The cupping method in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the common external treatment methods, which utilizes negative pressure to treat diseases. Different cupping techniques correspond to various conditions. Below, I will carefully introduce the various methods of cupping. I hope everyone enjoys it!Fire Cupping MethodThe fire cupping method is a commonly used cupping technique that expels air from the cup by burning, creating negative pressure to adhere to the skin surface. The air is expelled from the cup using fire. The common methods include the following six types.
(1) Fire Throwing Method: This method is often used for lateral horizontal cupping. During operation, use tweezers to hold an alcohol cotton ball, ignite it, and throw it into the cup, quickly placing the cup on the area to be treated; alternatively, a soft paper can be folded slightly and rolled into a cylinder (about 3 cm longer than the depth of the cup), ignited, and thrown into the cup. Without waiting for the paper to burn completely, quickly place the cup on the area to be treated.(2) Cotton Stick Method: This method is suitable for lateral horizontal cupping. First, use a 0.5-1 square centimeter piece of cotton, thin it out, slightly soak it in alcohol, and stick it to the upper middle section inside the cup. Ignite it and quickly place the cup on the area to be treated. Note that the cotton piece should not be too thick, and it should not absorb too much alcohol; otherwise, it may fall off and cause burns to the patient.(3) Alcohol Dripping Method: This method is suitable for various positions. During operation, drip a few drops of alcohol into the bottom of the cup, keeping the cup mouth facing up, then place the cup horizontally and rotate it for 1-3 turns to evenly coat the inner wall of the cup with alcohol (avoid letting alcohol drip to the cup mouth to prevent skin burns), ignite it, and quickly place the cup on the area to be treated while holding the bottom of the cup. This method is simple and does not require other auxiliary supplies, making it suitable for home health care. Be careful not to drip too much alcohol to avoid flames spilling over and burning the patient.(4) Flash Fire Method: This method is suitable for various positions, especially for flash cupping and moving cupping. Use tweezers to hold an alcohol cotton ball, or use a piece of thick iron wire about 10 cm long, wrapping one end with cotton and gauze to form a small hammer shape, soak it in alcohol, ignite it, and insert it into the cup for a moment, then quickly remove the cotton ball and place the cup on the area to be treated. If a stronger suction is needed, rotate the burning alcohol cotton ball on the inner wall of the cup to burn the alcohol, then quickly remove the cotton ball and place the cup on the area to be treated. The cotton ball should not absorb too much alcohol; otherwise, it may overflow and burn the skin.(5) Fire Rack Method: This method is suitable for large areas on the back or flat areas with thick muscles on the limbs. Its characteristic is that it is not limited by burning time. Two methods can be used: ① Wrap a coin or similar object in a flammable soft cloth or paper, fold the edges up about 3 cm to create a fire rack. Place it on the suction area, ignite the cloth or paper corner. Alternatively, place an alcohol cotton ball on top of the fire rack and ignite it. Finally, quickly place the cup on the area to be treated. ② Use a non-flammable, non-heat-conducting object with a diameter of 2-3 cm, such as a rubber bottle cap, soda bottle cap, wooden piece, or orange peel, place it in the center of the suction area, and then place an alcohol cotton ball on top, ignite it, and immediately place the cup on top.(6) Spring Rack Method: Use a steel wire with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm coiled into a spring shape, place it inside the fire cup, and twist one end near the bottom into a hook shape, wrapping a cotton ball at the hook end, suspended in the center of the cup. During cupping, drip a few drops of alcohol on the cotton ball, ignite it, and place the cup on the area to be treated to create suction. This rack can be reused.
Water Cupping MethodThe water cupping method involves filling the fire cup with 1/3 to 1/2 warm water, flashing fire, and quickly placing the water cup on the treatment acupoint or area. This method is suitable for external wind-cold, high fever without sweating, cough, stomach pain, rheumatism, and low back pain.1. Boiling Cupping Method: This method creates negative pressure in the cup by steaming and boiling. The specific operation involves placing several bamboo cups in a pot, adding water, and boiling for several minutes. When using, have the patient sit nearby, and use long tweezers to take out the bamboo cup. When taking it out, ensure the cup mouth is facing down, shake off the water, or use a folded towel to tightly cover the cup mouth, and quickly place it on the selected area. This method is suitable for cupping and boiling medicine cups, but the operation is relatively complex, and modern clinical applications are rare. It is essential to ensure that the water inside the cup is thoroughly shaken off; otherwise, boiling water may burn the skin.2. Water-Fire Cupping Method: This method involves filling the cup with water and using fire to expel air. The specific operation is to select a large glass cup, first place an appropriate amount of warm water inside, slightly above body temperature. The water level should generally not exceed one-third of the cup’s volume. Then, tilt the cup slightly horizontally, place a cotton ball soaked in 95% alcohol on the upper part of the cup, ignite the cotton ball, and it will create suction (this is the previously mentioned cotton stick method). Note that the position to be cupped should be angled towards the cup mouth, and after cupping, the position can be adjusted to ensure the cup mouth faces down, allowing the water inside to stimulate the acupoint area. When removing the cup, since there is water inside, it is necessary to slowly slide the cup to one side, allowing the cup mouth to face up, and flip the palm to take the cup, so that the water inside does not spill and wet the clothes.Herbal Cupping MethodThe herbal cupping method involves the following operation: wrap the herbal medicine in gauze, place it in a sand pot, and add an appropriate amount of water to decoct. After boiling, place it in a bamboo or wooden cup for 3-5 minutes, then quickly take it out, cover the cup mouth with a clean dry towel to absorb the medicinal liquid, lower the cup’s temperature, and maintain the temperature inside the cup. Then, while hot, quickly place the cup on the affected area or acupoint, applying slight pressure for about half a minute to secure it. This method combines cupping with herbal therapy, utilizing the dual effects of the cup and the medicine, along with the warming effect, and is often used for wind-cold-damp obstruction. However, it requires skilled operation; otherwise, it may lead to insufficient suction.In addition to the boiling herbal cupping method, there are also two other methods: storage herbal cupping and alcohol herbal cupping. The storage herbal cupping method involves filling the suction cup with 1/2 to 2/3 of herbal liquid, such as perilla water, ginger juice, or rheumatic wine, and then using a syringe or suction gun to remove the air, allowing the cup to adhere to the skin. The alcohol herbal cupping method involves dripping the prepared medicinal wine into the cup and operating according to the previously mentioned alcohol dripping method.Needle Cupping Method
The needle cupping method (full name: retained needle cupping therapy) involves inserting a filiform needle into the acupoint and retaining it while performing cupping around the needle. Retain the cup for 10-15 minutes until the skin becomes red, congested, or bruised, then gently remove the cup and take out the needle. The needle cupping method generally uses glass cups, allowing for observation of the situation inside the cup at any time. During operation, care should be taken that the needle handle is not too long to avoid touching the bottom of the cup and getting stuck inside the body. Special attention should be paid when performing needle cupping on the chest and back, as the negative pressure inside the cup can change the depth of the needle insertion, potentially causing pneumothorax. After obtaining “qi” from the acupoint, if the needle is removed without applying pressure to the needle hole, immediately cupping on the acupoint may draw out a small amount of blood or tissue fluid. This method combines the effects of acupuncture and cupping, enhancing clinical efficacy, and is often used for stubborn pain syndromes where cupping alone is ineffective, as well as various acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.Blood Cupping MethodThe blood cupping method, also known as bloodletting cupping or prick cupping, is a commonly used clinical treatment method that combines bloodletting and cupping. There are two clinical operations.
(1) After bloodletting (pricking), cupping is performed. After disinfecting the skin of the area to be treated, use a three-edged needle to prick and draw blood or use a plum blossom needle to tap the area before cupping to enhance the effect of bloodletting treatment. This method is often used to treat erysipelas, breast abscesses, and soft tissue injuries caused by trauma. Strict disinfection is required when using this method, and the cup is generally retained for 10-15 minutes. After removing the cup, use a disinfected cotton ball to wipe away blood stains. This method should not be used for patients with bleeding tendencies, such as those with thrombocytopenia, hemophilia, or leukemia.(2) After disinfecting the skin, use a three-edged needle, thick filiform needle, or flat knife to make shallow pricks, with stimulation levels categorized into light, medium, and heavy pricks. Light pricking is indicated by skin reddening, medium by slight bleeding, and heavy by punctate bleeding. Then, cupping is performed at the pricked area, retaining the cup for 10-15 minutes, with a blood volume of 5-10 ml being the target. After removing the cup, use a disinfected cotton ball to wipe away any seepage. This method is suitable for patients with short illness duration, severe symptoms, and manifestations of excess, such as redness, heat, pain, and itching, including low back pain, rheumatic pain, muscle strain, neurodermatitis, erysipelas, skin itching, infectious febrile diseases, and hypertension (excess type). This method is generally not used for patients with a deficiency-cold constitution.Scraping and Cupping MethodThe scraping and cupping method combines scraping therapy with cupping. When using, first perform cupping on the selected area (meridian acupoint) (preferably using the moving cupping technique). If retaining the cup, the time should be slightly longer, and the suction should be stronger. When purple-red or purple-black spots appear on the skin, remove the cup, and then use a disinfected needle to prick the areas where the purple-red or purple-black spots are more pronounced (generally where there are hard nodules under the skin). Each area should be pricked 2-3 times until blood or fluid seeps out. Then, wipe dry with a disinfected cotton ball, and it can also be treated with 75% ethanol or iodine. This method can be used for heat stroke, stagnant heat, damp heat, infectious febrile diseases, rheumatic pain, dysmenorrhea, and neuralgia.Warming Cupping MethodThe warming cupping method refers to the simultaneous application of infrared, phototherapy, or moxibustion around the cup and the treatment area while retaining the cup to enhance efficacy and prevent the patient from getting cold. This method combines the effects of cupping and heat therapy and is often used in cold and damp seasons or for conditions with deficiency-cold and dampness.Gua Sha and Cupping MethodThe gua sha and cupping method is a treatment method that combines gua sha with cupping. Generally, gua sha is performed first, followed by cupping, or vice versa, with the former being more common. When using, first apply an appropriate amount of gua sha oil (or lotion) to the selected area (acupoint) and use a water buffalo horn gua sha board for scraping. If combined with the moving cupping technique, the scraping time should be slightly shorter, and cupping can be performed when the skin turns red; if combined with the retained cupping technique, the scraping time can be longer, and cupping can be performed when the skin shows red, purple, or purple-black colors. The cupping area can be acupoints (including Ah Shi points) or lesion points (where the skin shows significant red or purple after scraping, often with hard nodules or cord-like structures underneath, with pressure causing soreness, numbness, or pain). It is generally believed that cupping at lesion points has a significant effect on unblocking meridians and adjusting organ functions. This method is widely used for cervical spondylosis, shoulder periarthritis, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar muscle strain, sciatica, asthma, knee pain, hypertension, and acne, all showing significant efficacy.Moxibustion and Cupping MethodThe moxibustion and cupping method is a technique that combines moxibustion with cupping. Generally, moxibustion is performed first on the selected area, followed by cupping, using the medicinal and warming effects of moxibustion to enhance the effects of unblocking meridians, warming channels, dispelling cold, and promoting blood circulation. Common combined techniques include the following.(1) Moxa Cone Cupping Method: This includes direct moxibustion and indirect moxibustion cupping. Direct moxibustion involves rolling moxa into a cone shape and placing it directly on the skin for moxibustion. Indirect moxibustion involves placing a barrier between the moxa cone and the skin (e.g., using a slice of ginger for ginger moxibustion, a slice of garlic for garlic moxibustion, or a piece of aconite cake for aconite moxibustion). The above moxibustion methods should be performed until the patient feels warmth on the skin, then replace the moxa cone and barrier for further moxibustion, ensuring the skin turns red but not burned. After moxibustion, cupping can be performed. This method has a wide range of indications, including external wind-cold, cough with phlegm, spleen and kidney deficiency, wind-cold-damp obstruction, and qi deficiency with blood loss.(2) Moxa Roll Cupping Method: This includes simple moxa roll moxibustion and medicinal stick moxibustion cupping. Moxa is wrapped in cotton paper to form a cylindrical shape called a moxa roll. A moxa roll containing only moxa is called a simple moxa roll or moxa stick, while a moxa roll containing medicinal powder is called a medicinal stick. Ignite one end of the moxa stick (including both simple and medicinal sticks) and direct it towards the treatment area, supporting the other end with a hand or other tools, keeping the burning end 0.5-1 inch away from the skin to create a warming sensation without burning pain, generally for 5-10 minutes until the skin shows slight redness. After moxibustion, cupping can be performed. The moxibustion and cupping method has warming and dispelling cold effects, suitable for wind-cold-damp obstruction.Massage and Cupping MethodThe massage and cupping method combines massage with cupping. It can be divided into two types: first massage then cupping, and first cupping then massage. The first massage then cupping method involves performing various massage techniques on the selected area (meridian acupoint) based on the condition, followed by cupping, using moving cupping or retained cupping techniques to enhance the massage effect. The first cupping then massage method involves cupping (mainly using moving and retained cupping techniques) until the skin shows purple or black spots and subcutaneous nodules, then applying massage techniques at the purple or black spots to dissolve nodules and promote absorption, thereby increasing the cupping effect. The massage and cupping method is widely used in various clinical conditions.