Cupping Flashcards
History of cupping
China
Earliest records of cupping =Han dynasty using animal horn to suck pus
Materials of cupping
Glass, bamboo, horn, plastic, rubber etc.
Cupping methods
Dry cupping-no blood letting
Wet cupping-prick n bleed. (CA Board allows only a couple of drops)
Fire cupping
Uses for cupping historically
755 AD TB 1050 AD chronic cough; poisonous snakes 1500 AD surgery 1550 BC in Egypt- bleeding w/ cupping 3rd century BC Galen/Hippocrates practiced
How many varieties of cupping
7: weak medium strong moving needle empty Wet
Weak cupping
- tonifying
- deficient patients
- amount of flesh drawn into cup should be minimal and hardly raised
- slight reddening of the skin
- for removing stagnation and tonifying the Qi and Blood
Medium cupping
- recommends
- best
- tonifying
- safely applied to children over 7 y.o. as well as to adults
- The skin is pulled well into the cup, creating a light redness.
- If the cup is left more than 30 min. , there is a danger of draining the patient’s Qi
Strong Cupping
- draining
- should be done only to strong patients
- The skin will turn red quickly and soon after turn purple inside the cup.
- The maximum duration of the treatment is 20min. (first time – 10 min).
- Blisters can form.
Contraindications for strong cupping:
- on the face
- stomach, abdomen
- children under 14 y.0.
- elderly
- frail
- during pregnancy
Moving cupping
- The 2nd most draining method, the most painful method
- only for strong patients
- Bamboo cups are not applicable. No smooth edges, therefore painful
- The cup should move freely.
- has strong pulling and moving action of the cup
- mostly applied on the back
- to manipulate the excess energy
- to bring up the heat to the skin surface
(The more internal heat is present, the quicker the bruise will appear.)
Contraindications for moving cupping
- Children under 14 y.o.
- Weak p
needle cupping
Needle Point 1st. Sucks skin and needle together. When take off cup, needle might go deeper.
- draining
- mostly used for hot Bi syndromes
- Retention of the cups in position for 10 – 15 min. Some blood may be drawn.
- Use big cups.
- **Avoid this method on the back. T1-L5 (LUs, KDs underneath).
Ok on buttock, arms by shoulder. legs, depending
- Don’t use this method on children.
Empty cupping
- Prepare 5-6 cups
- The cups are applied rapidly and remain in place for a very short time.
- Once all the cups are in place, start removing them without delay, beginning with
the first to be applied. When all have been removed, reapply them immediately in
different positions. - can be applied between 5 – 10 min.
- for weak patients
- **good method for children
Wet(bleeding) cupping
- to purge foul blood
- to expel blood heat and stagnation
eg. sudden increase of BP, to discharge pus from boils
Severe: sore throat, headache, toothache, pain in face - can be done on Du 14
- **Wear gloves to do this method.
- It is not recommended to bleed more than once a month.
Effects of cupping
6 areas
- Skin
- muscles
- joints
- digestive organs
- blood
- nervous system
Skin
- withdraw stagnant old blood within the skin
- removes poisonous substance from the skin surface
- helps to eliminate CO2 through the skin
- helps excretion of water through the skin
- accelerate secretion of salt and sebaceous matter
- increases skin temperature
- increases metabolism within the skin tissue
- helps rejuvenation of the skin
- makes skin stronger as a barrier
Muscles
- increases blood circulation
- helps carrying away waste products
- promotes lymph flow
- decreases muscle pain
joints
- increases blood circulation within the joints
2. improves the activity and secretion of synovial fluids
digestive system
- promotes digestion and absorption
- promotes peristalsis
- increases secretion of digestive enzyme
blood
- promotes blood flow
- beneficial for the hardened blood vessels
- increases the number of WBC and RBC
- shifts the blood PH toward healthy alkaline side
nervous system
- stimulates nerve endings
2. adjusts the autonomic nervous system
Indications for cupping therapy
muscle pain joint problems digestive problems respiratory problems skin problems-but dont do on bad skin hypertension-if toohigh, wait. If over 200 (110) send Pt to ER fatigue varicose vein etc 48 hrs before and 24 hours after chemo
Contra-indications of Cupping Therapy
tendency of bleeding eg. Hemophilia (or PT on blood thinner- do not use strong cup)
over sunburn or burn-skin is not normal
on open wounds
on recent trauma
pregnant woman – on the lower back or abdomen
* she recommends not doing pregnant women at all). Avoid GB21, LI4, UB^), UB67. SP6, betw spine and scapula bec is descending qi area (miscarriage)
over the large blood vessels
on the throat
severe edema
Washing up
Gloves/Face shield wash in warm water & dish soap place in separate basin w/ just water rinse under tap-put in dry basin spray with chemical Cavicide 1 Wait 5 minutes rinse Put in dish strainer
Responses to Cupping
color
Pink=normal darker= more severe more acidic=the darker small red dots=Acute condition no discoloration=anemia, deficiency of related organ raised= deficient cold not raised/unclear border=excessive heat
Blisters
Chronic conditions
chronic Organ dysfunction, weakness
Purple patches
Stubborn chronic condition
Pain during treatment
the existence of pathological conditions
more pain, more severe condition
