Acupuncture for kids might be a little intimidating at first but cupping on the other hands feels great. I explained to my son that it would feel like an octopus on his back. He seemed to think that was cool. Some of the indications for cupping kis are: Bronchitis, Asthma, Cough, Back and Shoulder Pain. The typical appointment will last 20 to 30 minutes, however when dealing with children a shorter time frame is better. Cupping therapy is an alternative form of medicine and is perhaps better known as a traditional Chinese Medicine, like acupuncture.
The basic idea behind cupping therapy is to place glass cups or silicone cups on the patient’s skin to create a vacuum, so the blood is drawn to the surface of the skin in specific parts of the body that need healing. Traditional Chinese practitioners discuss different areas, or meridians, of the body that are used to transfer energy. They believe each body has twelve different meridians and treatment can be applied to each meridian for a myriad of reasons.
Cupping can help with a cough that is associated with phlegm, and congestion of the lungs. The action of the cupping will help loosen the thick mucus that has accumulated on the walls of the lungs. Cupping is great for overcoming colds, flus, bronchitis, and pneumonia, however, it is important to get cupping early. If you get cupping therapy as soon as you recognize that you are getting sick, you stand a good chance of limiting your illness to 24 to 48 hours.
Now that we are early in the school season, the flu and nasty coughs are making the rounds. My son came home yesterday and within 12 hours, his cough sounded like the croup, wet and barky. So we booked him in at My Cambridge Health with acupuncture practitioner, Deborah Capstick for a cupping treatment. The benefits of cupping far out weigh the risks or side effects which can include: bruising or redness and possible lightheadness or dizziness. Cupping side effects can vary from person to person. As long as the treatment is done in a clean and sterile environment by a practitioner that is knowledgeable in the area of traditional Chinese medicine, the risk is minimal when compared to the reward and the benefits of pain management, detoxification, and relaxation.
References:
https://stickoutyourtongue.org/2016/08/31/cupping-therapy-for-colds-flus-and-lung-health/
http://www.ideahacks.com/cupping-therapy-benefits/
https://cuppingresource.com/cupping-benefits/
http://www.mycambridgehealth.com/
http://www. acupuncturetoday.com/abc/cupping.php