Wet cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves making small incisions on the skin and using suction cups to draw out blood and toxins from the body. It is believed to provide fast relief for various health issues like pain, skin conditions, respiratory illnesses, and more. The document traces the history and development of cupping, provides safety guidelines and contraindications, and describes the wet cupping procedure and its benefits for relaxing the patient and purging toxins.

1. Wet Cupping
fastest way of healing
Satyen Bhattacharyya
Associate Professor : BIMLS, Bardhaman
Ex Physiotherapist : Sports Authority of India Bardhaman

2. • The word “cupping” was derived from the Arabic verbs
“Hajama” and “Haj’jama” which they mean “to minimize”
or “to restore to basic size”, or “to diminish in volume”
• In Arabic they say, “A certain person diminished the
problem”, they meant that he returned the problem to its
original size.
• There is also a verb “ahjama” which means “to withdraw
or retreat from attack”.

3. • Drawings on the entrance of one of the
tombs in Luxor, Egypt, clearly show a
cupping set, most probably made of glass,
among other medical instruments

4. • Cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine
which relief pain instantly. It is broadly used
in several countries in the world as a
popular method of treatment.
• Cupping was not the earlier name, it was
known as ‘horn therapy’ as it was applied
with cattle horn. Negative suction inside the
horn was created by the cupping
practitioner.

5. • It was then replaced by the bamboo and then by the
glass cups. Cattle horn are still in use in some parts of
Africa to expel poison from bites. When cattle horn was
replaced by the glass cups, fire came into the picture to
create negative energy and expel the air

6. Huijuan Cao, Mei Han, Xun Li, Shangjuan Dong, Yongmei Shang, Qian Wang, Shu Xu and Jianping Li
• Clinical research evidence of cupping therapy in
China: a systematic literature review
Selection of intervention

8. This is a draining cupping and was most popular in the
ancient time in Middle East & European countries.
This method is the fastest to give relaxation to the
patient. Toxic substances in form of blood seem to purge
out from the patient’s body.

9. Contraindication
• Children
• Elderly
• Frail

10. Indication
• Asthma
• Shortness of breath
• Hair loss
• Skin purpura
• Frozen shoulder
• Hemiplegia
• Eczema
• Acne
• Gout
• Blood stasis
• Hypertension
• Insect bites
• Fibromyalgia
• Sports injuries
• Blood poisoning

11. Safety measures
• Assess for vital strength or Qi
• Be careful in pregnant and elderly patient
• The practitioner should have the patient
sitting on a chair, resting and supporting
his head on a pillow in front of him

12. Item required
• Surgical blade, plum blossom needle
• Cup with suction unit
• T - Bact ointment
• Gauze
• Micro pore

13. Procedure
• There are 3 way to make incision
1. Surgical blade
2. Dry Needle
3. Plum blossom needle

14. • First demark the area of cupping. It can be done by
applying weak cupping prior to incision. Most preferable
is Du – 14 for wet cupping.
• Patient position – sitting is preferable, prone also
• Then make several incision in shorter period of time &
remember about the bleeding time (1 to 9 min) & clotting
time (8 to 15 min). So the whole process should be
completed within 9 to 15 min

15. Du-14 Dazhui (great vertebrae)
• Location: On the posterior median
line, in the depression below the
spinous process of the 7th cervical
vertebra. Underneath muscle -
trapezius
• Indications:
• Febrile disease, malaria, hectic fever,
and night sweats
• Aversion to cold, common cold,
redness, swelling and pain of the eye,
neck rigidity and pain
• Epilepsy
• Cough
• Functions: Clears Heat, releases the
Exterior, dispels Wind, regulates Wei
and Ying Qi, treats malaria.
• Notes: Du 14 it is a main point in
treating Summer Heat.

16. • Generally 20ml to 100ml (don’t allow more
than that in single session) blood collected
in the cup. 100ml of blood can be collected
in 5 to 8 min, and that is the maximum
time of treatment
• At the time of removal be careful with
hygiene

17. Article on Cupping in
PHYSIOTIMES
VOL 9, ISSUE 1

20. Refrences
• References
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy 3rd edition by ILKAY ZIHNI CHIRALI MBAcC RCHM
• Qayyim Al-Jauziyah (2003). Abdullah, Abdul Rahman (formerly Raymond J. Manderola), ed. Healing with
the Medicine of the Prophet. ISBN 978-9960892917.
• www.acupuncture.org.uk
• http://www.ib3health.com/products/SuctionCupping/Literature/TypesofCupping.shtml
• https://puretherapyclinic.wordpress.com/tag/flash-cupping/
• http://drmeelainling.com/cupping/
• A Tooth from the Tiger’s Mouth by Tom Bisio
• http://www.lovieacupuncture.com/cupping/
• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/City-soaring-high-on-cupping/articleshow/53806788.cms
• Essential of Medical Physiology 6th edition by K Sembulingam&PremaSembulingam
• Encyclopedia of Cupping Therapy by Izharul H
• The Art of Cupping by Courtney Dawson
• Cupping Therapy by Steve Smalls 2016
• Mohammad AminSheikho. Cupping: A prophetical medicine appears in its new scientific perspective
(Kindle Locations 39-41). Kindle Edition
• Hijama by NajatHaddouch Kindle Edition
•