Research Cupping Skin Temperature Variation Within And Outside Of The Tank

Cupping is a widely used medical method around the world. Previous studies discovered that Cupping can affect an individual’s body surface temperature. However, there are only a small number of researches for the surface temperature changes caused by cupping, especially detect the range of temperature variations’ affect. In addition, little research of how personal background factors affect the efficacy of cupping, such as gender, height, weight, body fat, etc. The time required for the Cupping operation and the shape of the cup both still need to be studied, discussed and improved.Objective:In this study, through complete the records of the surface temperature’s dynamic changes, which are effect by Cupping. Explore the regular pattern of temperature variation. Calculate the range of the surfaces which are effect by temperature changes. Identify the optimal time period for cupping. Compare the temperature changes and participants’ degree of pain caused by different thickness of the cups’ rim. And make recommendation of the shape of cup.Methods:Recruit42cases of qualified healthy volunteers.Randomly divided into group A and group B for experiment, the respective numbers of two groups are34and8.Combine the use of thermocouple sensor and infrared video camera to record the temperature variation inside and around the cup.Group A:Adsorb two different kinds of cup on the subject’s ST32. Take away the cup after15minutes. Continue to record the temperature value for15minutes. Recording time of the temperature variation value is30minutes.Group B:Adsorb two different kinds of cup on the subject’s ST32. Take away the cup after15minutes. Continue to record the temperature value for90minutes. Recording time of the temperature variation value is105minutes.Repeat experiment procedure a week later. Adsorb two different kinds of cup on the subject’s ST32. Take away the cup after20minutes. Continue to record the temperature value for90minutes. Recording time of the temperature variation value is115minutes. Results:Cupping causes skin surface of the following three major temperature variations: Temperature increase (P<0.001), temperature decrease (P<0.001) and temperature increase again (P<0.001). The average of temperature increase again is significantly higher than initial temperature (P<0.05). The length of Stomach Meridian’s temperature change is significantly greater than the diameter of the cup (P<001).Difference of cup rim’s thickness compare to the temperature variation does not appear significant effect. However, the cup which has thicker rim, has significant bigger surface range of temperature changes (P<0.05). And the pain degree it caused has significantly reduce pain degree (P<0.001).The length of different cupping time to both temperature variation and the surface range of temperature variation have no significant difference (P>0.05). The difference of gender, body weight, body fat ratio, subcutaneous thigh fat and thigh circumference are also produced no significant effect to temperature variation and the surface range of temperature variation (P>0.05).Conclusion:Cupping only needs certain time to cause body surface temperature variations and promote blood circulation improvement. The variation region is significant distribute at the lower limbs along long axis of limb. The increase of can rim thickness have better effect. The effect Individual differences such as gender, body weight, body fat ratio, partial body fat and circumference, etc. cause little effect on temperature variations.