Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
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An Experimental Study on the Pressure Range of Fire Cupping Method

  • An, Soo Kwang (School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Ku Weon (School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lee, Ha Lim (School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lee, Tae Wook (School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Eun Seok (Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lee, Byung Ryul (Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Yang, Gi Young (Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University)
  • Received : 2021.05.28
  • Accepted : 2021.07.06
  • Published : 2021.08.31
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Abstract

Background: Standardized procedures for the clinical application of fire cupping methods have not been established. In particular, the pressure parameters have not been fully characterized and described. Therefore, using various materials, this study investigated the pressure range exerted during fire cupping therapy. Methods: In this study, 3 differently sized (small, medium, large) glass and bamboo cups were used in the cotton ball fire cupping procedure to measure the pressure inside the cup applied to a human skin model. The pressure in each cup was measured 15 times for a total of 90 measurements. Results: A small bamboo cup had the minimum overall pressure (-305.4 mmHg), whereas the large glass cup exerted the maximum pressure (-401.3 mmHg), followed by the medium glass cup, large bamboo cup, small glass cup, and medium bamboo cup. The average pressure exerted by the cotton ball method for all cups ranged from -348.715 mmHg to -358.694 mmHg (95% confidence interval). Overall, the glass cups had a greater pressure than the bamboo cups in all groups (p < 0.001). Among the glass cups used, the larger the size of the cup, the higher the average pressure detected (-381.947 mmHg to -391.973 mmHg; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Large glass cups which are widely used in clinical practice, when used in the fire cupping method exerted pressure ranging from -381.947 mmHg to -391.973 mmHg (95% CI).

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean government (no.: NRF-2019R1F1A1051568).

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