victing the "Damp Chill," Ushering in the "Warm Sun"

Evicting the "Damp Chill," Ushering in the "Warm Sun"

As spring returns to the earth, a lingering chill often remains. Many find their bodies feeling heavy, their limbs icy, and their sleep restless. Within the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Department of our hospital, our nurses wield a unique warmth—the art of Medicated Bamboo Cupping. This technique, which masterfully blends ancient TCM wisdom with modern nursing philosophy, quietly helps patients dispel dampness and cold, soothe both body and mind, and has become a cherished "warmth-infused treasure" in our rehabilitation care.

A Single Bamboo Cup: The Wisdom of "Warming and Unblocking"

Medicated Bamboo Cupping stands as a classic representative of Traditional Chinese Medicine's external therapies. Crafted from natural moso bamboo through a specialized process, these cups retain the wood's breathability and heat-conducting properties. More importantly, they are simmered in herbal decoctions, achieving a synergy where "the cup and the medicine work as one."

Compared to traditional glass fire cupping, medicated bamboo cupping offers distinct advantages:

• Gentle & Mild:​ The texture of bamboo is gentle, providing a softer suction that minimizes skin irritation.
• Herbal Infusion:​ The cups are steeped in herbs such as Mugwort (Ai Ye), Safflower (Hong Hua), Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi), and Guan Shui(Tou Gu Cao), known for warming meridians, dispelling cold, and activating blood flow. These medicinal properties penetrate directly into the meridians and affected areas via the skin.
• Versatile Fit:​ Available in various sizes, the cups can be adapted to fit multiple body parts—from the neck and shoulders to the lower back and limbs—ensuring a precise application.

Which Conditions Can Benefit from Medicated Bamboo Cupping?

1. Orthopedic & Pain Management

• Neck, shoulder, back, and leg pain (e.g., cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder, lumbar muscle strain, disc herniation).
• Rheumatism and bone disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, cold-dampness arthralgia, joint stiffness).
• Soft tissue injuries (e.g., chronic sprains, muscle swelling, meridian blockages).

2. Cold & Dampness Afflictions

• Wind-cold colds, aversion to cold, generalized aching, and heavy sensation due to excess dampness.
• "Air-conditioning sickness" or physical lethargy caused by prolonged exposure to damp environments.

3. Internal Medicine Regulation

• Spleen and stomach deficiency-cold (bloating, loose stools, poor appetite, abdominal coldness).
• Uterine coldness and dysmenorrhea, lower-jiao damp-cold, menstrual cramps.
• Insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, qi deficiency, fatigue, and blood stasis.

4. Rehabilitation & Wellness

• Post-operative recovery, alleviating damp-cold stagnation after chemotherapy/radiotherapy, numbness, and generalized fatigue.
• Sub-health conditions: chronic fatigue, slow metabolism, and dampness accumulation.

Which Body Constitutions Are Best Suited for This Therapy?

1. Cold-Damp Constitution

Characterized by: Preference for warmth, cold limbs, a thick white tongue coating, loose stools, and edema.

2. Qi Stagnation & Blood Stasis Constitution

• Characterized by: Fixed, stabbing pains, stiffness in the neck/back, dull complexion, dark lips, and emotional repression.

3. Qi & Yang Deficiency Constitution

Characterized by: Physical exhaustion, reluctance to speak, low immunity, frequent colds, sore knees/lower back, and fear of cold.

4. Phlegm-Damp Constitution

• Characterized by: Overweight physique, chest tightness, bloating, excessive phlegm, fatigue, and a thick, greasy tongue coating.

Inheritance & Innovation: Bringing TCM to Life in Clinical Practice

As nursing professionals in the new era, our team is dedicated to both preserving tradition and fostering innovation. We continuously refine our clinical protocols for medicated bamboo cupping, optimizing treatment plans through case discussions to explore its value across a broader range of conditions.

From the precise inheritance of classical techniques to deep integration with modern nursing concepts, medicated bamboo cupping is more than just a specialty service—it is a vivid practice of integrated care. It allows patients to experience the charm of traditional healing while receiving nursing services that are both scientifically rigorous and deeply humanistic.

When dampness recedes, warmth naturally arrives; a simple bamboo cup connects the hearts of healers and patients.​ Looking ahead, our department will continue to deepen our expertise in TCM appropriate techniques. We are committed to safeguarding health with professionalism and delivering hope with warmth, helping more patients rediscover comfort and well-being under the care of integrated medicine.

Profile of the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Department / TCM Oncology Specialty

The Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Department at Wuwei Cancer Hospital is recognized as both a Municipal Key Specialty​ and a Municipal Superiority Specialty​ in Gansu Province. Additionally, our TCM Oncology Specialty stands as the largest of its kind in the Wuwei region. The department comprises five specialized TCM outpatient clinics and one inpatient ward.

We are supported by a dedicated team of 16 medical professionals, including:

Physicians:​ 1 Chief Physician, 3 Associate Chief Physicians, 3 Attending Physicians, and 1 Resident Physician.

Academic Strength:​ 3 hold Master’s degrees. The team includes 1 renowned Wuwei City TCM practitioner and 8 direct disciples of Professor Pei Zhengxue—a nationally celebrated expert in integrated medicine and a master of traditional Chinese medicine.

Nursing:​ 8 specialized nursing staff.

Research & Innovation

Our department has spearheaded 3 provincial-level​ and 15 municipal-level​ scientific research projects. We have been honored with 1 Second Prize​ and 2 Third Prizes​ for the Gansu Province Huangfu Mi Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Awards, as well as 4 Second Prizes​ for the Wuwei Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. Our innovations include 2 utility model patents, the publication of 2 academic monographs, and over 80 medical papers​ in professional journals.

Clinical Focus & Philosophy

We specialize in the integrated treatment of tumors, gastrointestinal diseases, rheumatic immune diseases, dermatological conditions, and neck/shoulder/waist/leg pain.

Upholding the philosophy of integrated oncology, we apply a systematic health management system focused on "Comprehensive Whole-Cycle Rehabilitation Management for Cancer Patients."​ Throughout the entire treatment journey—including pre- and post-surgery, heavy ion therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy—we leverage the unique TCM advantage of "reducing toxicity while increasing efficacy."​ Our goal is to maximize patients' quality of life, prolong survival, and minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Specialized TCM Techniques

We offer an extensive array of TCM appropriate techniques, including:

Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Wax Therapy, Moxibustion, Indirect Moxibustion, Herbal Fumigation & Washing, Cupping, Scraping (Gua Sha), External High-Frequency Hyperthermia, Cervical/Lumbar Traction, Tuina (Medical Massage), Catgut Embedding at Acupoints, Acupoint Application, Acupoint Injection, Ear Apex Bloodletting, Auricular Seed Therapy, Block Therapy, Medicinal Foot Baths, Bloodletting Therapy, and Sanfu/Sanjiu Patches.

Accessibility & Contact

To serve our community, our outpatient clinics and inpatient ward operate year-round without closure. If you are experiencing any discomfort, we welcome you to visit our department.

Location: Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Department, Room 306, Outpatient Building / 2nd Floor, Traditional Chinese Medicine Building, Wuwei Cancer Hospital (Main Campus), Wuwei City, Gansu Province

Consultation Hotline: 0935-6988522 / 6986108 / 6986109