ACUPUNCTURE TECHNIQUE
Cupping Technique
INTRODUCTION
Do not apply cupping around tumor area Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can killer caner
Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a local
suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilizes blood
flow in order to promote healing.
Suction is created using heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or
electrical pumps).
THE MECHANISM OF ACTION
The local negative pressure applied to human causes specific changes in local tissue
structure, stretch to the nerve and muscle, increasing blood circulation and causing
autohemolysis. hemo- blood
Lysis, the destruction or dissolution of cells by the action of a particular lysin
Generally, cupping induced negative pressure can dilate local blood vessels to improve
microcirculation, promote capillary endothelial cells repair, accelerate granulation and
the development of new blood vessels.
TYPES OF CUPPING THERAPY
Mobile cupping tend to give tonify effect
Gentle cupping is tonify
Hard cupping is reducing
Fire cupping
Suction cupping
Wet cupping(blood letting cupping)
Other cupping procedures
FIRE CUPPING
Cupping should not be more than 5 minn else create stagnation
In this procedure, a ball of burning cotton or a lit alcohol swab
is briefly placed inside a glass cup to heat the air inside, which
then creates a partial vacuum as it cools. Glass cups are used, as
glass is impervious to heat at the levels used for this procedure.
Typically, cups are left on the patient’s skin for 2-10 minutes,
but may be left in place for up to 20 minutes and leave a
temporary reddish mark that is a result of cutaneous petechiae
and ecchymosis.
Unintentional expression of blood or fluid into cups may occur
as a result of fire cupping when the skin is not intact, or from
previous needling, local pimples or other local skin pathologies.
SUCTION CUPPING
Suction cupping involves the use of plastic or silicone
cups with valves at the top that attach to hand pumps;
the pumps create suction by removing a quantity of air
after the cups have been placed on the skin.
Typically cups are on for 2-10 minutes, but may be left
in place up to 20 minutes and leave a temporary
reddish mark that is a result of cutaneous petechiae
and ecchymosis.
Unintentional expression of blood or fluid into cups
may occur as a result of suction cupping when the skin
is not intact, or from previous needling, local pimples
or other local skin pathologies.
WET CUPPING
In this percdure, the skin is punctured
with a lancet or sterile needles, such as
those used for plum blossom tapping,
Wet cupping may be done with either
suction cups or fire cups. carries
obvious risk of exposure to and
transfer of bloodborne pathogens.
OTHER CUPPING PROCEDURE
Moving or sliding cupping during which practitioners gently move the
cup along a lubricated surface area, channel, or along muscle fibers;
Empty cupping, which means the cups are removed after suction
without delay;
needle cupping, during which the practitioner applies the acupuncture needle first,
then applies the cups over the needles.
PREVENTING CUPPING
ADVERSE EVENTS
PREVENTING CUPPING
ADVERSE EVENTS
Burn
The burning material must be placed in the deepest part of the cup, not near the
rim.
Remove the burning material before applying the cup to the patient’s skin.
Never retain the burning material inside the cup when the cup is placed onto the
skin.
Do not keep the buring cotton ball on top of the patient’s body.
PREVENTING CUPPING
ADVERSE EVENTS
Infections
The same procedures are recommended as in preparation for acupuncture: follow
Safety Guidelines for Establishing and Maintaining a Clean Field, for Hand
Sanitation and Skin Preparation. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE)
(gloves and protective eyewear) when blood or OPIM may be present, if performing
wet cupping, or cupping after needling.
Avoid cupping over lesions, rashes, injuries or breaks in skin barrier. While there
are studies on the use of cupping for herpes zoster and other skin lesions
practitioners should be specifically trained in cupping for active skin lesions before
applying cups.
GENERAL CUPPING
PRECAUTIONS
GENERAL CUPPING
PRECAUTIONS
Inform the client of the sensation that is felt during
cupping and ask them to tell the operator if the
sensation is unpleasant or uncomfortable.
Warn the patient of the possibility of skin
discoloration and/or blister.
DISINFECTION PROCEDURE
Wear a pair of gloves.
Wash the used cups with liquid detergent in hot water (to remove the oil), then rinse these cups well.
Fully soak these cups in 10% Janola (bleach) in a plastic bucket for, at least, 15 minutes, then rinse the cups
very well.
Put these cups on the strainer and let the water drain.
Wipe the cups dry with paper towels.
Wipe the rims of the cups with alcohol swab(s) before use.
CAUTION ensure that the alcohol has dried before use (to prevent the rims from being lit up upon
application and burning the client).
CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR
CUPPING
CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR
CUPPING
Clients with bleeding disorders or tendencies or under anticoagulant medications
Areas over skin ulcers, allergies and tumours
Oedema
An area overlying a large blood vessel
High fever and convulsions
For pregnant women, caution is required when using cupping on the abdomen. Cupping may be used with
specific rationales in pregnancy as outlined in the text in the school library: The essential guide to
Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth (Betts 2016) or AND following assessment and discussion with
your clinical supervisor.
Weak or old patients
PRACTICE PROTOCOLS FOR
CUPPING
Fire cupping
