Hippocrates, known as the father of modern medicine and the man who came up with the credo that today’s physicians recite, the Hippocratic oath, followed a course of seeking natural explanations for illness. He rejected evil spirits, intervention by the gods and other beliefs. Hippocrates and his followers instead believed that diet, insufficient exercise, exposure to bad weather, a lack of balance in life and emotional problems were the source of most incidents of bad health. They used cupping to treat menstrual problems, angina and other disorders.
Dry and Wet Cupping
Although he did not invent it, Hippocrates wrote about two forms of cupping, known as dry cupping and wet cupping (sometimes moist cupping).
Dry cupping yanks the tissue under the cup up into the area of the cup. With wet cupping, the skin is cut to produce blood flow, and then the cup is applied. When suction is achieved, the blood flow increases.
To achieve a seal and create the right conditions for suction, substances like herbs, alcohol or paper are placed on the skin and set on fire. As the fire dies, the practitioner places the cup upside down on the skin. When the air cools, a vacuum seal is created, causing a rise in the skin and reddening of the cupped area. This takes anywhere from five to 10 minutes.
In modern times, a rubber pump is used to create the vacuum rather than a flame, and the cups themselves are usually made of silicone. This allows the practitioner to manipulate and massage the area.