Cupping procedures According to a recent article by the NC Massage School: Cupping is ancient Eastern technique using sterile glass suction cups or bulbs to lift the surface layers of skin and muscle tissue to allow fluid, lymph and blood that builds up in the muscle to flow back where it belongs. The cups are lit on fire, or heated, and then placed on the skin, which removes the oxygen from the cups causing a vacuum and suction on the skin. Cupping can also be performed using a plastic gun that suctions out the air to allow the cup to attach to the skin. The cups pull up the top layer of muscle to allow fluid built up in the muscle tissue to flow and return to where it belongs. The lifting action works in opposition to traditional forms of massage and bodywork that may use deep tissue treatments to exert pressure on the muscle. Cupping causes no pain and the bruising may last forty eight hours or longer. (NC Massage School, 2016) There are at least four types of cupping but two are commonly used, which are dry and wet. They both cause the skin to rise and redden as blood vessels expand. The cup is generally left in place for up to three minutes (WebMD, 2016). In the wet method, the therapist then removes the cup and uses a small scalpel to make light, tiny cuts on your skin then does a second suction to draw out a small quantity of blood (WebMD, 2016). An antibiotic ointment and bandage may to prevent infection and the skin should look normal again within ten days (WebMD, 2016). Benefits of cupping therapy Proponents of cupping believe this is a noninvasive procedure with benefits for clients except those who are pregnant or have bleeding disorders. The benefits are listed as follows: ● Removing toxins: Toxins, including calcium deposits and uric and lactic acids, build up in the muscles during training. Cupping may help break these down so they flow out of the body. ● Increases blood circulation and exchange to the affected area. ● Reducing inflammation and pain, reversing pressure between the muscle and bone helps fill the area with fresh blood to reduce inflammation and pain. ● Improved healing: Improved blood flow helps injured muscle tissue heal more quickly (WebMD, 2016). Patients who are suffering from chronic pain, chronic fatigue, bronchial congestion, arthritis and even anxiety report improvement of their symptoms after cupping therapy (WebMD, 2016). Side effects and risks Cupping is fairly safe, as long as it is administered by a trained health professional. There could be side effects in the area where the cups touch the skin including: ● Mild discomfort. ● Burns. ● Bruises. ● Skin infection (WebMD, 2016). Wet cupping may carry the risk of blood borne pathogens as discussed below. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigation on cupping The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from management personnel at the Dallas Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DIAOM) to evaluate the potential for occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2015) The BBPs in question were the human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], Hepatitis B virus [HBV] and Hepatitis C virus [HCV]) from acupuncture and other procedures including wet cupping procedures. Although there have been reports of acupuncture procedures resulting in patients becoming infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV,
these incidents were, in most cases, related to exposure to improperly sterilized reusable needles but following the standard practice of using single-use, sterile acupuncture needles, this risk is greatly decreased (NIOSH, 2015). The NIOSH notes: ● The wet cupping procedure used at DIAOM extracts three to five milliliters of blood and the cupping jars, gauze, and gloves used by the practitioner can be contaminated with blood from this procedure, posing another potential risk for infection with BBPs. ● In addition, they noted that sharps containers were located beyond easy reach of the practitioner during treatments. ● Ozone generator was occasionally used in the clinic for odor control. ● Transfer of viral infections, including HIV, HBV, and HCV, may occur between patients or from patients to practitioners if needles are not properly sterilized between uses. ● The cupping jars, gauze, and gloves used by the practitioner were contaminated with blood during cupping procedures. ● The protective sheath around the acupuncture needles provides some protection from needle sticks but there is still a potential for needle sticks after the needle is removed from the patient’s skin. ● Latex and non-latex gloves are stored outside the treatment rooms and not within easy reach when needed (NIOSH, 2015). The NIOSH offer several recommendations for decreasing the risk of occupational exposures to the employees at DIAOM: ● Insist that employees report all exposures to blood or body fluids. ● Offer Hepatitis B vaccination to employees. ● Refer employees who have had blood or body fluid exposures to a physician who is familiar with bloodborne pathogen exposures. ● Reduce exposure to latex as much as possible by providing non-latex gloves or powder-free, low protein gloves. ● Stop using ozone generators. ● Move gloves and sharps containers closer to the practitioner during procedures. What DIAOM employees can do: ● Report all blood exposures. ● As soon as possible after a blood exposure, see a physician who is familiar with bloodborne pathogen exposures. ● When using gloves, wear non-latex gloves whenever possible. There have not been significant scientific research studies conducted and many reviews of research findings indicate bias and flawed research procedures One report, published in 2015 in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, notes that it could help with acne, herpes zoster, and pain management (WebMD, 2016). It included reports from Australian and Chinese researchers who reviewed 135 studies on cupping and concluded that cupping therapy may be effective when people also get other treatments, like acupuncture medications, for the diseases and conditions below: ● Herpes zoster. ● Acne. ● Facial paralysis. ● Cervical osteoarthritis. But those researchers noted many of the studies they reviewed could have been biased and that better clinical studies are needed. The British Cupping Society[2016] says that cupping therapy is used in the UK to treat: ● Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia. ● Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. ● Get the Hepatitis B vaccination. What does the research show?
● Fertility and gynecological disorders. ● Skin problems such as eczema and acne.
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