CUPPING THERAPY
Cupping therapy is the old natural healing therapies in the world, and was a very popular therapy for more than 2550 years. Cupping therapy was used by all civilizations around the world, including the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese. The Arabic name for Cupping Therapy is Al-Hijama which means to decrease in size i.e. to return the body back to its natural state.
Definition
Cupping is an old fashion treatment in which evacuated cups are applied to the intact skin in order to move blood toward or through the skin surface.
History of cupping
Cupping has been used for thousands of years in China and around the world. Pharos (1555 BC) and ancient Greeks (415 BC) used cupping to eliminate foreign matter from the body, reduce pain, improve inflammation and regain appetite. Its early uses were primarily to discharge pus and blood in the treatment of furuncles and carbuncles. Then it was found to be effective in treating other diseases. (29)
From the Egyptians this ancient art was transferred to the Greeks by Cecrops, who emigrated with his companions from
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The herbs and bamboo cups are put into a deep pan and covered with water (glass cups become too hot and are therefore not suitable for this method). The water is brought to boil for 30 minutes. The patient is prepared and the part to be cupped is exposed. When the practitioner and the patient are both ready, one cup is lifted at a time out of the pan with a metal clamp. The practitioner should wait briefly to ensure that the cup is not too hot and then apply the cup. The herbs are absorbed by the bamboo cups, which in turn transfer their analgesic properties to the patient. This method is usually employed when cold, damp and wind attack the body causing stiffness and aching, particularly in the neck and the shoulders. Cups can be left on for 11 and 20 minutes.
Mathews, Holly F. "Introduction: A Regional Approach and Multidisciplinary Persepctive." Herbal and Magical Medicine: Traditional Healing Today. Ed. James Kirkland, Holly F. Mathews, C. W. Sullivan, III, and Karen Baldwin. Durham: Duke UP, 1992. 1-13. Print.
Arthritis, muscle pain, low back pain, swelling or weakness- if you suffer under one on these conditions, doctors might recommend a treatment that you might not be familiar with- acupuncture.The ancient treatment used in China thousands of years ago involves thin, metal needles being placed in the patient’s skin. The human body is described as a composition of yin and yang, two fluids that balance each other out and are responsible for the body’s mental and physical health.If yin isn’t able to flow anymore, the human body is said to be imbalanced, mental and physical disease occur as a result. The Acupuncture needles are now supposed to help unblock the flow of yin and cure the conditions by connecting with special points selected from lines
The third explanation is the ancient Chinese explanation that the acupuncture points are doors to energy channels and that by inserting the needles into these points, one can open and close these doors. This brings about energy circulation and harbors energy balance, resulting in improved health (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/Works.htm).
Public Health Reports (Interagency Team at NIMH and NIDA Studies How Acupuncture Works.) (1974-) , Vol. 95, No. 5 (Sep. - Oct., 1980), pp. 503-504
Touch is as essential to a healthy and happy life as eating right, getting proper sleep, and exercising. With the world growing more technological, the need for healthy human contact is more important than ever. Massage and body therapies are an age old healing refuge for us in this fast-paced, stressed-out world. The practice of massage therapy is rapidly growing in the United States. It has so much to offer and is becoming more widely accepted by doctors and the general public. Massage is touching another person by such movements as rubbing, kneading, pressing, rolling, slapping, and tapping. This type of therapy provides circulation of the blood and lymph, relaxation of muscles, relief from pain, restoration of metabolic balance, and many other benefits both physical and mental. There is much historical evidence to indicate that massage is one of the earliest remedies for pain relief and for the restoration of a healthy body. It is said to be the most natural and instinctive means of relieving pain and discomfort. Massage has proven to be an effective method for treating many conditions for thousands of years and it will continue to be used for thousands of years to come. Massage therapy is a great treatment for the body and soul.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction [NCCAM Backgrounder]. (n.d.).National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM] - nccam.nih.gov Home Page. Retrieved December 11, 2011, from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm
Cupping is a practice, where a cup made of glass, metal, silicone, or bamboo is placed on the skin as a suction device to pull the superficial muscle layer upwards to increase the blood flow, which helps in relieving pain, stiff muscles, and fatigue. Suction is achieved as a result of the vacuum created by the application of heat inside the cup or by a mechanical pump. Many cups are placed simultaneously and left on the skin for about 5 to15 minutes. Some therapists may also use herbal oils to glide the cups around. Cupping works similar to Acupuncture, targeting painful body parts by application of pressure.
Acupuncture originated in China and it has been practice for more than 2000 years now. This modality is considered the main treatment within the traditional Chinese medicine. Its main concept is the conviction that the body possesses hidden channels identified as meridians. These channels allows for the flow of energy which is considered a vital life force through all the body. Acupuncture modality believes that when this energy becomes obstructed or imbalanced, sickness and symptoms can build up. It is only when this energy becomes unblocked by stimulating focal points in the meridians that health can be achieved again (Cherry & Jacob, 2010).
The Egyptians had influenced Early Greek art for several years; it was during the time of war (Archaic Period) and art was not their top priority. Most of their sculptures were similar to those in Egypt and there was no sense of personal style. However, as peace was approaching, artists started to focus on how to make their work outstanding. They took advantage of their knowledge in anatomy and started applying it to their blocks of marbles. During the early Classical Period, Kritios Boy was sculpted, and it showed the break from the Egyptian style.
This type of art was seen around the early 1050s and 700 B.C. was very new to the Greek Culture. It allowed them to witness a more naturalistic style reflecting both what the Near East and Egypt were comprised of which led to the development of trade between the Nile Delta and the Levant.
Derived from several ancient healing practices, therapeutic touch is based on the theory of human energy fields - every person has an energy field that surrounds the entire body. During therapeutic touch treatment, practitioners use their hands, without actually touching the person, to re-establish a healthy energy flow. Therapeutic touch seeks to restore balance within the body while also stimulating the patient's own healing response. The practice of therapeutic touch is used worldwide in thousands of hospitals, clinics, and private practices. It is an easily learned, successful complement to other healing programs.
Ancient roots of acupuncture can be traced back to archeology five thousand years ago. Its written existence has been around for about two thousand five hundred years (Dr. Michael). Acupuncture was discovered during the Chinese Empire in the Yuan dynasty which lasted from 1264 to 1368 CE (Felt). Statues of acupuncture were made during this time period and served as the base of date for the oriental medicine.
Massage Therapy The practice of massage therapy is rapidly growing in the United States. It has numerous benefits to offer and is becoming more widely accepted as a medical practice by doctors and the general public. Massage is defined as: …the systematic manual or mechanical manipulations of the soft tissues of the body by such movements as rubbing, kneading, pressing, rolling, slapping, and tapping, for therapeutic purposes such as promoting circulation of the blood and lymph, relaxation of muscles, relief from pain, restoration of metabolic balance, and other benefits both physical and mental (Beck 3). There is much historical evidence to indicate that massage is one of the earliest remedies for pain relief and for the restoration of a healthy body.
According to Massage Today “Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old”. I feel that the benefit of rubbing aching muscles and hurt limbs comes to us as naturally as breathing air. Among its many purposes and advantages, massage soothes achy muscles, helps heal injuries, strengthens baby’s muscles and relieves stress. To me, massage is not only a way to soothe the muscles and relieve the everyday stresses of society, massage is a way to connect with others through the common practice of touch. We have needed touch in our lives since the first seconds after our birth, so it’s not surprising that we would seek out touch in the form of massage.
Add 5 g crushed nutmeg and 50 mL hexane-isopropanol into a flask and warm for 15 minutes.