Wet cupping or Chinese bloodletting, also known as phlebotomy in a Western medicine clinical setting, is a traditional medicine practice that actually predates acupuncture and has been widely used around the world through techniques such as scarring and the application of leeches to the body. Bloodletting today relies on hypodermic needles and lancets to practice venesection or the incision of a vein to allow blood to seep out. This is often combined with cupping and is known as wet cupping.

The idea behind bloodletting is to remove old stagnant blood and any waste in the blood, as well as prevent blood stasis. This is made possible by letting or moving the blood via a miniscule incision in the skin or vein. The puncture can relieve pressure and circulatory stagnation, as well as promote the return of fresh blood, healthy circulation and energy back to the affected area. The physical and psychological benefits can be instant.

Evidence of bloodletting can be dated back to Ancient Egypt, with an over three thousand year history. It is only in recent times that modern medicine and its shift in understanding disease deemed the practice of bloodletting as ineffective and obsolete. However, bloodletting is still practised successfully around the world, with the Master Tung zones and Luo channel theory being particularly important in holistic treatment.

Posted by Jasmin on Jan 18, 2024