Procedure of cupping

· The patient is lying on his stomach (if the cups are applied on the back); his head is turned to one side, his hands grab the pillow. If there is hair on the skin it is shaven, the skin is washed with soap and warm water, then it is wiped dry.

· The skin is covered with a thin layer of vaseline (to prevent burns and not to let air inside the cups).

· The burning of alcohol creates rarefaction effect, but the process requires certain skills and practice, because if the flame is too close to the glass or burns too long it can heat the cup and cause burns; at the same time if the flame is too far or lasts too short it will not create rarefaction and the cup will not stick to the skin; if the burning cotton bud contains too much alcohol the drops of burning liquid can fall on the skin and also cause burns. After the cotton bud is dipped into the alcohol the container must be tightly closed and put aside.

The cups are applied to that body part where muscles and fat tissues cover the bones – chest (except for areas of the heart, mammary glands, spine; moles).

Cases when to use cups: inflammatory diseases of pectoral organs, pulmonary processes (bronchitis, pneumonia), neuritis, intercostal neuralgia, myositis.

Contra-indications: high body temperature, malignant neoplasms, hemoptysis, active form of tuberculosis, pulmonary hemorrhage or possibility of its development, skin diseases, weight loss accompanied by the loss of skin elasticity, spasms, strong excitement, unconsciousness, increased skin sensitivity.