RESUMO
Background and Objective: Cupping is a time-honoured traditional healing modality for pain management and remains favoured by professionals and lay people across several cultures today. However, the analgesic mechanism of cupping is still poorly understood. In addition, clinical guidelines for standardized applications of cupping are currently lacking. The awareness of cupping marks has provoked curiosity about the connection between skin color changes and their benefit for local pain relief. Computer simulation is a promising approach for numerical modeling the cupping-evoked erythrocyte emigration. Quantitative proteomic profiling of cupping-induced blister fluid exhibited a significant decrease in the abundance of haemoglobin ß subunit. This finding provides a critical clue to paint a novel picture of the mechanism behind cupping. The hemorphins are a set of non-classical opioid peptides derived from the proteolysis of haemoglobin ß subunit. In the present study, a probable mechanism of hemorphin-based cupping analgesia is proposed. The hemorphin could also act as a potential biomarker for objective and timely quantitative clinical assessment of cupping in the management of pain conditions. A seminal theory may open a new avenue for future translational research on promoting the efficacy and safety of cupping analgesia. Conclusion: The local analgesic effect of cupping is probable in the context of haemoglobin degradation that bestows the appearance of hemorphins along with engaging opioid receptor signalling. Exploring the potential novel mechanism of cupping analgesia facilitates seeking non-pharmacologic pain interventions.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin after cupping, so as to explore objective and quantitative methods for skin response of cupping. METHODS: Seven health subjects were included. By quantitative meridian cupping instrument, cupping methods with four types of pressures were respectively performed on subjects for 5 min.The spectrum of cupping mark before and after the cupping was collected by hyperspectral camera, and the color change was recorded by digital camera. RESULTS: Before the cupping, the differences of back skin areas were not significant (P>0.05), and its average spectrum indicated two peaks at 540-550 nm and 580-590 nm. After cupping with different pressures, spectrum changes of skin were observed. For -0.02 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 550 nm (-12.1%, P<0.05); for -0.03 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 540 nm (-22.1%, P<0.05); for -0.04 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 610 nm (-26.7%, P<0.05); for -0.05 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at several spectrums (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After cupping with different negative pressures, significant changes of spectrum are observed on skin; for different pressures, the spectrums of the most significant changes are different; the hyperspectral camera could be applied to perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin.
Assuntos
Terapia por Acupuntura , Pigmentação da Pele , Voluntários Saudáveis , Humanos , MeridianosRESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin after cupping, so as to explore objective and quantitative methods for skin response of cupping.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven health subjects were included. By quantitative meridian cupping instrument, cupping methods with four types of pressures were respectively performed on subjects for 5 min.The spectrum of cupping mark before and after the cupping was collected by hyperspectral camera, and the color change was recorded by digital camera.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before the cupping, the differences of back skin areas were not significant (>0.05), and its average spectrum indicated two peaks at 540-550 nm and 580-590 nm. After cupping with different pressures, spectrum changes of skin were observed. For -0.02 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 550 nm (-12.1%,<0.05); for -0.03 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 540 nm (-22.1%,<0.05); for -0.04 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 610 nm (-26.7%,<0.05); for -0.05 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at several spectrums (all<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>After cupping with different negative pressures, significant changes of spectrum are observed on skin; for different pressures, the spectrums of the most significant changes are different; the hyperspectral camera could be applied to perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin.</p>
