There are many types of cupping equipment used, which are generally divided into two categories: traditional cupping equipment and new cupping equipment according to clinical use.
The traditional cans are named according to the materials used, including animal horn cans, bamboo cans, ceramic cans, glass cans, rubber cans, plastic cans, pumping cans, metal cans 8, respectively, by the animal horns (such as cow horns, goat horns), bamboo, clay, glass, rubber, plastic, metal (eg, iron, aluminum, copper, etc.) made. At present, in the folk and grass-roots medical units are still commonly used bamboo cans, ceramic cans, glass cans of three kinds, animal horn cans in remote mountainous areas there are still a few people use; metal cans due to fast heat conduction, too bulky, has been eliminated.
The new canisters are divided into electric canisters, magnetic therapy canisters, infrared canisters, ultraviolet canisters, laser canisters, iontophoresis canisters and so on, but these canisters due to the high cost, the use of complex, currently limited to a small number of medical departments to use, failed to comprehensively popularize and promote.
(1) animal horn cans: is made of cattle, sheep and other animal horns, the top ground into a hole. Used for sucking exhaust. At present, remote areas of our country still have the habit of cupping with animal horns.
(2) bamboo cans: With the exhaust method is different, the selection of materials, production is also different. Bamboo fire cans because of the fire exhaust, must be selected solid mature old bamboo to make. The old mature bamboo material texture is solid, withstand the fire baked and not deformed, not leakage. Bamboo water cans, because of the water or liquid cooking cans, steam exhaust, to choose not yet mature but also not green and tender texture of solid bamboo production. The advantages of bamboo cans are convenient, simple to make, lightweight and durable, portable, affordable, not easy to break. The disadvantage is that it is easy to crack and leakage, opaque, can not observe the skin changes in the jar.
(3) ceramic cans: made of fired clay, the mouth and bottom of the flat, smooth inside and outside, thick and thin, this can be applied to the fire exhaust method.
(4) glass jars: made of heat-resistant glass, the cavity of the mouth is small, the edge of the mouth of the jar slightly protruding outward. According to the diameter of the mouth and cavity size, can be divided into large, medium and small 3 types of models, mostly used for fire exhaust method, especially suitable for walking canning method and acupuncture after cupping method. Its advantages are beautiful shape, clear and transparent, easy to cupping in the can outside the observation of skin changes, so as to master the cupping time, is currently the most widely used cans; shortcomings are fast heat conduction, easy to burn, easy to break.
(5) rubber cans: made of rubber with good expansion and contraction properties. The caliber is small enough to be used for ear acupuncture points and large enough to cover the entire body. Its shape varies according to clinical needs. It is used for the pumping method. Advantage is that sterilization is convenient, not broken, applicable to the ear, nose, eyes, scalp, wrists and ankles and slightly uneven and other special parts of the cupping; disadvantage is that the price is high, but also can not be observed inside the can skin changes.
(6) plastic cans: pressed with heat-resistant plastic. Its specifications are similar to glass jars. Advantage is not easy to break, lightweight and portable; disadvantage is that you can not observe the changes in the tank, and easy to age and deformation.
(7) pumping cans: made of Plexiglas or transparent engineering plastics, using the top piston to control the pumping exhaust. The advantages of pumping cans are no ignition, will not burn, safe and reliable, pumping volume and suction force can be controlled; automatic deflation cans without pain; can body transparent, easy to observe the suction parts of the skin congestion, easy to grasp the cupping time. Pumping cans is a major breakthrough in the improvement of traditional cans, is now widely used by clinicians cans, to the family and personal self-popularization and promotion opened up a broad prospect.
(8) metal cans: made of copper or iron, aluminum, stainless steel and other metal materials. Specifications and model requirements are generally similar to ceramic cans, glass cans. Used for fire exhaust method. Its advantages of sterilization convenience, will not break; disadvantages are high manufacturing price, fast heat transfer, easy to burn the skin, can not observe the cupping parts of the skin changes.
In addition, in the absence of special cans or in sudden emergencies, cupping therapy can be used with readily available surrogate cans, such as teacups, wine cups, empty medicine bottles, canning jars, bowls, etc., as long as the mouth is flat and smooth, heat-resistant, and able to produce a certain degree of suction and extraction of appliances can be used for cupping.
As for the new types of canning apparatus developed on the basis of traditional canning apparatus with modern medical technology, since the application is mostly limited to the medical sector, it is omitted here, and interested readers can refer to the relevant specialized books.
Jars