Can cupping therapy help with weight loss?
Disease description:
I am 28 years old and feel that I have recently gained weight. I want to lose weight, but I don't want to exercise. I have heard that cupping therapy can help with weight loss. I would like to ask professional doctors whether cupping therapy is effective for weight loss.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Cupping therapy can help with weight loss to some extent, although its effectiveness may vary from person to person. Cupping is a traditional Chinese medical treatment that helps remove cold and dampness from the body, unblock meridians, and accelerate the circulation of qi and blood. These effects can aid spleen function, resolve phlegm, and promote meridian畅通 (smooth flow), which, according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, helps eliminate waste materials from the body and thus provides some auxiliary benefit for weight loss. Additionally, cupping therapy can enhance blood circulation and assist in fat burning, thereby achieving a certain weight loss effect.
To achieve optimal weight-loss results through cupping, it's important to recognize that individual responses may differ. Each person's physical condition, degree of obesity, and lifestyle habits vary, so the effectiveness of weight loss will also differ. For individuals who are severely obese or have significant fat accumulation, relying solely on cupping may not yield satisfactory results. In such cases, combining cupping with other weight-loss methods, such as adjusting dietary patterns and increasing physical activity, should be considered. When undergoing cupping for weight loss, one should choose reputable medical institutions or professional traditional Chinese medicine clinics. After cupping, proper skin care is necessary, and precautions should be taken to avoid cold exposure or infection.
