Why Should You Avoid Cupping Therapy as Much as Possible?

Strictly following doctor's advice for cupping therapy can bring certain benefits to the body, but the duration must be controlled. Cupping therapy involves attaching cups to the skin's surface to create localized blood stagnation, achieving effects such as unblocking meridians and collaterals, promoting qi and blood circulation, reducing swelling and pain, and dispelling wind and cold. It can generally improve conditions like colds, cough, asthma, lumbar disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, and frozen shoulder. The benign stimulation generated by the negative pressure on the skin can, to a certain extent, serve the purpose of improving these conditions. It should be noted that the duration must be carefully controlled, generally between 10 and 15 minutes. Prolonged cupping may cause skin damage. Although cupping therapy brings certain benefits to the body, it is not suitable for everyone, especially those with skin diseases such as skin ulceration, skin ulcers, and severe skin allergies. Patients with medical conditions such as body edema, respiratory failure, and malignant tumors are also not recommended for cupping therapy. Additionally, pregnant women are also advised against cupping therapy to avoid affecting fetal growth and development, and even cases of threatened abortion or premature delivery. During cupping therapy, it is important to keep oneself warm, adding clothing promptly according to weather changes to avoid catching a cold.