The benefits of cupping
Cupping might seem an odd concept but in the classic Chinese medicine texts, they talk about relieving stagnation and drawing out evil pathogens. Cupping is an extremely quick and effective way of relieving muscle tension.
In most cases a small amount of massage oil is applied first. The cups feel odd but not painful. If there is a lot of muscle tension (stagnation) then the cup will leave a deep red mark. The marks disperse over about five days. Cupping is one of the quickest ways to relieve extreme tension. Once the body is moving more freely, then massage and exercise will suffice to maintain balance.
When is electro-acupuncture usually used?
Electro-acupuncture is simply applying a current to acupuncture needles. What the patient feels is vibration. Electro-acupuncture is very effective for arthritic knees, frozen shoulders and plantar fasciitis.
What is moxibustion?
The aim of moxibustion is to warm tissues and in turn improve blood flow. The traditional way of doing this was to roll up a ball of mugwort and light it, which is great but it tends to create a lot of smoke. We use a smokeless cone these days. In some cases I may give patients a stick that can be used at home.