Different Methods of
Applying
Cupping Therapy
By Dr Zahira Kamdar
introduction
Explain cupping
What Is Hijama?
Hijama is a therapy that comes from the Arabic root –
sucking; vacuum. This therapy works with the body’s
condition and balances it. The body may be suffering
from sluggish organs, or be in need of detoxification, and
either way Hijama is an effective treatment. Hijama
therapy is even known to have helped women ovulate
and thus, fall pregnant. As Hijama therapy directly
removes a small amount of blood from the patient it also
detoxifies the blood, stimulates the body’s immune
system and helps blood to flow more freely. It is known
to relieve pain including migraine and back ache and is
also the best preventive treatment available.
Conditions Benefiting from Cupping
Headache Stroke
Rheumatic complaints Fever
Joint and muscular pain Constipation and
Infertility diarrhoea
Sexual disorders Asthma and respiratory
Hypertension disorders
Bed wetting Blood disorders
Common colds and flu’s etc
Insomnia
Benefits of Cupping therapy
it stimulates the blood circulation
blood is detoxified directly through the skin, which is the largest body organ and as
such it can clear body toxins quickly and efficiently. It is the fastest way to detoxify.
it helps tissues to remove metabolic waste and stimulates tissue metabolism.
balances hormone excretion and function.
supplies more oxygen, hormones and essential enzymes to local tissues and joints.
activates the lymphatic system.
improves blood and lymph flow to the corresponding organs; stimulates and
strengthens their function.
may reduce anxiety, stress and depression by releasing chemicals in the brain.
relieves stagnation and congestion from inflamed areas and draws out acidic blood
around.
increases red and white blood cells.
changes acidic blood into alkaline or neutral.
relieves muscle spasms, hardening or stiffness of muscular tissue.
reduces unwanted side effects of drugs, removes their residue and reduces risk of
drug toxicity.
improvement of immunity and resilience of the total organism by the effect of all of
the above
Current Research
Dr katase from Osaka university
maintained that cupping has an influence
on the composition of blood
It increases red and white blood cells and
changes acidic blood into alkaline or
neutral blood
Resulting in its purification
It also cleanses the body of accumulated
irritants that causes inflammation
Scientific Acknowledgements
An Egyptian Physician Dr Sahbaa has written
that cupping exerts marked improvement on the
clinical conditions of patients especially with
regards to visual analogue scale of pain
It significantly reduces the laboratory markers of
disease activity and it modulates the immune
cellular conditions particularly of innate immune
response NK cell % and adaptive cellular
immune response SIL- SIL-2R
Scientific Acknowledgements
On the internet Journal of Alternative Medicine. 2007.
Volume 4 Number 1 stated:
At a biological level cupping has similar effects to
acupressure and acupuncture
It works by stimulating or activating:
The immune system
Irritation of the immune system by producing local artificial
inflammation, followed by activation of the complementary system
and increase in the level of immune products
Effect on the thymus
Control of lymph traffic, causing an increase in the flow of lymph in
lymph vessels
Enkephalin secretion
Neurotransmitter release
Vasoconstriction and vasodilatation
Pain gate theory
Pain gate theory
It is believed that stimulation of cupping
points can lead to the pain gates being
overwhelmed by the increasing frequency
of impulses,
Ultimately leading to the closure of the
gates and hence reduction in pain
Pain Gate Theory
picture
Equipment used for Cupping
Animal horns and Shells
Metal & pottery
Electro magnetic
Screw tops
Valve cup
Rubber top
Magnetic cups
Glass
Rubber
Bamboo
Silicone
Animal Horns & Shells
The earliest cupping
instruments were made
from the hollowed, distal
portion of an animal’s
horn with a small hole on
the top, which was used
for mouth suction
The cupper would suck
out the blood from
scarification's made by a
knife
Pottery and Metallic Cups
Pottery: made from
pottery with varying
calibre.
Pros: Has a strong suction
Cons: quite heavy and easy
to break
Still used in Chinese
medicine, improved quality
over time
Metallic: made from metal
with varying calibre
Thin rim, very heavy
Rarely used today
Electric Cups
The cup is attached to an
electric cupping apparatus
through an umbilical suction
cord
Suction strength and duration
can be adjusted and controlled
electronically by the operator
Pros: increases therapeutic
effectiveness of cupping when
cups are applied to knees,
joints and elbows
Cons:
Machines are expensive
Bulky and impractical as far as
mobility is concerned
Cups cannot be sterilised as often
and as efficiently as glass cups
Screw--top Cups
Screw
This cup has an adjustable screw-
screw-threaded handle located on
top of the cup and attached to a piston-
piston-like suction pump
The level of suction required is obtained by turning the handle
anticlockwise and allowing the piston ring inside the cup to
touch the patients skin. The handle is then turned clockwise in
order to pull the piston upwards, thereby creating a negative
pressure inside the cup
Pros:
can be used in almost any environment as no pump, electricity or fire is
needed
Transparent easy to see inside
Can control the pressure inside the cups
Not sure how durable the parts are over time
Cons:
sufficient degree of sterilization cannot be achieved as the cups are lined
with a fine lubricant in order to facilitate the movement of the piston
Cleaning: cups can be washed with warm lightly salty water and
dried before cupping
Rubber Cups
Made completely of rubber
material. The cups are corrugated
in shape and when the air is
pushed out a rather medium to
strong suction is obtained
Cons:
These cups are expensive because
they are made of a natural rubber
material
They cannot be boiled or sterilised in
a strong cleaning solution as the
rubber becomes soft, edges wear
thin and are unable to hold onto the
skin
Better for personal use
Kids respond better to the rubber
cups
Good for sliding cupping
Glass Cups
Cups made from glass, spherical
in shape and has a very smooth
mouth
Transparent cups make its easier
to observe the skin
Also available in different sizes
Pros:
Easier to use
Sterilization options are good
Cons
If it falls can break very easy
Can be expensive to replace
Be careful not to over heat cups as it
can burn the patient
Cleaning – autoclave,
sterilization, extreme heat
Cup with Squeeze Rubber Top
Cup made with a hollow rubber
handle attached to the top
You simple squeeze the rubber
handle and place the cup on the
desired point
Cons:
Only limited amount of air can be
drawn out of the cup
Suction remains at light to medium
strength
This cup is preferred for children
under the age of 7 yrs old
Easy and safe to use
Valve Cups with Pumps
Made of toughened glass or clear hard plastic material and has a valve
attached to its top
A pump resembling a bicycle pump is inserted into the valve and pumps the
air put creating a negative pressure
Pistol handle valve pump
Similar to the above method except the air inside the cup is removed by
pumping or extracting via a pipe attached to the pistol/pump
Pros:
Full control over suction power
Relatively inexpensive
Cons:
Small parts can get worn off
Cant use strong sterilizing cleaning agents or boiling water
Cups do wear out with long term use don’t stick well
Cleaning:
Can use alcohol swab
Soak in Savlon and warm to hot water
Cup with Magnetic Head
In this cup a separate
magnetic head is fitted
inside the plain (ordinary)
cup to activate its suction
power
Pros:
magnetic stimulation
increases the therapeutic
effectiveness of cupping,
especially when applied to
joints, including knees and
elbows
Cons:
cannot be sterilised as
efficiently
Bamboo Cups
Cups made from bamboo
Light to carry and durable
Cons:
Edges of cups are very sharp
compared to glass cups
Unable to see inside the cup to
monitor strength of suction
Sterilization cannot be achieved easily
as the cups are very porous and
absorbent
Strong suction can draw blood or body
fluids into the fibres of the cup
Not easy to use for a busy practice –
takes time to infuse herbs into cups
Sufficient for home use
Silicone Cups
Made from a more durable material such
as silicone
They come in a variety of shapes and
sizes
Works well for the face and those difficult
to reach areas
Fairly expensive
Nice for travelling
Cons:
Pressure is weak to medium strength
Some are hard and some are soft texture
Cleaning – alcohol swabs, high
temperatures
Works well for sliding cupping
Used by beauty therapist – bellabaci
cupping and massage for cellulite, facials
Different Methods of cupping
All the methods mentioned are designed to help
the practitioner chose the cupping technique
that is most appropriate for the patient's
energetic condition
Like all other forms of medicine, cupping therapy
is not a “magic cure for all”, but one that needs
regular application, as well as the “correct”
technique most suitable to the individual’s
current condition
Different Methods of cupping
Dry
Weak,
Medium,
Strong
Moving/gliding
Flash/Empty
Wet cupping
Herbal
Water
Weak/Light Cupping
Medium Cupping
Strong Cupping
Moving/Sliding Cupping
Light--Moving Cupping
Light
Lymphatic Drainage
Empty/Flash Cupping
Full/Wet/Bleeding Cupping
Herbal Cupping
Water Cupping
Aromatherapy
Health Maintenance Cupping
Health Maintenance Cupping
Pictures of the spots
Contra--indication
Contra
Age factor
Dry cupping should not be done on kids younger than 3 years
old Wet cupping not younger than 7yrs??/
No wet cupping on the elderly and dry light cupping only
Time frame for cups to be left on
Anything fromm 2 minutes to 10min
Wet cupping
Pregnant females or mensturating females
Patients with boen fractures
Cancer patients
Safety and Precautions
Conclusion
Way forward
Video of cupping
Suppliers:
Aconite
Asif Naeem <chiefshb@gmail.com>
May 25
Dear Sir/Madam,
Currently we stock 12pc cupping sets and Carbon Steel Surgical Blades Size 22 as per attached
pictures. Our products are ISO9001 & ISO13485 compliant and used all over South Africa.
Price for 12pc cupping set are:are:--
1) For 20 Sets or above qty, price is R175.00 per set
2) For 6 to 19 Sets,
Sets, price is R190.00 per set.
set.
3) For 1 to 5 sets,
sets, Price is R200.00 per set.
set.
Price for Carbon Steel Surgical Blades size 22 is R55.00 per Box (1 Box = 100Pcs). (Min Purchase
Qty = 3 Box)
Above prices includes delivery via Post Office to Post Office.
If you are based within 30km radius from Midrand and order value is above R1000.00, we can
make free delivery to your premises.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
For any other information, feel free to contact.
Have a nice day.
REFERENCES
BOOKS
2 INTERNET SOURCES
CUPPING COURSES
ISLAMIC CUPPING AND HIJAMAH
ILKAY ZHINI CHIRALI CUPPING
THERAPY
CUPPING THE GREAT MISSING
THERAPY
IBN SINA BOOK
PRACTICAL COMPONENT
history
Different types of cups used
Clean the sups/hygiene
Plastic cups – after the cup is used, wipe it
with a disinfectant (e.g alcohol soaked cotton)
the cups should not be soaked in disinfectant
or boiled
Types of cupping
10 different types
Show a video of the different types
Give notes with the different types
Time frame
Main cupping methods
Retention of cups: after the cup is applied on the skin, the
cup should be kept in place for:
10 minurtes children
3 minutes youth
5 minures women
7 minutes to induce stagnant state of the local skin, before
removal
Use longer treatent times on severe pain, focal depths (flat skin
where the muscle in thick) and in winter
Use shorter treatment times on focal surface (skin where the
muscle is thin), paralytic disease and n summer
Cupping should not be performed
on
Dry cupping
Children age
Elderly age
Wet cupping
Chlidren age
Elderly age
Fire cupping
Contra--indications
Contra
benefits
Safety measures
Flash cupping
apply the cup to the skin, immediately
remove the cup from the skin, then apply
the cup again, repeat the procedure until
the area turns red
This mehtod is often useful on even areas
where the suction cup tends to fall off or
on the face where ecchymosis (marks
from the cupping) is not desirable
Sliding cupping
Has two effects
Cupping
Guasha (scraping)
Before cupping apply a lubricant to the skin – olive oil,
blackseed rub, grapeseed etc
Apply the cup to the skin, pulling the cup back and forth
along the course of a meridian or along a selected line
until a bruise is formed-
formed-then remove cup
This method is usually applied on a wide, flat area where
the muscle is thick
When sliding cupping Is applied pay attention to the
negative pressure of the cupping, which may adjust
differently to your respective patients
How often can cupping be done
Practical application
Herbal cupping
Uses bamboo cups
Infuse the bamboo cups in a decoction of
herbs for a specific condition for half an
hour.
Let stand for 10-
10- 15 minutes so the cups
are not hot
And apply like you apply fire cuppings on
to the area
Cupping sets
Glass cups
Plastic cups
Hygiene
sterilisation
Health maintenance cupping
Use as preventative medicine
In the middle of the month according to the
moon (17, 19 and 21 of the islmaic calendar)
Discuss relation to moon and body
Spots – at the back of the neck (pic)
Between the 2 shoulder blades (pic)
On the two shoulder blades optional (pic)
Best months to have health maintenance is in
spring and autmn
precautions
When the patient is first treated , select a small cup and
use gentle pressure (shorter time frame)
Prohibited for:
Hemophilia, leukemia, malignant anemia, thrombocytopenia
Severe skin allergies, ulceration and edema
Areas close to large vessels, lymph nodes eg. Submaxillary,
cervical, supraclavicular and auxilliary, inyguinal lymph nodes
Pregnancy
Under 3 years old
After cuppign small blisters or spots may appear, which is a
normal reaction to the treatment. If the blisters are very small
they may be left alone. If they are big blisters they should be
pricked from the bottom with a sterilised needle (to drain fluid)
then dressed with gauze to avoid infectionn
Locating B1 B5 and between
shoulder blades
