VENTUSA *Clockwise – life
Counterclockwise- death
Cupping – in Western portions of the world Yang- white
*In the community we can use cups or glass Yin- black
Commercial Ventusa cups Within the yin is a seal of yang.
Within the yang is a seal of yin.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM):
*They are not absolute.
• Chinese medicine believes that life is the result of life energy or
Qi. 2. QI, BLOOD and BODY FLUIDS
• Qi enters the body when one is born and exits when a person
dies. A. QI (CHI) – the life energy
• Life energy has 2 aspects: Yin and Yang
As we grow older our level of chi would deplete.
Qi- not exactly energy but it’s the only closest English term
Chi-responsible for movement and different activities
CORRECTION: during the fertilization of egg and sperm, Qi enters bc
life begins there. Not when one is born. People with congenital defects and easily gets sick and have diarrhea,
bleeding, elderly people(can hardly control urination) suffer chi
Yin (pos)and yang- positive and negative forces, their difference in deficiency. Elderly have poor bladder control, poor digestion
terms of amount is not too wide
Uterine Prolapse-condition where the uterus would drop down due to
Imbalance-disease or illness weakened cervix muscles
Scrotal hernia
Yin-cold, shiver
Yang- hot, fever Functions:
1. YIN AND YANG a. Promotes growth and maturation
b. Warms and maintains normal body heat
Yin- negative, feminine force c. Protects the body from invasion of external pathogens
Yang- dominating, positive, masculine force d. Governs retention of the body’s substances and keeps the
organ in their proper places
Health- balanced YIN and YANG forces e. Digests food
Illness- imbalanced YIN and YANG forces
B. BLOOD – brings nourishment to various parts of the body;
moistens various parts of the body
C. BODY FLUIDS
Elderly- deficiency of fluids in the body
Cracking sounds- dryness
VENTUSA – one of the indigenous traditional practices alleviating
symptoms of discomfort by the use of a container
- a method of treating diseases, promoting health and
preventing illness through the use of a glass jar or cup
- heat is introduced inside the jar to create a vacuum to suction
particular parts of the body
In the back, about 1 1/2 in from the midline we have back sho points
along the side of the spinal column that when massage or stimulated
/in acupuncture which has an effects to organs in the body
Ventusa- it has been further developed as a means to open the
“meridians” (path through which Qi flows)
Cupping- is probably the best way of opening those meridians
12 MERIDIANS:
Does not include governing vessel but includes pericardium
HISTORY:
- the earliest known record on Ventusa could be found in China
as early as the third or fourth century B.C
- it is known as “pa-hou-kuan” in Chinese
- it is oftentimes translated as “cupping” in English
- it was then known as the “horn method” because of the use of
animal horns
MECHANISMS INVOLVED: D. VACUUM – a space devoid of air or gas
A. SKIN – outer covering of the body; toxins are released through
sweat
THEORIES INVOLVED:
A. VACUUM THEORY
§ When oxygen is consumed by flame inside a container, an
empty space is created, called vacuum
§ When air is not replaced due to tightness, the skin will rise
towards the container to fill in the space
§ Thus, the client feels a sucking sensation
B. BLOOD THEORY
§ Since blood is a fluid beneath the skin, its tendency is to
rush to the site where the sucking mechanism is applied
§ Increased amount of blood is going to the area causing
reddening of the skin
Normal to see hematoma, it will go away after a few hours depending
on the severity of the vacuum
B. TOUCH – the sense by which contact of an object is done by
palpation or exploration C. BAROMETRIC THEORY
C. PRESSURE – the application of force to something by § In normal condition, the pressure inside and outside the
something else in direct contact with it skin is equal
§ When ventusa is applied, pressure outside is less so the
pressure inside pushes the skin causing visible protrusion TECHNIQUES
inside the container or glass
A. GLIDING CUPPING
Stationary or moving type - The cup is moved while the suction of skin is active
ADVANTAGES B. FIXED POSITION CUPPING
- Without movement of the cups
1. Causes tissues to release toxins
TYPES OF CUPS
TYPES ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. Animal horns Originally used
2. Bamboo -light, economical, - May not have
easy to make and smooth rim
available in many - Deteriorates
places quickly
3. Iron or -still used in other - easily breaks
pottery cups countries
4. Plastic cups -economical -edges not entirely
smooth
-strength of the cup
Ventusa -> skin pores are opened -> excreted is limited
5. Glass cup - Does not
Ventusa -> increase blood flow -> when suction is released, toxins are break easily
carried together with the blood - Skin can be
visualized
2. Activates the lymphatic system
3. Helps to activate and clear veins SELECTING CUP SIZE
TECHNIQUES The size of the cup should be selected according to the built of the
body part and area to be treated
A. Use of cotton dipped in alcohol
B. Use of paper cone A. Large Cups – for muscular patients
C. Use of coin wrapped in cloth or paper (not used anymore) B. Small Cups – for small patients
D. Use of cotton on ginger slice
INDICATIONS 4. First aid for snake bites
5. Gas pain or abdominal distention
a. SITE 6. Diarrhea due to damp cold
7. Myalgia
1. Particular acupressure points 8. Other signs referable to stuck Qi
2. Areas that are fleshy (back, legs, arms and to lesser extent the 9. External attack of wind - cold
abdominal area)
You can use ventusa near the joints
Paralyzed patients cannot complim of pain so we must be extra
careful: small ginger and less flame
Muscle cramps- it helps relax muscles
Snake bites- sucks the blood and venom
Skin abscess
Damp cold- presence of blood in stool no ventusa; if watery, do ventusa
Myalgia- muscle pain
Stuck qi- not circulating, painful areas of the bodies; can be relieved by
ventusa; may not need commercial analgesics
External attack of cold- panuhot
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Diarrhea, when u touch the abdomen its cold, you can do the ventusa a. SITE
tunga sa pusod and u dont move the cups or the glass, let it stay in one
location may as well use several cups 1. Skin diseases
2. Areas overlying bony structures, lymph nodes and primary
b. DISEASES OR AILMENTS blood vessels
1. Arthritis or arthralgia 3. Hairy areas (you can do ventusa but do not move the cups)
2. Paralysis
3. Muscle cramps
b. DISEASES OR AILMENTS/ CONDITIONS
1. Unconsciousness
2. Convulsion or positive history of convulsion
3. High fever - if you add more heat, it will all the more create
imbalance
4. Pregnancy
5. Bleeding disorders
