Cupping Therapy

Summary

Cupping therapy is a holistic medical practice involving the use of cups to create vacuum suction on the skin, traditionally done with flame. Shawn has been receiving cupping therapy treatments, though the effectiveness of the sessions has varied considerably. The practice can also apparently involve deliberately getting stung by a bee placed in a cup, according to Shawn's dad, though this information is presented with skepticism.

Details

The therapy works by creating suction on the skin using cups, with the traditional method involving flame to create the vacuum. In Shawn's experience with the treatment, the first two appointments felt effective and created what Shawn described as "positive change being made." However, the therapeutic benefit is not guaranteed with each session.

Shawn's dad mentioned an alternative variation of the practice where a bee is placed inside the cup, presumably to sting the patient as part of the treatment. Shawn acknowledged this variant exists, stating: "Yeah, it is. That is a way that you can do it. And there's also one, my dad was certain that there's one you can get where they put a bee in there."

The desired outcome of a successful cupping session appears to be similar to that of a massage appointment, where the patient feels clear therapeutic benefit at the conclusion of treatment. When this benefit is absent, the session may leave the patient feeling merely bruised without any therapeutic value.

History

Session 3

In Session 3, Shawn discussed cupping therapy in the context of switching to massage therapy after a disappointing experience. Shawn explained that while the first two cupping appointments felt effective and like there was positive change being made, the third session was entirely different. At the end of that appointment, Shawn felt "nothing" and lacked the satisfaction typically felt at the end of a massage appointment. The session left Shawn feeling only bruised with no therapeutic benefit, prompting the decision to switch to massage therapy instead.

During this discussion, Shawn also mentioned the bee-sting variation of cupping therapy that Shawn's dad had referenced.