Recently I was sick with another “High school” flu my son brought home. But the kicker wasn’t that it was that bad. It was the back pain that set in on Monday and went til Tuesday. I tried everything, and I mean every stretch, yoga, movement, massage, and acupuncture. But the thing that gave me night and day relief… was stationary cupping. Molly was very helpful to administer, but even my self-applied silicone cup I use for poisons and dampness was helpful. By pulling on the cup over spine, I was able to maneuver what is obviously a disc bulge, and relieve pain, nausea, increase my appetite, and even improve eyesight clarity as well as erase negative thoughts. Now I know also I have to lay on my right side. And what a difference that, and herbs + Ivermectin, has made to my recovery and sanity.
I truly under-appreciated the usefulness of cupping diagnostically. Even I can learn. So I will generally be applying more cupping to acute and acute-chronic conditions of the spine, looking forward to giving some of you that benefit. Acupuncture brought the bad energy out. Guasha broke up the tension. Massage and a massage gun pulverized the fascia. But cupping made a bigger difference than anything, and I was able to avoid a visit to ER or use of muscle relaxation pills. By Tuesday night I was back to fighting the flu… and I can report from clinic today Thursday: no pain in my T12 area. Me and the “Battle of the Bulge” has been staved off for another few years. I’ve got a secret weapon in my back pocket.
-Sf. R. Careaga, MSTOM, L.Ac.
