MEDICAL CUPS AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC USE

Cupping therapy belongs to methods of natural medicine. Cups have been used since ancient times, with the first mentions of cups coming from excavations in Mesopotamia dating to around 3300 BC. The primary mechanism of cup action is related to blood function, known as autohemotherapy. The aim of this work was to present the different types of medical cups used today, techniques for placing them on the skin and their mechanisms of action for various medical conditions as well as in regenerative sports medicine and cosmetology. Methods of placing cups on the skin depend on the type of cup used, the purpose for which they are being used for and the experience level of the therapist. Cupping is a safe form of therapy support, provided that the treatments are performed according to a strictly established procedure and take into account contraindications. This work is a review based on a query of the literature on the subject, as well as the experience and results of research studies conducted by the authors. An important component of the work involves the demonstration of the use of cups as part of physiotherapeutic procedures and regimens using manual therapy (mobilization) and acupuncture points. The discussion presents a review of publications that highlight the therapeutic effects of cup use for various pathological conditions. The therapeutic effects of medical cups largely depend on several factors, mainly vacuum pressure, but also skin temperature under the cup and other forms of energy/indicators, which depend on the specific elements or components involved in the cupping procedure (i.e. heat, acupuncture needles).