CHP Wet Cupping Techniques & Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the typical duration for which a cup is left in place during the initial suction phase before incisions?
- 30 seconds to 1 minute
- 3–5 minutes (Correct answer)
- 10–15 minutes
- 20–30 minutes
Correct answer: 3–5 minutes
The initial suction phase typically lasts 3–5 minutes to adequately raise the skin and increase local blood flow before incisions are made.
Question 2: When treating the upper back with wet cupping, which anatomical landmark helps the practitioner avoid the spine?
- The iliac crest
- The spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae (Correct answer)
- The scapular spine
- The clavicle
Correct answer: The spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae
Practitioners use the spinous processes as a midline reference to place cups lateral to the spine and avoid direct spinal contact.
Question 3: Which cup size is most appropriate for cupping on smaller or curved body areas such as the neck or ankle?
- Large (size 3–4)
- Medium (size 2)
- Small (size 0–1) (Correct answer)
- Extra-large (size 5)
Correct answer: Small (size 0–1)
Small cups (size 0–1) conform better to contoured or smaller anatomical areas and create effective suction.
Question 4: After completing wet cupping, what should be applied to the incision sites to promote healing?
- Petroleum jelly only
- A sterile dressing or natural oil such as black seed oil after cleaning (Correct answer)
- No treatment; leave sites open to air
- Ice pack directly on incisions
Correct answer: A sterile dressing or natural oil such as black seed oil after cleaning
After cleaning, incision sites are typically covered with a sterile dressing or a traditional healing agent such as black seed oil.
Question 5: How many cups are typically used in a single wet cupping session for a standard adult patient?
- 1–2 cups maximum
- 3–7 cups, depending on the area and condition (Correct answer)
- 10–12 cups routinely
- As many cups as fit on the back
Correct answer: 3–7 cups, depending on the area and condition
Most protocols recommend 3–7 cups per session to avoid excessive blood loss and patient fatigue.
Question 6: What color of extracted fluid during wet cupping may indicate older, stagnant blood according to traditional hijama theory?
- Bright red
- Clear yellow
- Dark red to black (Correct answer)
- Pink-tinged
Correct answer: Dark red to black
Dark red to black fluid is traditionally described as stagnant or congested blood, considered the primary target of hijama therapy.
Question 7: What minimum time interval is generally recommended between wet cupping sessions on the same body area?
- 24 hours
- 3–4 days
- At least 2–4 weeks (Correct answer)
- One week exactly
Correct answer: At least 2–4 weeks
Allowing 2–4 weeks between sessions on the same site ensures complete skin healing and tissue recovery.
CHP Wet Cupping Techniques & Procedures 3
What is the typical duration for which a cup is left in place during the initial suction phase before incisions?