 2016

Using a combination of cups to benefit the face and overall health

Although gentle cupping to the face has been in vogue for decades among beauticians in Japan and Germany, after learning the basics I was left thinking so much more might be achieved.

Firstly, even if facial rejuvenation is the goal, surely it would be so much better if this local treatment was expanded by also adding to the health of the whole body. Who reading would disagree that one always looks one's best when feeling healthy? Sure creams etc may help the face, but nothing works better than when the entire body is feeling good, right?

So it was devised that before treating the face, other cups should be strategically placed on distal acu-points for this purpose (see the upper right photo). These distal points, especially on the legs, have a 'grounding/earthing' effect and bring about a total sense of relaxation. Also via the channels the relaying of Qi to the face brings an exponential gain to the focus area.

My second thought entertained the possibility of treating any number of troubling facial conditions. I can report that after many trials, excellent improvements can be gained for certain dermatological conditions including pimples, acne and rosaea. Note in the lower right photo (untouched) - taken after the first session and when only the right side had been treated - how well the heat (redness) and tightness has been relieved. You might be thinking, oh no (!) not for rosaea (broken capillaries), but it is none other than stasis, and very soft cupping can disperse such blockage.

Remember, one of the fundamental benefits of cupping is to move stagnation.

In addition, when treating heated dermatological conditions, beforehand at the first stage of treatment, cups should be applied to the back and slid (moved) up and down the bladder channel to drain and release systemic excess... expect to get strong red lines as a show of this heat release.

Other conditions including mild headache, sinus problems and Bell's palsy can also be alleviated.

22 May, 2017