The following paper is republished here from the following link
http://www.
with the kind permission of the authors, about a study on the use
of dry-cupping for inflammatory conditions
CUPPING FOR PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY COMPLAINTS:
http://www.
with the kind permission of the authors, about a study on the use
of dry-cupping for inflammatory conditions
CUPPING FOR PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY COMPLAINTS:
CLINICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL OUTCOMES
By Ilkay Chirali, Mark Bovey, Roz Gibbs
Background
Cupping is a therapeutic technique employed by many acupuncturists to treat Full, Mixed or Deficiency conditions. Despite its documented effectiveness, however, little is known from a Western scientific standpoint about the mechanisms by which cupping therapy yields its effects. In 2005, Ilkay Chirali published the results of a small trial conducted on 6 patients with musculoskeletal complaints. In this study patients were treated every two days over a two weekly period and blood samples were taken and analysed before, during and after the treatment period. Analysis of the samples revealed a significant reduction in the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), a broad marker of inflammation. The aim of the current study was to identify inflammatory marker(s) whose plasma concentrations are altered during the cupping therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and which may account for changes in the ESR. This will provide biochemical evidence for the effectiveness of cupping therapy.
Methodology
14 subjects presenting with a range of chronic musculoskeletal complaints (diagnosed as Empty, Mixed and Full conditions) were recruited into the study. Full informed consent was obtained from each subject. A Traditional Diagnosis was then performed on each subject and the cupping treatment strategy determined accordingly. Each subject then received six cupping treatments at weekly intervals. Prior to the first treatment and thereafter at weekly intervals, subjects completed a MYMOP questionnaire in order to assess clinical outcome. Venous blood samples were also obtained before treatment, after 3 treatments, after 6 treatments and six weeks posttreatment. The following analyses were performed on blood samples: full blood count, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum concentration of fibrinogen, C Reactive Protein (CRP), IgG and ferritin. Serum samples were also analysed for the concentration of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β,IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α). Data obtained was analysed by one way ANOVA with matched values and Dunnett’s Multiple Comparisons Test using Instat2 software.
Results
9 females (range 23 – 52 years) and 5 males (range 37 – 62 years) were recruited into the study. One female participant subsequently withdrew from the study at week 3. Analysis of MYMOP questionnaires indicated that 95% patients reported improvements in their symptoms as a result of treatment and, overall, this improvement was found to significant. Complete data sets from blood and serum analysis (before, during and after treatment) were obtained for 11 subjects. The six week post treatment follow up was 54%. Analysis of data revealed statistically significant increases in the platelet count (p =0.0373) and lymphocyte count (p = 0.0001) and decreases in the serum concentration of fibrinogen (p = 0.0008) and ferritin (p =0.0024). No changes were measured in the serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, with the exception of one patient where slight increases above normal levels were seen in TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations. Interestingly there was no significant change in the ESR observed in these subjects, however, only 3 subjects presented with an elevated ESR before treatment.
Discussion & Conclusion
Ferritin and fibrinogen are inflammatory markers and their reduction during cupping therapy is concomitant with a reduction in the inflammatory status of the patient. Platelets and lymphocytes may increase as a result of local vascular damage from the cupping therapy itself or from a reduction in the adherence of these cells to areas of activated endothelium, associated with inflammation. With regard to the ESR, no overall significant change was observed in this study. However, only 3 patients presented with an elevated ESR prior to treatment. Furthermore, the ESR did decrease during the course of treatment in these subjects. In conclusion, although the precise mechanism by which cupping therapy exerts it therapeutic effects cannot be determined from the present study, the results indicate that cupping therapy is associated with significant changes in the levels of inflammatory cells and soluble markers suggesting that this treatment can influence the inflammatory status of the patient leading to improved clinical outcome
Cupping is a therapeutic technique employed by many acupuncturists to treat Full, Mixed or Deficiency conditions. Despite its documented effectiveness, however, little is known from a Western scientific standpoint about the mechanisms by which cupping therapy yields its effects. In 2005, Ilkay Chirali published the results of a small trial conducted on 6 patients with musculoskeletal complaints. In this study patients were treated every two days over a two weekly period and blood samples were taken and analysed before, during and after the treatment period. Analysis of the samples revealed a significant reduction in the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), a broad marker of inflammation. The aim of the current study was to identify inflammatory marker(s) whose plasma concentrations are altered during the cupping therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and which may account for changes in the ESR. This will provide biochemical evidence for the effectiveness of cupping therapy.
Methodology
14 subjects presenting with a range of chronic musculoskeletal complaints (diagnosed as Empty, Mixed and Full conditions) were recruited into the study. Full informed consent was obtained from each subject. A Traditional Diagnosis was then performed on each subject and the cupping treatment strategy determined accordingly. Each subject then received six cupping treatments at weekly intervals. Prior to the first treatment and thereafter at weekly intervals, subjects completed a MYMOP questionnaire in order to assess clinical outcome. Venous blood samples were also obtained before treatment, after 3 treatments, after 6 treatments and six weeks posttreatment. The following analyses were performed on blood samples: full blood count, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum concentration of fibrinogen, C Reactive Protein (CRP), IgG and ferritin. Serum samples were also analysed for the concentration of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β,IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α). Data obtained was analysed by one way ANOVA with matched values and Dunnett’s Multiple Comparisons Test using Instat2 software.
Results
9 females (range 23 – 52 years) and 5 males (range 37 – 62 years) were recruited into the study. One female participant subsequently withdrew from the study at week 3. Analysis of MYMOP questionnaires indicated that 95% patients reported improvements in their symptoms as a result of treatment and, overall, this improvement was found to significant. Complete data sets from blood and serum analysis (before, during and after treatment) were obtained for 11 subjects. The six week post treatment follow up was 54%. Analysis of data revealed statistically significant increases in the platelet count (p =0.0373) and lymphocyte count (p = 0.0001) and decreases in the serum concentration of fibrinogen (p = 0.0008) and ferritin (p =0.0024). No changes were measured in the serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, with the exception of one patient where slight increases above normal levels were seen in TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations. Interestingly there was no significant change in the ESR observed in these subjects, however, only 3 subjects presented with an elevated ESR before treatment.
Discussion & Conclusion
Ferritin and fibrinogen are inflammatory markers and their reduction during cupping therapy is concomitant with a reduction in the inflammatory status of the patient. Platelets and lymphocytes may increase as a result of local vascular damage from the cupping therapy itself or from a reduction in the adherence of these cells to areas of activated endothelium, associated with inflammation. With regard to the ESR, no overall significant change was observed in this study. However, only 3 patients presented with an elevated ESR prior to treatment. Furthermore, the ESR did decrease during the course of treatment in these subjects. In conclusion, although the precise mechanism by which cupping therapy exerts it therapeutic effects cannot be determined from the present study, the results indicate that cupping therapy is associated with significant changes in the levels of inflammatory cells and soluble markers suggesting that this treatment can influence the inflammatory status of the patient leading to improved clinical outcome
Ilkay Zihni Chirali MBAcC, RCHM
Member of the British Acupuncture Council
Member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (UK)
TCM Practitioner/Teacher/Author
Dip.Acupuncture 1985(Aust), Dip.Clinical Hypnosis (Aust), Dip.Chinese Herbal Medicine (UK), Cert.Paediactric Acupuncture (UK), Cert. Chinese Herbal Med (Nanjing China), Cert. Acupuncture (Nanjing China)
Acupuncture Practitioner (1985)
TCM.Teacher (Acupuncture & Cupping therapy) (1987)
Author: Cupping Therapy- Traditional Chinese Medicine (First published 1999, 2nd edition 2007) (Translated to German, Portuguese (Brazil), Czech, and French languages.)
Qualified as TCM practitioner in 1985 Melbourne Australia, where I opened my first Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic. Returned to England in 1987 where I set up a clinic in SE London and still practice. As Cupping Therapy Expert, I have presented cupping therapy papers in 5 International seminars, contribute regularly to the TCM publications and held well over 50 cupping therapy teaching workshops (England, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and Australia) as well appearing as an “expert” on the BBC TV (Children In Need), BBC2 TV history program (Supersize me- Elizabethan times), BBC Radio4 Today and Capital Radio programmes. I also accept final-year Acupuncture students at my clinic for clinical practice and observation.
FEATURED RESEARCHERS:
Ilkay Zihni Chirali MBAcC, RCHM
Ilkay Zihni Chirali MBAcC, RCHM
Mark Bovey,
Roz Gibbs
LOCATION
Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy Clinic
Roz Gibbs
LOCATION
Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy Clinic
163 Upton Road,
Bexleyheath,
Kent.
DA6 8LY England.
Bexleyheath,
Kent.
DA6 8LY England.
_________________________________________________
Our thanks to Ilkay Zihni Chirali and Mark Bovey from England for sharing the above post. If you have any questions or want to leave some feedback on their workshops, then please do so via a comment* below.
If you are a hijama therapist or patient and are happy to share your knowledge or experience via a guest blog-post like the one above, please send me an email to: hijama.mail@gmail.com.
*Comments are moderated to prevent spamming so may take some time to appear
---------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment