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January 2, 2006
Calling in Reinforcements: Helping Stuck Muscles with Cupping--When Your Personal Qigong Practice Isn't Solving the Problem
For quite a while I have been focusing on regaining complete mobility in my left shoulder and left upper back area, which took a hammering in the years I practiced martial arts.
Besides investigating and emphasizing some wonderful qigong techniques, whether very subtle or straightforwardly physical, to release recalcitrant tightness, scarring and general stagnation, I also recruited a bevy of bodywork modalities to grind away at hot spots.
I have found the following modalities to be helpful in different degrees: cranio-sacral, versions of deep tissue, ART (excruciating!), acupuncture and Thai massage.
I have seen a marked improvement in my mobility but there is still a way to go.
Recently, I discovered a highly competent Shiatsu practitioner, Sheila Gunderson (those of you in the Twin Cities can contact her at 612-801-3538) who used the ancient Chinese technique of cupping on me.
Interestingly, the cupping appeared to have had more success in releasing these tough areas than anything else I have had done to me.
I strongly recommend you try Cupping, particularly for shoulder and upper back problems.
I Googled cupping on the web and would like to share a few of my findings here with you:
Cupping is an ancient Chinese method of causing local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left in place on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and localized healing takes place.
Cupping therapy has been further developed as a means to open the 'Meridians' of the body. Meridians are the conduits in the body through which energy flows to every part of the body and through every organ and tissue. There are five meridians on the back that, when opened, allow invigorating energy to travel the whole length of the body. It has been found that cupping is probably the best way of opening those meridians.
Cupping has also been found to affect the body up to four inches into the tissues, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, help activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear stretch marks and improve varicose veins. Cupping may be the best deep tissue massage available.
Says one bodyworker on her site:
“I have used Cupping for many years as a Massage Therapist doing fascia release techniques to assist healing of scars, restricted range of motion on the rib cage to improve breathing, and removing old haematomas from old injuries.”
And here are a few references to check out:
1. Cui Jin and Zhang Guangqi, A survey of thirty years’ clinical application of cupping, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1989; 9(3): 151–154.
2. Wu Jiashu, Observation of analgesic effect of acupuncturing dazhui point, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1989; 9(4): 240–242.
3. Ju Huadong, 30 cases of frozen shoulder treated by needling and cupping, International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture 1998; 9(3): 327–328.
However skillful you are at “treating” your own body, it can be a great help to call in outside reinforcements, as it were, to speed the process along.
My advice when choosing a bodyworker, whatever the modality: insist on the best. I have had shiatsus and other bodywork sessions that have been unimpressive to say the least, with negligible benefits.
Sheila Gunderson, for instance, is the Clinical Supervisor for shiatsu-related bodywork at a local school here. And she turned out to be as good as anyone I have received Chinese bodywork from. You may have to pound the sidewalks to find a good provider, but the effort can pay off dramatically!
See all of John Du Cane’s qigong resources.
Posted by james at January 2, 2006 8:41 AM