Is the blistering caused by cupping toxic to the body?

Cupping can regulate the body's qi and blood and enhance the body's cells' ability to prevent disease. Traditional Chinese medicine often uses this method to treat and prevent diseases. Some people who have dampness, heat, and cold in their bodies often choose cupping to maintain their health, but different reactions will occur after cupping due to differences in physical constitution. Some people will have cupping marks and blisters on their skin after cupping. For example, black and purple cupping marks represent insufficient blood supply or blood stasis in the body. So if cupping causes blisters, does it mean that there is poison in the body?

The principle of cupping

Cupping is actually the use of a cup to create negative pressure in a part of the human body, causing the local capillaries to rupture, forming a sterile inflammation, increasing the number of white blood cells in the body and using the body's own defense mechanism to prevent and treat some diseases. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, it can dredge the meridians, warm the meridians and dispel cold.

Causes of blistering after cupping

Cupping in traditional Chinese medicine is a process of forcing toxins out of the body through an external physical method. The essence of cupping causing blisters is "water filling" under the skin. Pathological products such as phlegm, fluid, water, and dampness in the body, as well as water, pass through the subcutaneous tissue under the action of negative pressure, enter and stay in the skin, thus forming blisters.

After cupping, in addition to bleeding spots and bruises, some patients may develop blisters. There are several main reasons:

1. The patient has a lot of wind, cold, dampness and toxins in his body, with dampness being the most prominent. Blistering is also a sign that evil spirits are escaping. Sometimes small water droplets appear on the wall of the jar, which is also a manifestation of dampness.

2. The retention time in the tank is a bit long. This varies from person to person and is also related to physical constitution. Some people leave the can in for 20-30 minutes without any bubbling. Some people will see bubbles in 5-10 minutes. Therefore, generally the first cupping time needs to be shorter. Once you understand the patient's condition, you can extend the time appropriately.

3. The temperature of the jar is high, which is only a small possibility. Sometimes when doing flash canning, if the can temperature is too high, the possibility of foaming will increase if the can is left in place.

4. Differences in body parts. For the same person, some parts may be fine after cupping, while other parts may have blisters. The general rule is that blisters are more likely to form on the back, sides, and buttocks.

5. Cupping is too heavy and exceeds the tolerance.

The size and number of blisters largely reflect the condition of phlegm, fluid and dampness in the body. If the blisters are obvious, numerous, white in color, and the surrounding skin temperature is not high, it is a syndrome of cold and dampness; if the blisters are not very obvious, few in number, slightly yellowish or turbid in color, and the surrounding skin temperature is high, it is a syndrome of dampness and heat.

What to do if bubbles appear after cupping

After regular disinfection with iodine and alcohol, you can use a syringe to pierce the edge of the blister to draw out the water. Then apply gentian violet without bandaging. If an infection occurs, you can take antibiotics.

How to care for blisters after cupping

If blisters appear after cupping and the blisters do not break, you can use the following Chinese medicine external application prescription for treatment:

1. 1 part salt and 2 parts cold boiled water. Put salt into water, stir well and soak gauze in it. Then apply it to the burns and scalds and change it at any time.

2. Appropriate amount of raw rhubarb. Grind rhubarb into fine powder, add appropriate amount of sesame oil, mix into a paste, apply to the affected area, wrap it with gauze, and change the dressing once a day.

What causes blisters from cupping and what should you do if blisters appear? First of all, try not to touch the blistered area with your hands. Wear loose clothes and don't let the clothes stick to the affected area. In addition, eat a light diet and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.