Cupping and scraping lung infections

[Fey]

I did a short course about twenty years ago on Chinese diagnosis. There are some things that stick with me because they are so impressive and one of them was how to tell if a lung infection was in the upper or lower respiratory tract using the massage, scraping and then cupping method. Of course this goes with all the blah blah stuff of, “consult your health care professional” instead of doing something that has been done for probably squillions of years.

We can listen with a stethoscope but this method of scraping shows exactly where the infection is so that the cups can be used over those specific areas.

1. First of all, do this in a warm, draft-free room and on someone who has some sort of lung infection.

2. Using a warm oil, gently massage the entire back for about fifteen minutes.

3. Then using a largish spoon (Chinese soup spoons are good or a smooth Gua Sha) you gently scrape over the entire back. Just gently keep scraping over the back for about 5 minutes. This will probably make their skin exfoliate so the oil scraped up could look goopy.

4. As you’re doing this, you’ll notice red patches coming up on the person’s back. The strange thing is, it will only go red where the infection is. Sometimes you can see the shape of the lung because it doesn’t go red where there’s no infection.

5. All these red patches can then be cupped and percussed to move the infection along.

Cupping

I’ve got a set of Chinese porcelain cups that have a smooth thick rim and a set of black Bian stone cups, but the easiest to use are the plastic cups from a proper cupping set that comes with a suction tool. The cups are placed over the red areas and the skin is sucked up into the cup about an inch (depending on the size of the person of course). This will give them a pinched feeling. The cups are left on for about 20 minutes and it looks like they have hickies all over their back when you’re done. It can look awful but the Chinese swear by it and I’ve never had anything but good results from doing it.

The back can be percussed afterwards (towel folded about four times as wadding and cupped hands gently pummelling the back) kids usually love this if they’re not too sick to talk. They like the sound of their voice doing a little yodel as you pummel.

Can you imagine the power of this method with herbal medicines added and a good steam inhalation going on beside the treatment bed all at the same time?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Wooden tongue depressors work really well for the gua sha too. It’s an interesting technique and good diagnostic too on other areas of the body as well. 🙂

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Fey]

Hey Doc Jones, isn’t it silly? We go out and spend money on all sorts of things and then someone like you comes up with a simple and cheap alternative and when I think about it, a tongue depressor would work better.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Fey wrote: Hey Doc Jones, isn’t it silly? We go out and spend money on all sorts of things and then someone like you comes up with a simple and cheap alternative and when I think about it, a tongue depressor would work better.

It is.

On the other hand, they used to do cupping by tossing a bit of burning fluff under the cup to create the vacuum. :scared:

I think I’ll stick with the expensive alternative. :nod:

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

I did that to someone once and it did not hurt ME one bit! :Laugh:

[Fey]

Doc Jones wrote:

Hey Doc Jones, isn’t it silly? We go out and spend money on all sorts of things and then someone like you comes up with a simple and cheap alternative and when I think about it, a tongue depressor would work better.

It is.

On the other hand, they used to do cupping by tossing a bit of burning fluff under the cup to create the vacuum. :scared:

I think I’ll stick with the expensive alternative. :nod:

Doc

I use sponge-holding forceps and cotton wool ball dipped in a little mentholated spirits and light that up. You know why I bought the plastic suction cups? My husband was a little nervous with the fire, cooked the cup and shoved it on my back. 😥 The plastic cups are way safer, but I keep the others just in case something happens in the world and the plastic ones (I’m told) don’t last very long…..although mine are years old.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Is it the suction that you are looking for? If so, I have a BRILLIANT idea! :nod:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: Is it the suction that you are looking for? If so, I have a BRILLIANT idea! :nod:

OK now Im nervous! LOL

They do make clever little cups with a handheld suction tool.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Author]

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