Cupping has become an essential practice in many beauty salons and wellness centers. It is indeed effective for women with internal coldness. Additionally, it works well for those with symptoms like stagnant blood. But what about those who use cupping for weight loss? Does it truly work? Are there any side effects?
Benefits of Cupping
1.Cupping expels dampness and cold from the body through the skin tissue, leaving one feeling refreshed and energized.
2. Since the body's meridians, acupoints, and internal organs are interconnected, the external suction stimulates surface acupoints. This stimulation travels through the tendons, bones, and meridians, regulating internal organs, promoting smooth qi and blood flow, and strengthening the body.
3. Cupping also offers benefits for localized tissue damage and conditions like herniated discs. Regular, long-term cupping can alleviate pain and relieve symptoms.
4. In modern beauty treatments, cupping is often used for its aesthetic purposes. While it can be effective for some, it's important to note potential side effects.
3. For localized tissue injuries or conditions like herniated discs, cupping offers therapeutic effects. Regular, long-term cupping can alleviate pain and relieve symptoms.
4. Many modern wellness and beauty establishments have begun researching and offering cupping-based weight loss programs.
Disadvantages
1. The duration and frequency of cupping must be carefully managed. Some individuals, enjoying the process, undergo frequent sessions, resulting in severely damaged skin, infections, and extensive bruising.
2. For patients with inflammation or bleeding disorders, cupping not only fails to help but may cause more severe adverse effects.
3. After cupping, avoid bathing or exposure to cold for a certain period. Doing so may trigger illness in healthy individuals or worsen existing conditions.
Cupping Weight Loss Drawbacks and Side Effects
1. Washing hair or bathing immediately after cupping
After cupping, you may feel relaxed and energized, thinking a shower would enhance comfort. This is incorrect.
Many mistakenly believe bathing after cupping enhances comfort, but this is incorrect. The skin becomes highly sensitive post-cupping, making bathing prone to causing inflammation and other skin conditions. Cold water baths can easily lead to catching a cold. Therefore, never bathe immediately after cupping; it's advisable to bathe before undergoing the treatment.
2. Longer cupping sessions are better
Some mistakenly believe longer cupping durations enhance weight loss effects, assuming sessions must last at least half an hour for optimal results. This is incorrect. The ideal cupping treatment time is within ten minutes from application to removal.
The primary mechanism of cupping therapy relies on negative pressure, not duration. Greater negative pressure requires less time. Prolonging the session with high suction can cause blistering, leading to skin conditions.
3. Repeated Cupping on the Same Acupoint
Some individuals, failing to see weight loss results quickly, repeatedly apply cupping to the same area. This practice is also incorrect. Repeated cupping on one spot can cause skin redness, swelling, and damage, harming the skin. Therefore, during cupping therapy, the same area should not be cupped daily. Instead, cupping can be applied to multiple areas of the body, which also promotes overall weight loss.
4. Applying cupping to any body part
Many mistakenly believe cupping should target any fatty area—like the abdomen for belly fat. This is incorrect. The chest is similarly unsuitable for cupping. Primary cupping areas are the shoulders, back, waist, and limbs.
Acupoints for Weight Loss Cupping
1. Back Acupoints: Hua Tuo's Spinal Acupoints.
2. Abdominal Acupoints: Tianshu, Daxiong, Qihai, and Yuan.