Photo by ndosborn
I recently came across the photo of Gwyneth Paltrow that created quite a scandal a few years ago. Ms. Paltrow wore a dress that exposed her freshly cupped back when she walked down the red carpet, which shocked members of the media who, at that time, were oblivious to the wonderful treatment that is cupping. As odd as many found it, the fascination with the octupus-suction-cup marks seemed to have sparked a fascination with Chinese medicine and alternative healing in Hollywood and beyond.
Since that time, Ms. Paltrow started a newsletter called GOOP and devoted an entire article to the healing modalities of acupuncture, cupping, and Su Jeok therapy (also known as Korean hand acupuncture therapy). It's great to see how many people are recognizing this amazing healing technique and sharing it in all ways possible.
Gwyneth writes:
One day, when being treated by an acupuncturist, a Spanish friend who was visiting me in London walked into the room and remarked that I looked like a bull who’d had a run in with the picadores (the dudes on horseback who stick the bull with many little knives to rile him up before the actual fight). I assured her that although I was stuck with needles, I was faring far better than the bull would in the analogous scenario. In fact, those many little needles have helped me through many an ailment. Eastern medicine has a different approach than Western medicine – it’s more holistic. The root of the problem is addressed, as opposed to a symptom being attended to with prescription medication, only to return. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful as hell for a round of antibiotics or surgery when necessary, but I have been helped tremendously by all of the practices below that help the body heal itself. When implemented by a professional with experience, the benefits can work wonders.
You can read the rest of the GOOP article here!