Cupping therapy for weight loss: Clinical application of warming the meridians and dispelling cold with cupping techniques

Gua Sha for weight loss. Gua Sha therapy is a simple and practical natural therapy that uses a smooth, flat tool dipped in a medium to scrape or pull on the affected area to achieve therapeutic effects. The principle behind Gua Sha for weight loss: 1. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Gua Sha can stimulate the meridians and skin. Obesity is caused by the accumulation of fat, phlegm, and dampness in the body, overflowing into the skin and meridians. Gua Sha can act on the meridians and acupoints, stimulating the flow of Qi and blood, coordinating bodily functions, and strengthening the body's resistance to disease to treat obesity. It can also regulate the functions of the internal organs by stimulating the twelve cutaneous regions.

Excessive heat in the spleen and stomach can lead to increased appetite, excessive hunger, or spleen and stomach weakness, resulting in undigested food, internal retention of dampness, and abdominal obesity. The chest and abdomen are the skin regions of the spleen and stomach meridians. Gua sha (scraping therapy) acts on the skin regions of the stomach meridian to regulate spleen and stomach function, promoting healthy digestion and eliminating dampness and phlegm, thus achieving weight loss. 2. Modern medicine believes that gua sha can promote metabolism. Human skin has numerous blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands, which participate in the body's metabolic processes and have functions such as regulating body temperature and protecting subcutaneous tissues from damage.

The mechanical action of scraping (gua sha) causes subcutaneous congestion, dilation of capillaries, increased metabolism, and profuse sweating, leading to increased energy consumption. Additionally, scraping can stimulate nerve endings, positively regulating the nervous system. With normal autonomic nerve function, it can promote gastrointestinal motility, improve the absorption and excretion functions of the digestive system, thereby enhancing the body's metabolic capacity and aiding in weight loss. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation: 1. Spleen and stomach heat accumulation. [Selected acupoints] Zhongwan to Shuifen, Liangmen to Shuidao, Futu to Liangqiu, Zusanli to Xiajuxu.

[Procedure] The patient lies supine. The practitioner, after applying scraping medium to the scraping board, uses a reducing technique to scrape the patient's abdomen in a linear fashion along the Ren meridian from top to bottom, from Zhongwan (CV12) to Shuifen (CV9), and along the Stomach meridian of Foot Yangming from top to bottom, from Shuidao (ST28) to Liangmen (ST21), Liangqiu (ST24) to Futu (ST23), Xiajuxu (ST27) to Zusanli (ST36). Then, using a reducing technique, the practitioner scrapes the Zhongwan, Huaroumen (ST21), Futu (ST23), Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST27), and Xiajuxu (ST27) points in a point-like pattern until petechiae appear on the skin. The procedure can be performed daily, and once the patient has experienced slight weight loss, it can be repeated every other day. Significant results can usually be achieved after about one month of treatment.

[Explanation] Spleen and stomach heat accumulation is common in adolescents or those with robust constitutions, characterized by excessive Yang energy, vigorous blood and Qi, and overactive organ functions. The spleen and stomach govern digestion and transformation; overactive functions lead to excessive hunger and overeating. Therefore, it is necessary to purge the excess and clear stomach heat to balance the excessive Yang heat. The Ren meridian's Zhongwan, Jianli, Xiawan, and Shuifen acupoints have the effect of regulating the spleen and stomach. Zhongwan, being the meeting point of the six Fu organs (stomach, intestines, and stomach), is a key acupoint for treating stomach ailments and can clear accumulated heat in the stomach and intestines. The Foot Yangming meridian is rich in Qi and blood; Qi should be purged rather than tonified.

Using the reducing method on the Liangmen point to Xiajuxu point of the Yangming meridian can drain the excess Qi of the Yangming meridian and restore the function of the stomach and intestines. Zusanli, Shangjuxu, and Xiajuxu are the lower He-Sea points of the stomach, large intestine, and small intestine, respectively. "He-Sea points treat internal organs", so they can clear the accumulated heat of the spleen and stomach. If accompanied by mouth sores and halitosis, you can press and scrape Quchi, Hegu, and Neiting points; if accompanied by dry mouth and thirst, you can press and scrape Quchi and Shousanli points; if accompanied by constipation, you can press and scrape Zhigou and Sanyinjiao points. [Location of Acupoints] (1) Zhongwan: In the upper abdomen, on the anterior midline, 4 cun above the umbilicus.

(2) Shuifen: On the upper abdomen, on the anterior midline, 1 cun above the umbilicus. (3) Shuidao: On the lower abdomen, 3 cun below the umbilicus, 2 cun from the anterior midline. (4) Liangmen: On the upper abdomen, 4 cun above the umbilicus, 4 cun from the anterior midline. (5) Futu: On the front of the thigh, on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine and the lateral end of the patella, 6 cun above the patella. (6) Liangqiu: With the knee flexed, on the front of the thigh, on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine and the lateral end of the patellar base, 2 cun above the patella. (7) Xiajuxu: On the anterolateral aspect of the lower leg, 9 cun below the calf, one finger-width (middle finger) from the anterior border of the tibia.

Phlegm and dampness accumulation internally. [Acupoints]Zhongwan to Shuifen, Qihai to Guanyuan, Fuai to Fujie, Yinlingquan to Sanyinjiao, Pishu to Shenshu, Fenglong. [Procedure]The patient lies supine. The practitioner, holding a scraping board dipped in scraping medium, uses a tonifying technique to scrape the patient's Spleen Meridian from Sanyinjiao to Yinlingquan, and from Fujie to Fuai in a linear fashion from bottom to top; the practitioner also uses a tonifying technique to scrape the Ren Meridian from Guanyuan to Qihai, and from Shuifen to Zhongwan from bottom to top. The patient lies prone. The practitioner uses a tonifying technique to scrape the patient's Bladder Meridian from Pishu to Shenshu from top to bottom; then focuses on scraping Zhongwan, Daheng, Guanyuan, and Fenglong acupoints.

The treatment can be performed daily, and once the patient's weight has slightly decreased, it can be repeated every other day. Significant results can usually be achieved after about one month of treatment. [Explanation] The spleen governs the transformation and transportation of food and water. Improper diet damages the spleen's qi, leading to the retention of dampness and phlegm, which overflows into the skin and meridians. Applying tonifying techniques to the spleen meridian strengthens the spleen qi, allowing it to function properly and thus transforming dampness and phlegm, leading to weight loss. The Qihai and Guanyuan acupoints are where the body's vital energy resides; tonifying this vital energy promotes the circulation of qi and blood, aiding in the transformation and transportation of dampness.

The back-shu points correspond to the five internal organs and are effective in treating diseases of the five internal organs. Tonifying the Spleen Shu point promotes the healthy functioning of the spleen, and tonifying the Kidney Shu point replenishes vital energy, both of which can accelerate the transformation of phlegm and turbidity. Zhongwan and Fenglong are key points for resolving phlegm and are often used for weight loss. For facial distension and edema of the limbs, acupressure can be applied to Neiguan and Sanyinjiao points; for fatigue, acupressure can be applied to Zusanli point; for drowsiness, acupressure can be applied to Neiguan and Zhaohai points.