When performing scraping, hold the scraping board and dip it in lubricant. Apply even pressure in a specific direction on the scraped area of the patient's body. Generally, use wrist strength and adjust the force of scraping based on the patient's condition and response, until petechiae appear under the skin.
(I) Methods of Operation
There are horizontal scraping, vertical scraping, diagonal scraping, and angular scraping.
(1) Horizontal scraping: Use the flat edge of the scraping board to perform large-scale parallel scraping in a specific direction on the scraped area.
(2) Vertical scraping: Use the flat edge of the scraping board to perform large-scale parallel scraping in a vertical up and down direction on the scraped area.
(3) Diagonal scraping: Use the flat edge of the scraping board to perform diagonal scraping on the scraped area. This method is mainly suitable for areas where horizontal or diagonal scraping cannot be performed.
(4) Angular scraping: Use the angular or edge of the scraping board to perform small-scale scraping or scraping on grooves, hollows, or concave areas on the scraped area.
(II) Tonifying and purging techniques
Scraping therapy can be divided into tonifying method, purging method, and balanced tonifying and purging method. Tonifying and purging are two opposing and interconnected techniques, which are influenced by factors such as the intensity of scraping force, speed, duration, length, and direction of scraping.
1. Tonifying method
Scraping methods with the following characteristics are considered tonifying methods.
(1) Short stimulation time and shallow effect, which stimulates the skin, muscles, and cells;
(2) Long-lasting mild stimulation that can activate the physiological functions of organs;
(3) Slow scraping speed;
(4) Fewer selected petechiae;
(5) Scraping along the direction of meridians;
(6) Apply moxibustion after scraping.
2. Purging method
Scraping methods with the following characteristics are considered purging methods.
(1) Prolonged stimulation with strong intensity, which has an inhibitory effect on the skin, muscles, and cells;
(2) Short-lasting strong stimulation that can suppress the physiological functions of organs;
(3) Fast scraping speed;
(4) More selected petechiae;
(5) Scraping against the direction of meridians;
(6) Apply cupping after scraping.
3. Balanced tonifying and purging method
There are three specific methods that fall between tonifying and purging methods.
(1) Scraping with greater pressure and slower speed;
(2) Scraping with lesser pressure and faster speed;
(3) Scraping with moderate pressure and speed.
