Alternative treatment refers to medical products and practices other than the standard medical care. Standard care refers to the products and practice used by medical doctors and other health professionals. While complementary treatment is used together with standard medicine, alternative treatment is used as a replacement for it (Michalsen et al., 2009). Complementary treatment is mostly used to deal with side effects of standard treatment. For instance, acupuncture is used to deal with the side effects of cancer treatment.

Cupping therapy is an alternative treatment method which has its roots in China. The therapy uses glass or bamboo suction cups. The cups are then gently placed on the patient’s skin to create a suction effect (Michalsen et al., 2009). There are several ways to create a suction effect on the skin. One way is by rubbing alcohol on the cup, lighting it and immediately placing the cup on the skin. The flame is only used to create a suction effect. The cups are then moved across the skin causing the skin muscles to be drawn into the cup. There are five meridians on the back where the cups can be placed. Once placed on these meridians the effect flows throughout the body. Hence, cupping is like the reverse of massage.

Cupping can be used alone but is mostly used with acupuncture. The suction relaxes muscles, encourages the flow of blood and sedates the nervous system. This makes cupping a very effective treatment for blood pressure. It is also commonly used to relieve back pains, fatigue and stiff muscles. It also used for weight loss and cellulite treatment. Cupping is a very effective alternative treatment, especially for deep tissue problems (Michalsen et al., 2009). The treatment is believed to clear blockages in veins and arteries. It is also recommended for people with respiratory conditions, for instance asthma. Hence, it’s a very useful alternative treatment.

References

Michalsen Andreas, Silke Bock, Rainer Ludtke, Thomas Rampp, Marcus Baecker, Jurgen Bachmann, Jost Langhorst, Frauke Musial, & Gustav J. Dobos (2009). Effects of Traditional Cupping Therapy in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of pain (1), 1-8

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