Ask Dr. Nandi: Does 'Cupping' actually work?

One of the strangest and hottest health trends out there today -- pun intended -- is something called cupping. Olympic athletes and celebrities are apparently paying big bucks in order to get this treatment. It essentially involves placing heated cups on the skin. The heat then sucks the skin upwards into the cup.

[colinprr]

I was suffering from severe chostochondritis rib joint pain. Cupping therapy cured my pain. What couldn't be done in hospital was done in a hijama center. I highly recommend this to people with back pain or any sort of nerve pain.

[TraderUDDIN]

Cupping is mentioned as a Prophetic Tradition but not mentioned in the Holy Quran. Just to correct the doctor.

[JoJo-vvrs]

So why hasn’t there been any studies done to prove if it works?? Because nobody can get rich from this

[mrt]

Body waste is let out through our ass.

[dsdsfn]

Just to add to this. It has been a habit of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who experienced it and advise it more than 1400 years before!

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)…” Bukhari (5371)

[TejaKarlapudi]

According to my physiotheraist, cupping pulls the blood to the affected area and helps in faster healing. I've had Shoulder blade pain for 3 years, tried all kinds of excercises nothing worked. Physiotherapist suggested a few excercises even they didn't work. I tried cupping for few sessions and then my excercises actually started working. Cupping may not completely solve the actual problem, but it does help your muscles to respond faster for your excercises.

[jammydoger]

This so called doctor is a paid actor who don't know what he's talking about. I had chronic pain which left me bed bound for months on end till i tried wet cupping.I was very cynical but my husband insisted that i should try it even just once. So I had a full set of cupping done and within 24 hours i walked to the end of street without any assistance from a person nor any walking aids. I had 2 further sessions few weeks apart and its been 14 years no pain no bed bound.

[evanreeves]

Removes toxins... There's no such thing, unless you've been licking lead paint.

Is this a qualified doctor?

[grayciesmom]

It absolutely works. I have been doing physical therapy for my sciatica for 4 months. I was having continued pain in my right leg which was severely limiting activities in my daily life. I had a cupping session yesterday. I'm amazed how much better I feel this morning. Yippee

[jdubs]

Cupping is amazing! It helped with tight knots on my back almost immediately. There are 2 kinds, one with flame and the other one is with a pump. Only go with the flame cups which are made out of glass while the other ones are plastic cups. I’ve tried both.

[jmgmarcus]

Placcebo, it doesn't actually do anything.

[nassern]

I was scared of wet cupping at first so I did the dry cupping but I found that letting out some of the blood under my skin helps a lot with increasing immunity, energy level and reducing pain, I don’t get flu or allergies as often since I’ve been doing this once or twice a year. I’ve heard from some friends who have harsh daily exercising routine that it helped them with muscle and joint aches.

[drewandcharlie]

No one is paying big money for this treatment its 15$ on top of a regular charge for a massage.

[tyresechase]

It’s just like chiropractic. There are no evidence based studies that shows their effectiveness.

[grvirgo]

It is Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed PBUH (not painful at all).It was introduced 1700 years ago and it is part of our life. In Saudi Arabia there is special Hospital ward for cupping because please do it religiously every 6 months.

[AM]

My grandmother from the old country, and her mother before her used cupping. They would use a water drinking glass, don't remember how they'd get the smoke inside the glass. They would use it on stomach craps, body pain, headaches etc. And yes, they'd use it on kids for flues, colds, and stomach aches.

[cheal]

I did it it felt good besides the bruises on my back but it did not hurt at all.

[allancerf]

Tried it at physical Therapy tonight for the first time. Seemed to work right away.

I truly don't think it was the power of suggestion. Also my PT dude didn't make extravagant claims, it will "cure cancer, make you 2" taller, live to 205, " just said it would work with my regular stretching excercise to prevent my sciatica (which I've had only once) from returning.

[kirayoshikage]

What a confusing conundrum I've found myself in

[ayouxy]

I'd like to imagine her speaking for whole two minutes then go "now we ask the doctor, do they work?" And the doctor just goes "yes" and the interview is immediately over