Horn-made cups
Made from cow horns or sheep horns. Use a saw to cut off the pointed top of the horn, leaving 1-2cm of solid part at the bottom as the cup base. Saw the mouth end to make it flat and smooth. The length is about 10cm, and the diameter of the cup mouth is divided into three sizes: 6cm, 5cm, and 4cm. Its advantage is durability.
Bamboo cups
Made from solid and mature bamboo with a diameter of 3-5cm. Cut the bamboo into sections, leaving a node at one end and removing the node at the other end to make the mouth of the cup. Polish the cup mouth to make it smooth, and remove the old skin around it. The cup is slightly thicker in the middle and slightly thinner at both ends, resembling a drum. The length is about 10cm, and the diameter of the cup mouth is divided into three sizes: 5cm, 4cm, and 3cm. Its advantage is being lightweight and inexpensive. It is not easy to break; however, it is prone to drying and cracking, leaks air, and has weak adsorption force. It is not easy to observe changes in the skin.
Ceramic cups
Made from fired clay, shaped like a mortar, with a smooth cup mouth, bulging body, and slightly thinner bottom. It is available in three sizes: large, medium, and small. Its advantage is strong suction; however, it is prone to breakage and not easy to observe changes in the skin.
Glass cups
Glass cups are the most commonly used in households. They are available in various sizes and can be found in the equipment cabinets of major pharmacies. They are made of glass and generally come in three sizes: large, medium, and small. They are spherical in shape, with an open bottom and a wide mouth. The advantage is that the cup mouth is smooth and transparent, allowing for observation of the congestion and degree of blood stasis in the cupping area. However, they are prone to being easily shattered and damaged.
Squeeze cups
There are two common types of squeeze cups: combination type and assembly type. The combination type consists of a glass suction tube and a rubber bulb. The assembly type consists of a rubber bag and rubber tube with a switch, connected to a glass or transparent plastic cup. The advantages are no need for ignition, no risk of burns, safe to use, simple method, smooth cup mouth, and easy observation.
Vacuum cups
Vacuum cups are commonly made from gentamicin or streptomycin bottles. The bottom of the bottle is ground to form a smooth cup mouth, and the rubber stopper at the bottle neck is kept intact for suction. Ready-made vacuum guns are also available in the equipment cabinets of pharmacies. They are made of organic glass or transparent engineering plastic, shaped like a pendulum clock, and have a piston on top for suction. The advantages are no need for ignition, no risk of burns, safe to use, adjustable negative pressure inside the cup, control of suction force, and easy observation. It is the most suitable vacuum cup for home use.
