Have you ever heard of blood spinning?

 

It’s a procedure that is now getting a lot of attention since famous professional athletes like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant are known to be using it. It is commonly used to treat disorders like arthritis, tendonopathy and muscle pain.

 

So how exactly does the procedure work?

 

First, the blood is removed from the arm and it is put in a machine called a centrifuge where the blood is spun. The spinning separates the blood into 3 parts: plasma, red blood cells and a middle portion (less than 1%) called the buffer. The buffer is made up of white blood cells, platelets and other growth hormones.

 

This small white buffer plays a role in regeneration and repair. It is best known for its

magical ability to stop blood clotting. The buffer is then re-injected into the slower-to-recover injuries.

 

Blood spinning is often touted by mainstream medicine as being a “natural” treatment because there are no foreign ingredients (it’s your own blood)!

 

This procedure is pricey and can cost anywhere between $300-$2000 per treatment. So for people who want to get similar results more affordably, enter: Wet Cupping.

 

Wet Cupping was first documented around 3000BC. It is an ancient remedy where mild suction is created using a cup and a pump on the selected area. It is then left for several minutes.

 

Why do we create suction?

 

The suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments including the common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis, as well as muscular diseases (neck, back and shoulder).

 

For extraordinary results, you can pair wet cupping with acupuncture.

 

This procedure involves penetrating the muscle several times with the needle (a painless acupuncture technique), then removing the needle and placing a vacuum over the acupuncture site to pull out blood. When we pull the blood through an area of low blood oxygen, we allow for a faster rate of recovery. So instead of pulling blood from the arm and injecting it, we pull blood out to help achieve a quick recovery of those slower-to-heal areas.

 

What are your thoughts on this procedure? Would you give it a try?

 

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Interested in booking a wet cupping treatment? Schedule your appointment here at the Toronto Acupuncture Clinic.

 

As always, thanks for reading and sharing with your colleagues, friends and family!

 

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