Abstract
Abstract
Background/Objective:
The goal of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of fire-cupping and vacuum-cupping, by evaluating local blood perfusion using laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI).
Subjects:
Ten females and 3 males (mean age ± standard deviation 35.5 ± 9.1 years) were enrolled in the experiment.
Intervention:
Using specially developed jars with manometers, each of the volunteers was given traditional fire-cupping on one side of the back first, and the pressure in the jars was measured. Then vacuum-cupping was applied on the other side of the back and the pressure was adjusted to that of the fire-cupping jars. Both jars stayed on each subject's back for 5 minutes. Changes of local capillary perfusion of the body surface were observed with LDPI before applying the jars, immediately after removal of the jars, and 8 minutes and 21 minutes following removal of the jars.
Results:
Elevation of local blood perfusion with vacuum-cupping was of longer duration and more pronounced than that of traditional fire-cupping, but for both methods, the instant efficacy was nearly the same.
Conclusions:
LDPI is a useful method for evaluating cupping effects. Although Chinese patients generally still prefer the traditional method of fire-cupping, the new vacuum-cupping method can enable a more standardized and faster procedure in future.
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