ABSTRACT
Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, highly pruritic inflammatory skin disease. The lesions are characterized by papules, papulovesicles, edema, crusting and scaling with hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation after healing. Here we represent a case of AD, having dry, pruritic and highly lichenificated skin lesion on lateral aspect of left leg from last 4 years. Based upon correlation in sign and symptoms the disease was considered as Vicharchika as per Ayurvedic perspective and treated accordingly with three sitting of wet cupping (bloodletting using vacuum cups) at interval of every 3-months gap on basis of the Samprapti (pathology) of Kushta Vyadhi comprising of all three Dosha Vata, Pitta and Kapha along with Rakta, Lasika, Twak, Mamsa as Dushya. Raktamokshana using wet cupping technique showed good result in reducing the sign and symptoms of eczema upto 90%. Based upon observation it can be concluded that Raktamokshana is found to be effective in management of Atopic Dermatitis.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To compare the possible effects of wet-cupping therapy with conventional therapy on persistent nonspecific low back pain (PNSLBP).@*METHODS@#In this randomized clinical trial, 180 participants with the mean age of 45±10 years old, who had been suffering from PNSLBP were randomly assigned to wet-cupping and conventional groups. The wet-cupping group was treated with two separate sessions (4 weeks in total) on the inter-scapular and sacrum area. In the conventional group, patients were conservatively treated using rest (6 weeks) and oral medications (3 weeks). The primary and the secondary outcome were the quantity of disability using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and pain intensity using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively.@*RESULTS@#There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics (age, gender, and body mass index) between the two groups (P>0.05). Therapeutic effect of wet-cupping therapy was comparable to conventional treatment in the 1st month follow-up visits (P<0.05). The functional outcomes of wet-cupping at the 3rd and 6th month visits were significantly increased compared to the conventional group. Final ODI scores in the wet-cupping and conventional groups were 16.7 ± 5.7 and 22.3 ± 4.5, respectively (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Wet-cupping may be a proper method to decrease PNSLBP without any conventional treatment. The therapeutic effects of wet-cupping can be longer lasting than conventional therapy. (Registration No. IRCT2013021672741)).
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe wet cupping therapy (WCT) on local blood perfusion and analgesic effects in patients with nerve-root type cervical spondylosis (NT-CS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven NT-CS patients were randomly divided into WCT group and Jiaji acupoint-acupuncture (JA) group according a random number table. WCT group (30 cases) was treated with WCT for 10 min, and JA group (27 cases) was treated with acupuncture for 10 min. The treatment efficacies were evaluated with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Blood perfusion at Dazhui (GV 14) and Jianjing (GB 21) acupoints (affected side) was observed with a laser speckle flowmetry, and its variations before and after treatment in both groups were compared as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In both groups, the VAS scores significantly decreased after the intervention (P<0.01), while the blood perfusion at the two acupoints significantly increased after intervention (P<0.05); however, the increasement magnitude caused by WCT was obvious compared with JA (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WCT could improve analgesic effects in patients with NT-CS, which might be related to increasing local blood perfusion of acupunct points.</p>
ABSTRACT
Dyslipidaemia is one of the risk factors contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study was conducted to investigate the effect of wet cupping on lipid profile. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2012 at the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. Sixty-two healthy volunteers ranging from 30 to 60 years old were randomized into control and intervention groups. Subjects in the intervention group were assigned to two sessions of wet cupping at the beginning of the study and at the third month; individuals in the control group did not undergo any cupping procedure. Venous blood sample was collected for serum lipid profile: Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides; measured at baseline, first, third and fourth month. Results: Subjects in the cupping group had significant improvements from baseline to third and fourth month for TC (MD=-0.56, P=0.004), HDL-C (MD=-0.22, P<0.001) and LDL-C (MD=0.58, P=0.001). There was also a significant reduction from baseline to one month for triglycerides (MD=0.38, P<0.001). Subjects in the cupping group had significantly better values in HDL-C and LDL-C as compared with the control group at the third and fourth month. Significantly lower levels of TC and triglycerides in the cupping group of the fourth month. In the control group, there were no significant changes in any serum lipid profiles. Conclusion: After two sessions of wet cupping, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides were significantly improved by 8.2%, 13.7%, 16.4% and 20.8% respectively.