Cupping during menopause: does it work?
Cupping is a traditional therapy that may offer some relief for certain menopause symptoms, particularly those related to pain and stress.
Cupping
Cupping(拔罐) is a traditional Chinese therapy first documented in the “Fifty-Two Prescriptions” from the Warring States period. It was primarily used to treat external injuries. Practitioners use cups, often glass, and create a vacuum using heat or suction to draw skin partially into the cup, leaving circular marks due to localized bruising after 5-10 minutes.
During the metabolism of these bruises, an enzyme called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is activated. HO-1 is a stress protein that induces antioxidant responses and modulates inflammation, protecting tissues by:
- Increasing anti-inflammatory substances like IL-10.
- Decreasing pro-inflammatory substances such as IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a.
- Promoting macrophages to transform into less inflammatory (M1) types.
- Boosting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mitochondrial biogenesis within tissues.
HO-1 breaks down heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron. Biliverdin/bilirubin has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes wound healing in diabetic models. Carbon monoxide helps dilate blood vessels, improving circulation at the site and offering anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
To learn more, read: Cupping: What It Is, Benefits, Risks, and More
Cupping: What It Is, Benefits, Risks, and More
In this article, we explore these questions and more, providing a comprehensive guide to understanding cupping therapy.