Here is some of the information I recently shared in my February newsletter. Each newsletter has a specific focus. This month is focused on cupping information. If you would be interested in receiving my newsletters, please head over to my contact page and sign up.
Tidbits, Updates and Resources:
1. Science Direct published a very thorough article in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies in Jun 2018, titled “Cupping Therapy: An overview from a Modern Medicine Perspective" which gives an overview of cupping therapy practice and includes a new classification of cupping therapy sets, a new classification of cupping therapy adverse events, and an updated classification of cupping therapy types.
2. An oral presentation and paper, presented in 2015 by Graduate nursing students at the Brawijay University in Indonesia, titled “The effect of wet cupping therapy on total cholesterol level in patients with hypercholesterolemia at Grajagan Health Center in Purwoharjo, Banyuwangi in 2015" concluded: …Wet cupping to decrease total cholesterol level to be lower than that before undergoing the therapy.
STUDIES, ARTICLES AND RESOURCES
I receive a weekly update on anything published anywhere on the internet that includes information about cupping (dry, massage). If you have any problems with the links, please let me know, or if you come across any information that you think would be good to share, please also feel free to pass that information along: info@holistichealingarts.net
1.A study titled “Efficacy of cupping therapy in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome - a randomized placebo-controlled trial” published in Sci Rep in 2016, concludes:... five cupping treatments were more effective than usual care to improve pain intensity and quality of life in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome. Given the effects were small, and cupping was not superior to sham cupping treatments, currently no recommendation for cupping in the treatment of fibromyalgia can be made.
2. A 12-minute video, provided by Complementary Health Seminars, demonstrates how using cupping with burn scars can be effective. The video is titled “Myofascial Cupping with Burns Victims Documentary" and can be seen on vimeo.
3. A study titled “Hypertension and its management from the perspective of traditional regime cupping therapy” published in Indian Journal of Applied Research in 2018 concludes: WCT (Wet Cupping therapy—Al-hijamah) is a minor surgical excretory procedure that has medical and scientific basis in clearing blood and interstitial spaces…applying cupping is the best solution to prevent and treat such cases, as cupping decreases the level of fat (triglyceride, cholesterol) in blood to normal one, gets rid of hypertension and increases the good flow through heart tissues after cleaning the arteries and preventing them from atherosclerosis.
4. A study titled “Is cupping blister harmful? - A proteomical analysis of blister fluid induced by cupping therapy and scald" published in Complement Ther Med in Feb 2018, concludes: cupping induced blisters contain several proteins which related to the activation of certain immune pathways including anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, tissue repairing and metabolic regulation.
5. A case study with literature review, titled “Is dry cupping as effective as a traditional exercise program in reducing shoulder pain in competitive swimmers” and published through the University of New Mexico Digital Repository concludes: Studies have shown that cupping may be able to decrease pain by an average of 20mm on the Visual Analog Scale. This suggests that in the painful shoulder it may be used as an adjunct to exercise therapy but should not replace it as cupping does not address the underlying impairments that swimming induces not he shoulder.
6. A study presented at the International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, titled “ The influence of dry cupping of differing intensities on heart rate variability" concludes: Cupping at a pressure of -100mmHg did not significantly change the Heart rate variability, but cupping at both -300 and -500 mm Hg caused a significant improvement in HRV. The HRV responses did not differ significantly between cupping at -300 and at -500 mmHg, however. The significant increase in HRV occurred only during the recovery period after the cups were removed.
7. A study titled “Negative pressure therapy in the management of lymphedema” suggests: Historically, conservative lymphatic therapy treatments have consisted of treatments that predominate via offering positive pressure; a pushing force onto the tissues. Compression bandaging, pressure garments, including wraps and chip bags, and massage, including manual lymphatic drainage and pneumatic compression devices, represent examples of positive pressure therapy and technology. Negative pressure, on the other hand, is a new means of offering treatment, whereby a pulling of opening force is applied to the tissues. Treatment can be targeted to specific areas, such as areas of radiation-induced fibrosis and scar tissue, or the technology can be used as an adjunct to massage and manual lymphatic drainages. This article introduces the concept of negative pressure technology to lymphedema management and the proposed mechanics of action.
Here is some of the information I recently shared in my February newsletter. Each newsletter has a specific focus. This month is focused on cupping information. If you would be interested in receiving my newsletters, please head over to my contact page and sign up.
Tidbits, Updates and Resources:
1.Dr. Ross Turchaninov posted an article on the Science of Massage Institute titled “The Horrors of Improper Massage Therapy” but the article actually dealt with cupping therapy. The article includes pictures of the client following a cupping session that actually causes increased pain for the client as well as significant tissue damage. You can read the article on the Science of Massage website.
2. A paper, published in Complement Ther Med in Oct 2012, titled Safety protocols for gun she (press-stroking) and baguan (cupping)” states: …instrument assisted mechanical stimulation of the body surface that intentionally creates therapeutic petechiae and ecchymosis representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis. Blood and ‘other potentially infectious material’ (OPIM) can sometimes be drawn through the surface of the skin leading to potential contamination of instruments and to risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure….Presents the nature of the potential risks and applies current hospital safety standards as proposed protocols for Gua she and Baguan.”
3. Veterinary Medicine is just beginning to use negative pressure in treatment of animals. In a paper by Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, titled Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: the past and the future, the faculty of veterinary medicine at Ghent University concludes: Negative pressure for the treatment of wounds has been applied for centuries. Positive and promising results have been documented (in veterinary medicine) but more controlled studies are needed to clarify the exact mechanism and beneficial effects of NPWT in animal patients.”
4. An article in Nov 2017 Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice by Duane Lowe concludes: Negative pressure causes stretching of the skin and underlying tissue and dilation of the capillaries. This stimulates in increase in tissue blood flow, eventually leading to capillary rupture and ecchymosis. Macrophages phagocytize the erythrocytes in the extravascual space which stimulates the production of Heme Oxygnase-1 (HO-1) to metabolize the heme. Heme catalysis results in the production of carbon monoxide(CO), biliverdin (BV)/bilirubin(BR) and iron. HO-1, BV, BR and CO has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and neuromodulatory effects in animal and human systems. These substances also stimulate a shift of macrophages to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. This could account for many of cupping therapy’s claims local and systemic health benefits.
STUDIES, ARTICLES AND RESOURCES
I receive a weekly update on anything published anywhere on the internet that includes information about cupping (dry, massage). If you have any problems with the links, please let me know, or if you come across any information that you think would be good to share, please also feel free to pass that information along: info@holistichealingarts.net
A study published on NISCAIR Online Periodicals repository, in Jul 2015, titled “Dry cupping therapy decreases cellulite in women: A pilot study” concluded: …indicated for the first time in humans that dry moving cupping therapy might be effective on cellulite. Dry moving cupping therapy may cause the drainage of interstitial fluid and its elements into blood and lymphatic capillaries, especially lipids in cellulite.
A study published on PLOSOne in Jun 2013, titled Effectiveness of Home-Based Cupping Massage Compared to Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain-A Randomized Controlled Trial” concluded: Cupping massage is not more effective than progressive muscle relaxation in reducing chronic non-specific neck pain. Both therapies can be easily used at home and can reduce pain to a minimal clinically relevant extent. Cupping massage may, however, be better than Progressive Muscle Relaxation in improving well-being and decreasing pressure pain sensitivity but more studies…are needed.
A study titled “Dry cupping in children with functional constipation: a randomized open-label clinical trial”, published Jul 2016 in Afr J Treat Complement Altern Med, concluded: …dry cupping of the abdominal wall, as a traditional manipulative therapy, can be as effective as standard laxative therapy in children with functional constipation.
A study titled “Treatment of shoulder myofascial trigger points in amateur athletes with ERGON IASTM Therapy, cupping and ischemic pressure techniques: a randomized controlled clinical trial” by Department of Physiotherapy, Technological Education Institute of Western Greece in 2017 concluded: The Ergon-IASTM technique and ischemic pressure technique produced a significantly larger effect (pain and sensitivity reduction) compared with cupping therapy after the 2nd treatment.
A case study, titled “Utilization of Cupping Therapy in the Treatment of Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in a Collegiate Pitcher: A CXase Study, published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences concludes: Cupping therapy may be a viable treatment option when seeking to address tight musculature.