The effects and benefits of cupping therapy
The most effective result of cupping therapy is relieving pain, and pain associated conditions such as musculoskeletal pain, neurological pain, migraine, and headache. According to Mazharuddin SM, Al-Hijama or wet cupping shows a good result in treatments of pain especially headache and tension headache.
In another study by Ahmadi et al. to assess the effectiveness of wet cupping in patients with tension and migraine headaches. They founded the severity of headaches decreased in 66% of patients after treatment with wet cupping therapy.
According to Nimrouzi M et al., treatment with cupping therapy leads to decrease pain in some of musculoskeletal conditions such as lumbar injuries, low back pain, arthralgia, and neuropathic pain.
In a systemic review and meta-analysis by Moura CC et al. to assess the evidences about the role of cupping therapy in treatment of low back pain. After treatment with different protocols of cupping therapy, the patients showed decrease in pain intensity, with improvement of their life quality. These results were achieved after five sessions of cupping therapy.
On the other hand, wet cupping therapy shows promising results in treatment of inflammatory-induced painful diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and neuralgia of herpes zoster.
A study by El-Shanshory et al. to evaluate wet cupping therapy in treating pediatric patients with thalassemia. they founded that, wet cupping was highly effective and safe therapy to induce iron excretion with minimum blood loss. Wet cupping was more safe than other conventional methods used to chelate iron in pediatric age group.
According to a study by Nimrouzi et al., cupping therapy causes effective treatment in patients with respiratory symptoms such as cough and dyspnea.
Other benefits of cupping therapy may include:
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- Regional enhancement of blood flow
- Deep massage and relaxation of tensed muscle
- Has cosmetic effects
- facial cupping causes skin revive and treat multiple skin problems
- Can be used as a supportive treatment to help musculoskeletal healing after injury or trauma
- Increase lymphatic drainage
- Can help in treatment of some gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome as it enhances GIT peristalsis and decrease patient’s anxiety
