A chef who visited a massage parlour in Aljunied hoping to relieve his back ache, suffered severe burns and painful blisters after receiving a Chinese cupping therapy on 28 July at 10pm.
Taking to Facebook to recount his experience, John Rey said the burns were nasty and the staff who carried out the cupping did not appear to be very experienced.
Cupping therapy (or Ba Guan) is one of the common treatments for body ailments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such as helping to relieve pain, inflammation to promoting relaxation and well-being. It involves heating special cups on the inside with a flammable substance before placing them on the skin to create suction.
The 36-year-old also shared a few photos in his now deleted post, which showed the extent of his burns and blisters.
Image source: John Rey’s Facebook
Around 16 circle shaped markings were observed on Rey’s back. The burns stretched beyond the red patches caused by the cupping which covered majority of his torso.
Upon closer look, one of the cupping areas was punctured with painful blisters.
Image source: John Rey’s Facebook
In an interview with Lianhe Wanbao, the chef said that it was his first time trying out cupping. As such, he did not know if it was normal to experience a burning sensation.
However, not only was Rey not relieved from his body aches after the session, he began to experience more pain from the burns and blisters the next day.
Rey said that the pains were so bad that he could not sleep on his back for two nights.
His wife was also reportedly with him at the time of the incident. The couple chanced upon the outlet while taking a walk and decided to get some massage and cupping.
She, however, did not suffer from such burns.
According to Lianhe Wanbao, Rey did not visit a doctor despite feeling pain as he was afraid of being forced to take medical leave as the restaurant he is working at is short on manpower.
Couple Receives Refund From Cupping Treatment
Following the incident, the couple has been fully refunded by the boss of the outlet on 2 August.
It was said that she also offered to pay for the medical bill, but Rey only asked for a refund for the treatment.
The 41-year-old told Lianhe Wanbao that she was alerted to Rey’s burns from the cupping session at her outlet via a WhatsApp message he had sent her.
She immediately called to advise him to see a doctor as she suspected that it could be due to skin sensitivity from the cupping therapy.
When it comes to doing cupping, or any of such alternative medicine treatments, it is best to always consult with a medical professional before proceeding.
In the case where you notice any unusual symptoms, it is advised to see the doctor immediately.
Lead image source: John Rey’s Facebook (original post has been taken down)
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