Can cupping be performed on children?

Yes. In fact, children can be cupped. Because children’s skin is delicate, the cupping time should not be too long.

Cupping for children is also beneficial, especially for children with poor health. Cupping on the back can improve immunity. When cupping children, it is necessary to control the time and pull until the skin becomes red. However, cupping is not suitable for patients with blood diseases, skin swelling, sores and other skin injuries. Cupping is also prohibited for children with thrombocytopenic purpura. If the blister develops after being pulled out for too long, use a sterilized needle to prick the blister, disinfect it with iodine, and then wrap it with gauze to avoid infection.

Here are two cupping methods suitable for children:

Children with diarrhea: Pull up and down along the belly button, or go up and down along the spine to the buttocks.

Children who catch cold: You can open two horizontal fingers on both sides of the back and spine and walk from top to bottom.

Cupping is one of the traditional diagnosis and treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine. Children's organs are delicate, their body functions are fragile, and their disease resistance is low. If they are not cared for properly, they are prone to respiratory diseases such as colds, coughs, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. Children's intestines and stomach are fragile, and the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach are not yet perfect, so they are prone to diseases. Injuries caused by diet can cause disorders of the spleen and stomach's transport and transformation functions, leading to indigestion, bloating, abdominal pain, stagnation, malnutrition, constipation, diarrhea and other digestive system diseases. These common diseases and frequently-occurring diseases in children can be prevented and maintained through health care cupping therapy.