Cupping Therapy by Gavin Schmitt

So it’s called “baguan” or “cupping therapy”!

We used to call it “The Glass Sucking Muscle Therapy”! Hahaha!

We had to ask Canadian Opposite Hitter, Gavin Schmitt, about how the baguan works. Since we’ve seen him using it, he has the answers we need to further further understand about this ancient form of alternative medicine which originated in China (3000 B.C). Since Gavin hits  more than 3,000,000 70 attempts (just guessing) per match in the Korean League so he has used the baguan several times already.

Per Gav:

They use to light a candle and hold them inside the glass bulbs to create a suction. Then they use it to draw blood to an area, much like acupuncture does. I don’t think its as effective as actual acupuncture, but if you don’t have a certified person around they are easy, cheap and i find them effective. I guess Chinese swimmers use to use them on their backs a lot.

The best way I can describe it…

You know when your kids and there is that hose for the vacuum, and your older brother sticks it to your arm to leave a big hickey. Hahaha like that! But with more suction power. When you put a lot of them on it feels all tight and then there is a nice sense of relaxation after, the bruises can be a little bit sore after but usually not at all.

So that’s how they work!

We’d rather watch those suckers on Gav’s shoulder or arm rather than on ours. They look painful!

Per Wikipedia:

Cupping Therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing.  Suction is created using heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps). It is known in local languages as baguan/baguar, badkesh, banki, bahnkes, bekam, buhang, bentusa, kyukaku, gak hoi, Hijamah, kavaa (ކަވާ), singhi among others.

The air inside the cup is heated and the rim is then applied to the skin, forming an airtight seal. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts, forming a partial vacuum and enabling the cup to suck the skin, pulling in soft tissue, and drawing blood to that area. Alternately, the suction is created by a hand-pump and blood is allowed to collect. According to the American Cancer Society, “[a]vailable scientific evidence does not support cupping as a cure for cancer or any other disease”. It can leave temporary bruised painful marks on the skin and there is also a small risk of burns^.”

If you want read more about it, click THIS.

Have You Ever Tried This?

Have You Ever Tried This?

Have You Ever Tried This?

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