Technique of applying cupping glasses

Equipment: tray (enameled or wooden) that contains 10-16 cups, vaseline, 96% ethanol, any type of fuse, matches, cotton wool.

Steps:

· Before use carefully wash in hot water and wipe dry the cups.

· Check the edges of the cups for any cracks.

· Place the patient in a comfortable position.

· Smear the skin with vaseline.

· Dip the cotton bud into ethanol and squeeze.

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO USE ETHER!

· Put away the bottle with alcohol.

· Fire the cotton bud.

· Take 1-2 cups in the left hand and the cotton bud into the right.

· Holding the cup not far from your body place the burning cotton bud inside it for a moment not touching the glass itself.

· The cup (cups) is then quickly placed on the skin.

· Cover the patient with a blanket.

· Leave the cups for 10-15 minutes.

· Take off the cups by slightly pressing the skin near one edge of the cup and using another hand bend the cup in the opposite direction.

· After that remove vaseline from the skin, cover the patient with a blanket. After the procedure the patient must remain lying for at least one hour.

· Wash the cups and wipe them dry.

Mustard plaster

Active substance is mustard essence (allyl oil) that is a component of mustard and can be extracted from it at 40-45⁰C. This oil causes the irritation of skin receptors and hyperemia, leads to the dilation of blood vessels that are located deeper than inner organs. All this produces painkilling effect, speeds up resolution of some inflammatory processes. Mustard plasters are used for treatment of flu, inflammatory diseases of upper respiratory tracts (rhinitis, pharyngitis), inflammatory processes in lungs (bronchitis, pneumonia), neurologic diseases (myositis, neuralgia), stenocardia, hypertensic crisis.

Standard mustard plasters are sheets of hard paper 8*12,5 cm that are covered with layer of fat-free mustard powder (expiration time 8-10 months); or they can be in the form of pressed filtering white paper that consists of layers and the mustard powder is between these layers. The plaster that can be used should have a strong smell of mustard and undamaged paper layers.

Before application plasters are dipped into hot water (40-45⁰C). If the temperature is higher it will destroy the mustard essence. Mustard plasters are applied for 10-15 minutes; during this time the patient should have a sense of heating and slight burning, the skin will become hyperemic (reddened). If the plasters stay on the skin for too long it can cause burns.

Places of application

· Occiput (acute rhinitis, hypertonic crisis)

· Upper part of the chest (acute tracheitis)

· Interscapular region and beneath scapulas (bronchitis, pneumonia)

· Gastrocnemius muscle (effective in cases of acute inflammatory process of upper respiratory tracts)

Contra-indications: skin diseases (pyodermititis, neurodermatitis, eczema), fever (higher than 38⁰C), (possible) pulmonary hemorrhage, malignant neoplasms.