Here's a quick link to an article about Gwyneth Paltrow's cupping fiasco in 2004.
As for me, I have been seeing an acupuncturist for the past month in an attempt to calm my very tense back/hip/butt. Yup, you heard me -- I have a tight butt! Actually, I have Piriformis Syndrome, which is commonly referred to as "a pain in the butt." The piriformis is a muscle that attaches the spine to the hip. I'm not sure why the diagram below shows the piriformis on only one side as I'm pretty sure it exists on both sides of the spine.
I was diagnosed several years ago (some of you may remember the time when I couldn't go from sitting to standing without looking like a 90-year-old with osteoporosis) but I had been able to keep it under control thanks to an AMAZING doctor of osteopathic medicine in New York who performed manual manipulations, much like a chiropractor, but different.
Unfortunately, though I asked several times, she refused to relocate with me, so I was forced to explore other options for pain management. I started with massage (enjoyable, but not so much relief) and then I saw a chiropractor -- I decided not to let him adjust me. The pain was escalating when a friend in New York recommended I see his friend out here, an acupuncturist in Santa Monica. He's been working me with needles for a couple of weeks but although some ancillary problems (my jaw, headaches, etc.) got better, my back was not showing any sign of improvement - so last week he "cupped" me. And I'm happy to report, I feel better than I've felt in months. I'm going back later this week, most likely for more acupuncture, but possible some cupping as well. It's good stuff.
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