Part 6 of 6 in the "what is cupping" series. Part 1 is what cupping is; part 2 is what happens in one session; part 3 is how the three methods differ; part 4 is the marks; part 5 is which situations to tell your practitioner about.

"Can I shower straight after? Can I go back to the office and sit in the aircon?" These are two questions that come up often once the cups come off.

The short answer first. The Taiwan folk-practice manual's wording is: no bathing within 30 minutes. The manual gives no reason — and this part says plainly why that gap is there.

The short version

• No bathing within 30 minutes after cupping — that figure is the Taiwan folk-practice manual's.
• In TCM theory the pores are open after cupping and wind and cold get in easily, so the practices the theory attaches are keeping warm and staying out of draughts — that is Kiang Wu Hospital's Chinese medicine department.
• The same page lists five points: avoid wind and air-conditioning draughts, keep the skin clean and dry, rest, eat light, do not scratch.
• Cupping the same area again is best spaced at least 3 days apart, and depends on the skin colour and the person's condition — the Taiwan manual.
• "No cold water that day" is a general practice extended from the theory's concern, not a figure any page writes.

First, the things that cannot wait

If burns, blisters, broken skin, severe pain, or signs of infection develop at the cupping site, please contact your practitioner. If you experience fever, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, call 999 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

If you are experiencing seizures, loss of consciousness, or high fever, call 999 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, rather than considering cupping.

The full list, and the reason for each, are in part 5. TCM and Western medicine complement each other; it is not a choice between them.

A note: this section is general information only. For conditions like these, follow your doctor's diagnosis and treatment, and seek medical attention when you need it.

I. What the theory says, and the five practices it attaches

In TCM theory, after acupuncture or cupping the body's pores are in an open state and it is easy for wind and cold to get in — that is Kiang Wu Hospital's Chinese medicine department's account. So the practices the theory attaches are keeping warm and staying out of draughts. The same page lists these points:

• ① Avoid direct wind and air-conditioning draughts, keep time in cold environments short, and adjust clothing to the weather.
• ② Keep the skin clean and dry to avoid infection. If the skin is broken after the cups come off, cover it with a sterile dressing — that sentence is a requirement of China's national TCM administration's infection-control guideline.
• ③ Rest: avoid overexertion and strenuous exercise.
• ④ Eat light: avoid spicy, oily and cold or raw foods, and drink adequate water. The Taiwan folk-practice manual adds: no cold or raw food straight after cupping; Puli Christian Hospital: drink a cup of warm water, and never iced water.
• ⑤ Do not scratch.

All five points above come from that Kiang Wu page; the sterile-dressing sentence in ② is the national TCM administration's infection-control guideline's.

II. Showering: the 30 minutes, and why the manual gives no reason

Showering. The Taiwan folk-practice manual's wording: no bathing within 30 minutes. The manual gives no reason.

Among the pages this article cites, the nearest explanation is Kiang Wu Hospital's line: after cupping the pores are in an open state and it is easy for wind and cold to get in — but that sentence is about draughts and cold environments, not bathing.

So "no cold shower" is a general practice extended from the theory's concern (catching cold): warm water that day, no cold showers, no cold-water soaking; dry off and keep warm afterwards.

This is practice, not a promise of a result; if your practitioner gives you a different timing, follow theirs.

Before cupping, the advice runs the other way: shower beforehand and keep the skin clean — that is China's national TCM administration's infection-control guideline's advice.

How often. The Taiwan folk-practice manual: cupping the same area again is best spaced at least 3 days apart, and depends on the skin colour and the person's condition. Whether there is a second session and how far apart — that is the decision of the practitioner who has seen you. Follow their written instructions.

III. Fitting it into Malaysian life

• The air-conditioned office: going straight back to sit under the vent is what Kiang Wu Hospital's "avoid direct air-conditioning draughts" looks like day to day in Malaysia. Put on a jacket, or turn the vent away.
• Riding home on a motorbike: wind straight onto a freshly cupped back. Bring a jacket, or take a Grab that day.
• Kopi peng, teh ais: no cold or raw food straight after cupping — that is the Taiwan manual's wording; make it warm that day and go back to iced the next.
• Pool, beach, cold shower: skip them that day — this is the Malaysian version of "no cold-water soaking". No shower within 30 minutes is the Taiwan folk-practice manual's number; the rest is usual practice.
• The pharmacy (Guardian, Watsons): sterile gauze is what Puli Christian Hospital recommends for covering a blister; a large blister is covered with a sterile dressing — the Taiwan manual's wording. The pharmacy stocks both.
• Cupping during confinement: tell the practitioner at the start that you are postnatal or breastfeeding (part 5).
• Klinik Kesihatan or a clinic: for the non-emergency situations in part 5 — a large blister, bruising that does not fade, signs of infection (the sources for these three are in part 4's table) — the nearest government clinic is the door to knock on; fever, dizziness or difficulty breathing is still 999.
• Home cupping sets from online shops or direct sellers: this article is about cupping performed by a TCM practitioner. The retention times and cautions are not written for self-use.

The words in this part

All four come from the sources quoted above.

• Cupping marks (罐印) — the red, round marks left on the skin after cupping. That is how Cleveland Clinic describes them; why they fade and how long they last is part 4.
• Bruising (瘀斑) — the word Kiang Wu Hospital's Chinese medicine department uses for the marks, explaining that it is caused by the negative pressure rupturing the capillaries under the skin, which bleed.
• Cup retention (留罐, 留罐法) — leaving the cup in place after suction, which is the method people usually mean by "cupping". That is the WHO's standard terminology for TCM. "No bathing within 30 minutes" above is about the time after cup retention.
• Sterile dressing (无菌敷料) — China's national TCM administration's infection-control guideline requires that if the skin is broken after the cups come off, it is covered with a sterile dressing. The term means a dressing that has been sterilised, used to cover broken skin — that sentence is this article's plain rendering; the guideline gives no separate definition. The "sterile gauze" sold at a pharmacy is what Puli Christian Hospital recommends for covering a blister.

Frequently asked

Can I shower straight after cupping? The Taiwan folk-practice manual's number is: no bathing within 30 minutes. The manual gives no reason for the 30 minutes. The usual practice is warm water that day, no cold showers, no cold-water soaking; dry off and keep warm. If your practitioner gives you a different timing, follow theirs.

Can I sit in air-conditioning after cupping? Kiang Wu Hospital's advice is to avoid direct wind and air-conditioning draughts, keep time in cold environments short, and keep warm. In Malaysian terms: do not sit directly under the vent, put on a jacket, or turn the vent away.

Do not: cup the same spot two days running to "make it work better". The same area is best spaced at least 3 days apart — that is the Taiwan manual's wording.

The other five parts

• Part 1: What cupping is: negative pressure, four common methods, and what TCM theory says
• Part 2: What actually happens in one session: minutes, cups, and what it feels like
• Part 3: Cup retention, sliding cupping and wet cupping: what actually differs, and what each requires
• Part 4: The marks: what they are, why they fade, and how long they last
• Part 5: Situations to tell your practitioner about first, or to see a doctor about first

👉 If you are unsure whether cupping is suitable for your situation, you are welcome to book an online consultation with HansMed, where a practitioner registered under the T&CM Act 2016 can assess it with you. Cupping is an in-person procedure; the in-person service is coming soon.

Sit with a licensed TCM practitioner from wherever you are.

HansMed Modern TCM

Sources

• Kiang Wu Hospital (Macau), Department of Chinese Medicine, What to be careful of after acupuncture and cupping — https://www.kwh.org.mo/kwh/article/4205
• Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Department of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, operating manual for guasha and cupping in the folk-conditioning trade, page updated 18 December 2025 — https://dep.mohw.gov.tw/docmap/cp-4389-39605-108.html
• Puli Christian Hospital, Department of Nursing, Understanding Cupping Therapy, leaflet T220, dated October 2022 — https://www.pch.org.tw/health_info.php?id=56
• National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and National Health and Family Planning Commission (China), Guideline for the prevention and control of infection related to TCM medical techniques (trial) — http://www.natcm.gov.cn/bangongshi/zhengcewenjian/2018-03-24/838.html
• Cleveland Clinic, Cupping Therapy: Definition, Types & Benefits, last updated 06/07/2023 — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16554-cupping
• World Health Organization, WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine, 2022 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042322

本文是「拔罐是什么」系列的第 6 篇，共 6 篇。第 1 篇讲拔罐是什么，第 2 篇讲一次拔罐会发生什么，第 3 篇讲三种做法差在哪里，第 4 篇讲罐印，第 5 篇讲哪些情况要先告诉医师。

「拔完可以马上洗澡吗？可以直接回办公室吹冷气吗？」这两句是拔完常被问到的。

先给答案。 台湾的民俗调理操作手册写的是：30 分钟内不宜沐浴。手册没有写理由——这一篇也会说清楚它为什么没写。

一分钟看完

• 拔罐后 30 分钟内不宜沐浴——台湾的民俗调理操作手册的数字。
• 中医理论认为拔罐后毛孔张开、容易受风寒，所以理论附带的做法是保暖和避风——澳门镜湖医院中医科这么写。
• 同一页列了五条：避免吹风吹空调、皮肤清洁干燥、注意休息、饮食清淡、不要搔抓。
• 同一部位再拔，以间隔 3 日以上为宜，且需依皮肤颜色和身体状况而定——台湾的那份手册。
• 「当天不冲冷水」是从理论的顾虑延伸出来的一般做法，不是哪一页写的数字。

先说不能等的几件事

若拔罐部位出现烫伤、水泡、破皮、剧烈疼痛或感染迹象，请联络您的医师。若出现发烧、晕眩或呼吸困难，请立刻拨打 999，或前往最近的医院急诊部。

若您有抽搐、意识不清或高烧的情况，请立刻拨打 999，或前往最近的医院急诊部，而不是考虑拔罐。

完整清单与每一项的理由，见第 5 篇。中医与西医是互相补位的关系，不是二选一。

小提醒：本段仅为一般知识说明。相关情况请以西医的诊断与治疗为主，并在需要时及时就医。

一、理论说的，和它附带的五条做法

中医理论认为，针灸拔罐后身体的毛孔处于张开状态，此时容易受到风寒侵袭——澳门镜湖医院中医科的说法。所以理论附带的做法，是保暖和避风。同一页列的注意事项是这几条：

• ① 避免直接吹风、吹空调，尽量减少在寒冷环境停留，按天气增减衣物。
• ② 保持皮肤清洁干燥，避免感染。起罐后如有皮肤破损，用无菌敷料覆盖——这一句是中国国家中医药管理局的感染防控指南的要求。
• ③ 注意休息：避免过度劳累和剧烈运动。
• ④ 饮食清淡，避免辛辣、油腻、生冷，适量饮水。台湾的民俗调理操作手册另写：拔罐后不宜马上吃生冷食物；埔里基督教医院写：喝一杯温开水，切忌喝冰水。
• ⑤ 不要搔抓。

上面五条都出自镜湖医院中医科那一页；②里「用无菌敷料覆盖」那一句出自中国国家中医药管理局的感染防控指南。

二、洗澡：30 分钟，以及手册为什么没写理由

洗澡。 台湾的民俗调理操作手册写的是：30 分钟内不宜沐浴。手册没有写理由。

本文引用的资料里，最接近的解释是镜湖医院那句：拔罐后毛孔处于张开状态，容易受到风寒侵袭——但它说的是吹风和寒冷环境，不是洗澡。

所以「不冲冷水」是从理论的顾虑（受寒）延伸出来的一般做法：当天用温水、不冲冷水、不泡冷水，洗完擦干、注意保暖。

这是做法，不是结果的保证；医师若给了不同的时间，以医师的为准。

拔罐前，反过来是建议先洗澡、保持皮肤清洁——这是中国国家中医药管理局的感染防控指南的建议。

多久一次。 台湾的民俗调理操作手册：相同部位拔罐以间隔 3 日以上为宜，且需依皮肤颜色和身体状况而定。要不要做第二次、隔多久，由看过您的医师决定——以医师的书面指示为准。

三、大马生活里怎么安排

• 冷气房：拔完直接回办公室、坐在出风口正下方，就是镜湖医院那条「避免直接吹空调」在大马的日常形态。披件外套，或把出风口调开。
• 骑摩托回家：风直接吹在刚拔过的背上。带件外套，或那天改搭车。
• Kopi peng、teh ais：拔罐后不宜马上吃生冷——台湾的那份手册写的；当天换温的，隔天再喝冰的。
• 泳池、海边、冷水澡：当天跳过——这是「不泡冷水」在大马的版本。30 分钟内不沐浴是台湾的民俗调理操作手册的数字，其余是一般做法。
• 药剂行（Guardian、Watsons）：灭菌纱布是埔里基督教医院建议用来盖水泡的东西；水泡过大则用无菌敷料覆盖——台湾的那份手册写的。两样药剂行都买得到。
• 坐月子期间想拔罐：把产后、哺乳的情况一开始就告诉医师（第 5 篇）。
• Klinik Kesihatan 或诊所：第 5 篇里不属于急症的情况——水泡过大、瘀血不退、感染迹象（这几项的来源见第 4 篇的表）——最近的政府诊所就是入口；发烧、晕眩、呼吸困难那一项仍是 999。
• 网购或直销的家用拔罐器：本文说的是由中医师操作的拔罐。留罐时间与禁忌，不是给自行操作用的。

这篇出现的几个词

四个词都来自上面引用的资料。

• 罐印（cupping marks）——拔罐后皮肤上留下的红色、圆形印记。克利夫兰诊所这样描述它；为什么会消、多久消，见第 4 篇。
• 瘀斑——镜湖医院中医科对罐印的用词，并说明它是负压吸引导致皮下毛细血管破裂出血所致。
• 留罐（留罐法）——罐吸住后留在原位，是一般说「拔罐」时指的那一种。世界卫生组织的中医术语标准这样定义。上面「30 分钟内不沐浴」说的就是留罐之后。
• 无菌敷料（sterile dressing）——中国国家中医药管理局的感染防控指南要求：起罐后如有皮肤破损，用无菌敷料覆盖。这个词指的是已经灭菌、用来覆盖破损皮肤的敷料——这一句是本文的平白说法，指南没有另给定义。药剂行里卖的「灭菌纱布」是埔里基督教医院建议用来盖水泡的东西。

常见问题

拔罐后可以马上洗澡吗？ 台湾的民俗调理操作手册的数字是：30 分钟内不宜沐浴。30 分钟的理由，手册没写。一般做法是当天温水、不冲冷水、不泡冷水，洗完擦干、注意保暖。医师若给了不同的时间，以医师的为准。

拔罐后可以吹冷气吗？ 镜湖医院中医科的注意事项是：避免直接吹风、吹空调，尽量减少在寒冷环境停留，注意保暖。在大马的日常做法：别坐在出风口正下方，披件外套，或把出风口调开。

不要这样做： 不要为了「让效果好一点」而在同一个部位连着两天拔。相同部位以间隔 3 日以上为宜——台湾的那份手册写的。

这个系列的另外五篇

• 第 1 篇：拔罐是什么：负压、四种常见做法，以及中医理论怎么说
• 第 2 篇：一次拔罐实际会发生什么：几分钟、几个罐、什么感觉
• 第 3 篇：留罐、走罐、刺络拔罐：实际差在哪里，各要求什么
• 第 4 篇：罐印是什么，为什么会消，多久消
• 第 5 篇：这些情况请先告诉医师，或先就医

👉 如果您不确定「以我的情况，到底适不适合拔罐」，欢迎透过汉方中医的线上问诊，由依 2016 年 T&CM 法令注册的医师为您评估。拔罐是亲诊的操作，线下亲诊服务即将推出。

无论身在何处，与持证中医师对坐。

汉方现代中医

资料来源

• 澳门镜湖医院 中医科，〈针灸、拔罐后，有甚么注意事项？〉 — https://www.kwh.org.mo/kwh/article/4205
• 台湾卫生福利部中医药司，《民俗调理刮痧拔罐操作手册》，页面更新 2025 年 12 月 18 日 — https://dep.mohw.gov.tw/docmap/cp-4389-39605-108.html
• 埔里基督教医院 护理部，〈认识拔罐疗法〉，编码 T220，制作日期 2022 年 10 月 — https://www.pch.org.tw/health_info.php?id=56
• 国家中医药管理局、国家卫生计生委，《中医医疗技术相关性感染预防与控制指南（试行）》 — http://www.natcm.gov.cn/bangongshi/zhengcewenjian/2018-03-24/838.html
• Cleveland Clinic，Cupping Therapy: Definition, Types & Benefits，最后更新 2023 年 6 月 7 日 — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16554-cupping
• 世界卫生组织，WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine，2022 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042322