Posted on 07/10/2004 12:38:30 PM PDT by Stoat
Medical science has come a long way in the 400 years since William Harvey discovered the circulation of the blood. Anaesthetics, an appreciation of the importance of clean water, penicillin and cracking the human genome are but a few of its more notable achievements. So why has Gwyneth Paltrow turned the clock back 5,000 years to the ancient Chinese to find relief for her physical ailments?
The actress caused a stir this week when she turned up at a New York film premiere wearing a low-cut black dress and sporting what appeared to be a row of circles on her back. The large, round red weals were in fact marks caused by an alternative therapy known as "cupping".
Variously described as a "form of acupuncture" or "middle-class leeching", it involves placing a heated (preferably, thick) glass cup upside down on the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum and, so the theory goes, stimulates blood flow and sucks the "toxins" out of the body.
The treatment is believed to have originated in China and was brought to Europe by the Jesuits in the 13th or 14th century.
It is credited with everything from relieving aches and pains to - in Paltrow's case - helping her find love with her husband, the Coldplay singer Chris Martin.
When in London, Paltrow is treated by Nish Joshi, who has been described as "the super-immunity man to the stars".
Mr Joshi, whose clients also include Cate Blanchett, Ralph Fiennes and Kate Moss, runs a clinic near Harley Street in central London. He offers a range of alternative treatments including acupuncture, homeopathy and Ayurvedic medicine - in which pulse and tongue diagnosis are used "to assist in the herbal treatment of medical conditions without the side-effects of modern medicine".
According to Mr Joshi, "cupping" works by "drawing toxins trapped in the tissues and lymphatic channels into the blood stream" and thereby gives "a kick-start to getting the toxins in our bodies moving".
Used in conjunction with herbal supplements, he promises "dramatic" results, including "freedom from bloating, constipation and lethargy". Cupping sesssions of 30 to 40 minutes at the clinic cost £75 to £90. How many sessions are needed depends on Mr Joshi's assessment.
Arabella Weir, the author and actress, underwent a series of "cupping" treatments at the Joshi Clinic earlier this year as part of a New Year's "detox" programme.
"It feels like twenty 14-year-old boys giving you love bites, but not as much fun," she said yesterday.
"I wouldn't describe it as painful - but then, I've given birth twice - but it is uncomfortable."
But did she feel cleansed? "I had three or four sessions and I didn't feel any different - apart from the fact that I wore a burkha for two weeks afterwards. Why would anyone parade around in a backless dress?
"To be honest, it was comic. As my husband, who is a surgeon, pointed out when I got home: 'Isn't it just a little too convenient that all those toxins are congregated at the top of your skin, just where the cups are?'
"It's just a posh version of leeching - and a damned expensive one at that. I'd rather spend the money on a personal trainer than this hippy claptrap."
Prof Edzard Ernst, the director of the department of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter, also dismisses "cupping".
"It's been around for thousands of years but there's no evidence it works," he said.
"For a start, I'd like them to define what these toxins are in our bodies that are supposed to be poisoning us?
"In any case, we already have a number of organs that detoxify the body. They're called the liver and kidneys, and they're pretty good at it."
It's been around for thousands of years but there's no evidence it works," he said.
"For a start, I'd like them to define what these toxins are in our bodies that are supposed to be poisoning us?
"In any case, we already have a number of organs that detoxify the body. They're called the liver and kidneys, and they're pretty good at it."
I wonder how she knows this?
Somewhere, P. T. Barnum is smiling.
Even if it's 'the placebo effect,' it still worked.
I have a 3 o'clock open Monday, Gwyneth. Bring a suitcase full of Euros. And your own towel.
The placebo effect and the power of the mind over the body is well-documented and not at issue here at all. If something is a placebo, however, it shouldn't be held in the same estimation as an actual treatment....the two are entirely different. One relies on the mind's ability to deal with pain (or fools the mind into overlooking something) and the other addresses either the symptom or the root cause of a given condition through a documented, repeatable and scientifically valid treatment such as a specific medication.
Although it would eliminate it's value as a placebo, it's essential to avoid blurring the lines between the two approaches and holding a silly fad such as this in the same regard as a scientifically-proven treatment, as this has the effect of demeaning the value of all science as being equally ill-defined.
When they start talking about "removing toxins" and other such poorly-defined rationales, it's essential to begin asking simple questioins such as "what toxins are you talking about" and "define for me the physiological mechanism by which this occurs".
Evasive or incoherent answers to such simple questions identifies the "treatment" as being in the realm of either superstition or placebo.
I wonder how she knows this?
Maybe she asked That teacher from Fla. Debra Beasley. Sounds like something she'd know.
Somewhere in America right now is a teen-age boy heating a hastily emptied olive jar in the microwave.
"As the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum and, so the theory goes, stimulates blood flow and sucks the "toxins" out of the body."
I can think of some folks who need the cups placed over their mouths, thereby ridding them of their nasty old "toxins."
Pathetic!!!
"THIS WAY TO THE EGRESS - 5¢"
Gwyneth Paltrow has been concentrating her time on the study of political philosophy in the 21st century. She does not have time to also become an expert in medicine. After she masters political science and astronomy and physics and theoretical mathematics, I am sure she will turn her brilliant mind to healing and medicine.
Whenever you hear anything about removing toxins you should know it's a scam unless it removes the deadly toxin of liberalism.
I can't believe that nobody posting here has heard of 'cupping'!
I KNOW it works for respiratory problems. I had it done the first time 4 years ago, after a persistant cough would not respond to antibiotics, inhalers, and some other pretty strong 'western' treatment. I was going to an accupuncture-ist for other issues and she suggested it. It worked on the first try.
It does seem a bit 'barbaric', small shallow glass cups are 'barely' wiped with rubbing alcohol, and then lit on fire. The fire is immediately extinguished and the cup pressed down on the back. The suction is created by the just-extinguished flame. It burns, but not from the heat, from the strong focused suction. They are left on for around 10 minutes and then pryed off. She then rubbed the back with tiger balm.
Then, 4 years later I got the same horrible cough and searched high and low for someone who knew how to do it. I mean, who knew how to do it without burning me! but also where to place the cups.
I ended up again at a traditional Dr. from Laos who also did eastern medicine. Again, it worked on the first try.
Cupping was very common in Europe and also in N. Africa.
Besides the bruises it leaves it has no side effects.
I don't care what anyone says, it works.
Although I'm of course thrilled that you have experienced relief of your ailment, you may wish to consider the points raised in post #6.
The only objection that I have to it is in it's adherents promoting it as something other than a culturally and faith-based remedy and in so doing putting it on the same footing as a scientifically-based treatment. Remedies such as "cupping" have the same degree of scientific justification, proof and validity as astrology, and it's essential to keep that perspective in mind.
Faith has many benefits, but it's essential to be honest about one's faith and not blur the lines with science.
What, they're claiming it's a religion??
I never said that.
It is a matter of faith, not a matter of science.
Faith is, of course, a different thing than religion, although the two concepts can often merge.
You are welcome to your beliefs and I don't dispute for a moment your experiences. I would only wish to suggest that people be honest, and when they cannot answer simple questions such as "what definable physiological event is occurring here" that they admit that it is a matter of faith and belief, not of science.
Then you won't care about this: No, it doesn't.
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