Ba Guan (拔罐) Chinese Therapy

Trending scars of Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps has everyone racing to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Fire cupping releases toxins from your blood stream by creating a vacuum over the muscle tissue. The air within the cup has decreased oxygen & suctions your muscle tissue up to least 4 inches deep. Pulling dead/toxic/old blood from as far as your scalp, fingers, and toes at the same time! Lol you will feel the tingling sensation too! :-) The heat in combination with the suctioning is what pulls toxins out of the deepest layer of your muscle tissue. This technique is such a treat for your joints, pulling fresh blood into each joint crevasse while nourishes your ligaments! Knee joints/ ankle joints specifically are being nurtured since they have a lot of avascular structures (ligaments that have no direct blood supply). The benefits of Fire Cupping are increased blood circulation; decreased muscular pain; cleansed skin issues/disorders like acne & eczema; decongesting of lymphatic system; and increased lung expansion, which is phenomenal for athletes! More benefits include: arthritis, lower back pain, gout, frozen shoulder, sports injuries, asthma, allergies, common cold or flu, chronic cough with mucus, acute or chronic pain, digestive issues, headaches, migraines, neck pain, menstrual pain, depression, fibromyalgia, high stress, overall health maintenance, and much more!

There are also various types of cupping. Above, Michael Phelps has used more of a Western technique (sliding/dry air cupping), which is less invasive. This is more of a relaxation method that requires applying oil to the skin and moving the cup on the treated area using light to medium suction. This is useful to relax very tight muscles and myofascia connective tissues. The shoulder is a complex joint with various avascular structures, so Mr. Phelps made the right decision in using this technique.

Above you see myself using the most ancient technique of Ba Guan. This process was so enjoyable & relaxing. A Chinese herb was used as a flammable substance & placed into the glass cup. After the herbs, fire was then placed into the cup & as the fire was going out, the cup was placed unto my skin. The herbal nutrients absorbed into my blood stream in exchange for the toxins that were released. After 7-20min. ( stayed for 12 minutes), the glasses were carefully pulled off my skin, and I laid there for about 2 minutes to allow my blood to surface. I then rested for the rest of the day and finished 2 gallons of water. My scars (stagnant blood spots) appeared as soon the glasses were removed and lasted for about 3-5 weeks.

Honestly, cupping therapy can be used by just about anyone (check with your primary care specialist first). I use Ba Guan or Gua Sha therapy at least once per month for body maintenance. When the body’s systems get clogged up faster than it can eliminate blockage, over time, pain and disease manifest or worsen. So people, this is not a fad, but a way of life. Now go get cleaned up! And get tatted...the healthy way ;-) #BaGuan

-Dr. Kacy Winans, DC