• Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.375-379
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• 2018

Background and aim: Heavy metals have been recognized as toxins for centuries. Cupping therapy has been shown to aid in the excretion of accumulated fluids and toxins from the interstitial fluid. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of wet cupping therapy on blood levels of heavy metals. Methods: Thirteen healthy male individuals [mean age ${\pm}$ standard deviation, $28.47{\pm}6.18$] participated in this study. Venous blood samples were collected 5 min before and 30 days after the wet cupping therapy. Five points of the posterior neck and bilateral perispinal areas of the neck and thoracic spine were selected for cupping therapy. The levels of aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The levels of heavy metals (Al, Zn, and Cd) after cupping therapy were significantly lower than the levels before therapy. Conclusions: These results suggest that wet cupping therapy has an excretory effect on the kidney. Wet cupping therapy may clear blood from excess heavy metals.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.789-793
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• 2007

To evaluate the effectiveness of cupping and bloodletting therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Systematic searches were conducted on KSI, KISTI, DB Pia, KIOM Database, and Koreamed until January 2007 Hand-searches included conference proceedings and our own files. There were no restrictions regarding the language of journals published in Korea. Controlled trials of dry cupping, wet cupping, or blood letting for patients with musculoskeletal disease were considered for inclusion. Trials testing other forms of dry cupping therapy were included. Methodological quality was assessed by two doctors. 20 possibly relevant studies were identified and 5 studies were included. One trial tested wet cupping for ankle sprain and reported positive result. Two trials tested blood letting for low back pain, one was positive and the other one was neutral. One trial tested the types of dry cupping for low back pain, and Ki-gong cupping therapy was superior to other two types of cupping. One trial compared wet cupping with dry cupping for low back pain and the result was negative. The effectiveness of bloodletting plus acupuncture for treating patients with low back pain is superior to acupuncture in spite of low quality. One trial of wet cupping for ankle sprain had effects in reducing pain. However, I suggest that the rigorous RCTs of cupping and blood letting therapy will be conducted in well designed features.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.181-212
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• 2023

Objectives: To examine the efficacy and safety of cupping therapy for insomnia disorder and provide clinical evidence that could contribute to further research. Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that verified effects of cupping therapy for insomnia disorder from 11 domestic and foreign databases. Included studies were evaluated using Risk of Bias (RoB). Results: Nineteen RCTs were selected. Wet cupping was more frequently used than dry cupping. Moving cupping was mostly used among dry cupping methods. Dry cupping was mainly performed in Bladder Meridian on the back. Wet cupping was mainly performed on BL18, LR14, and BL15. The most common treatment period was 4 weeks. The average number of treatments per week was about 2.4 times for all types of cupping, about 3.2 times for dry cupping and about 1.9 times for wet cupping. All selected studies showed a significant sleep improvement compared to the control group. As a result of the meta-analysis, in terms of effective rate, SAS score, and SDS score, the wet cupping in combination with acupuncture was significantly more effective than acupuncture alone, although the quality of selected RCTs was low. Conclusions: Cupping therapy is effective for insomnia disorder. Based on results of this study, it is reasonable to use wet cupping two times per week on BL18, LR14, and BL15 or use moving cupping three times per week in Bladder Meridian on the back for 4 weeks to treat insomnia disorder.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2023

A forty-three-year-old male patient was diagnosed with an acute abscess in the dorsum of the right hand. On the 5th day of conventional pharmacological therapy the patient was still suffering, and was referred to the Outpatient department (OPD) to evacuate and drain the abscess and treat the edema around the area with Hijama (wet cupping therapy, WCT). The hand abscess was successfully cured within a week using an integrative approach of wet cupping therapy together with conventional drug therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2022

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of wet cupping on the treatment of mental illness. A total of 2,670 studies were retrieved using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases, and of these, 2,661 were excluded due to not meeting the inclusion criteria. There were 9 articles included in this review including 1,124 individuals who received wet cupping. Mental health was explored in, those who had migraines, metabolic syndrome, smoking addiction, post-traumatic stress, chronic medical disease, and depression. As an intervention procedure, the triple S technique was used in all studies. Only 3 studies reported that none of the participants complained of adverse events during or after the cupping therapy. In all studies, wet cupping was reported to be effective in reducing psychological symptoms. However, there are few randomized controlled trials testing the e?ectiveness of wet cupping in the treatment of mental health, and most are of poor quality. Therefore, more rigorous studies are required before the effectiveness of wet cupping for the treatment of mental illness can be determined.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.177-189
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• 2024

Objectives: Cupping therapy is a widely used complementary medicine for the treatment of migraine headaches globally. However, conflicting evidence exists on its effectiveness. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cupping therapy in treating migraine headache disorder. Methods: Seven databases were systematically searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, SinoMed, and the National Science and Technology Library. The primary endpoints are the treatment success and the pain intensity reduction. The secondary endpoints were adverse events (AEs) risk and improvement in quality of life (QoL), which was based on the Migraine Disability Scale (MIDAS). Subgroup analyses were performed based on the cupping techniques (wet and dry cupping) and adjunctive complementary treatments (i.e. acupuncture and/or collateral pricking). Results: Eighteen trials out of 348 records were included, pooling 1,446 participants (n = 797 received cupping therapy). Treatment success was significantly higher among those with cupping therapy (risk ratio [RR] [95% CI] = 1.83 [1.52-2.21]); with significant improvement observed only with wet cupping (RR [95% CI] = 1.88 [1.53-2.30]). The adjunctive complementary therapy did not achieve a greater amplitude of treatment success compared to cupping therapy alone. Furthermore, cupping therapy showed significant pain reduction compared to baseline (standardized mean difference [SMD] [95% CI] = 0.55 [0.39-0.70]) and achieved fewer risks of AEs (RR [95% CI] = 1.88 [1.53-2.30]). However, cupping did not improve the overall QoL (MIDAS SMD [95% CI] = -0.79 [-3.55-1.98]). Conclusion: Cupping therapy was an effective complementary modality to treat migraine headaches. However, it did not demonstrate improvement in QoL (PROSPERO: CRD42024514509).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2023

Background: Wet cupping (WC) is an efficient and cost-effective technique for removing metabolic waste from the bloodstream via the skin. The study aimed to examine the effect of WC on cholesterol levels including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a Sudanese population. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 30 participants undergoing regular WC therapy were enrolled. Blood samples collected twice: pre-WC therapy (case group) and 10-14 days afterward (controls). Results: Of the participants, 56.67% were male and 43.33% were female, aged 24-69. Pre-WC TC and LDL-C levels were significantly higher than the post-WC control group (p = 0.001). Conversely, HDL-C levels decreased significantly in the pre-WC cases compared to controls (p = 0.001). No significant sex-based difference in mean cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: After WC, males and females experienced significant reductions in TC and LDL-C, and significant increase in HDL-C.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.169-191
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was performed to report the present situation of the cupping treatment to make standardization of cupping treatment in Korea. Methods : We searched relevant case reports, surveys, and review articles using a databases of online bibliography. And we had research to oriental medical doctor with questionnaire about the cupping treatment. Results : 1. Cupping treatment is used for diagnoisis, protection and treatment for many kinds of diseases such as musculoskeletal diseases, internal diseases, sequela of cerebral attacks and so on in Korea. 2. Adequate cupping area is the area of lesion. 3. Cupping time and pressure are various. 4. Adequate amount of venesection is 10cc. 5. Adequate dry cupping term is 1 time/day and adequate wet cupping term is 1 time/2~3days. 6. Cognition of adverse reaction of cupping treatment is different among the doctors. 7. Method of disinfection of cup is different among the doctors. Conclusions : The result of this study will help to make the a guideline of cupping treatment. And we have to go ahead studying to make standardization of cupping treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.187-192
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different cupping therapy methods combined with Korean medicine treatments for peripheral facial paralysis. Methods: 105 patients treated for peripheral facial paralysis with cupping therapy and other Korean medicine treatment at Gil Korean medicine hospital, Gachon University between May 19, 2014 and June 30, 2018 were selected and their medical charts retrospectively analyzed. 48 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups: wet cupping (WC) therapy, or dry cupping (DC) therapy combined with Korean medicine treatment. The duration of treatment ranged from 2 weeks for inpatient treatment to 2 months for outpatient treatment. Both WC and DC therapy were performed on TE13, 3 times per week during the treatment period. The effect of cupping therapy was evaluated by using the Gross Grading System of the House-Brackmann (HB score) and the Yanagihara's Unweighted Grading System (Y score). Results: For both WC and DC treatment of symptoms related to peripheral facial paralysis, HB scores showed a significant decrease and Y scores showed a significant increase from baseline to end of treatment, indicating a beneficial improvement in patient symptoms for both WC and DC. Conclusion: In this study, both DC and WC treatment had significant improvements on peripheral facial paralysis symptoms, with WC having significantly greater beneficial effects than DC.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.141-150
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• 2011

Objectives : The aims of this study were to evaluate a blister caused by cupping. Methods : We searched relevant case reports, survey, and review articles using databases of online bibliography. Results : 1. The fluid in the blister caused by cupping therapy is normal substance by laboratory analysis. The fluid has no signs of infection in the culture, Gram stain, or tissue biopsy 2. In histological finding, the blister caused by cupping therapy is made by dermo-epidermal seperation at subcellular level. Suction blistering was neither inflammatory nor autolysis activation of lysosomal hydrolases. 3. Blistering times directly, related to suction pressure. Suction blister formation time is accelerated in older subjects compared with younger individuals and higher temperature was more susceptable to the blister compared with lower temperature. The flexor aspect of forearm is a easy site for suction blister formation compared with leg and abdominal site. 4. Blister caused by cupping therapy is treated by regular and judicious changes of sterile dressing over several weeks. The vesicles healed well and left no visible scar. Conclusions : Blister caused by cupping therapy is artificially controlled by doctor's therapeutic purpose. Blister is not histologically injurious to health and the blister is a natural concomitant after cupping therapy.