Evaluation of Wet Cupping Treatment in Patients with Chronic Urticaria and Angioedema

Abstract

Urticaria is a kind of skin rash that sometimes caused by allergic reactions. Acute viral infection, stress, pressure, exercise and sunlight are some other causes of urticaria. However, chronic urticaria and angioedema could be either idiopathic or caused by autoimmune reaction. They last more than six weeks and could even persist for a very long time. It is thought that the level of C-reactive protein CRP increases and the level of Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreases in patients with chronic urticaria. Thirty four patients with chronic or recurrent urticaria were selected for the treatment with wet cupping. Six of them, because of having a history of recent infection/cold urticaria, were eliminated and the remaining 28 were chosen for this study. ESR and CRP were measured in these patients aged 21-59, comprising 12 females and 16 males, ranged from 5-24 mm/h for ESR with a median 11 mm/h and 3.3-31.2 mg/L with a median of 11.95 mg/L for CRP before and after phlebotomy (250-450mL) which was performed as a control for wet cupping therapy. Three weeks after phlebotomy, wet cupping was performed on the back of these patients between two shoulders and the levels of ESR and CRP were measured again three weeks after wet cupping. The changes were observed in the level of CRP and ESR after phlebotomy being negligible. However, the level of CRP with a median 11.95 before wet cupping dramatically dropped to 1.1 after wet cupping. The level ESR also with a median 11 before wet cupping rose to 15.5 after wet cupping therapy. The clear correlation between the urticaria/angioedema and the rise of CRP was observed as was anticipated. No recurrence has been observed on twenty five of these patients and three of them are still recovering from the lesions.

Ameliorating Role Exerted by Al-Hijamah in Autoimmune Diseases : Effect on Serum Autoantibodies and Inflammatory Mediators

“…7). Al-hijamah versus phlebotomy and plasmapheresisTherapeutic benefits and improvements reported after Al-hijamah were better than those reported after phlebotomy (69)(70)(71) where Al-hijamah improved much better the arterial O 2 saturation and respiration when treating smoking in patients having chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases without causing significant blood loss. (69) Al-hijamah was reported to do better than phlebotomy in decreasing CRP dramatically and improving the ESR in patients having chronic urticaria and angioedema.…”

“…(69) Al-hijamah was reported to do better than phlebotomy in decreasing CRP dramatically and improving the ESR in patients having chronic urticaria and angioedema. (70) Methodology described in those studies was the triple S technique (Alhijamah) not traditional WCT. Detailed differences between Al-hijamah and phlebotomy were previously reported.…”

Al-hijamah and oral honey for treating thalassemia, conditions of iron overload, and hyperferremia: toward improving the therapeutic outcomes

“…Al-hijamah (suction, scarification, and suction method) was reported to significantly decrease the level of serum C-reactive protein better than phlebotomy in patients having urticaria and angioedema;69 Al-hijamah decreased serum CRP from 11.95 to 1.1 mg/L, while phlebotomy decreased it to a much lower extent 69…”

“…Interestingly, Al-hijamah did not induce anemia or significant blood loss, as evidenced by the normal hematological indices after practicing Al-hijamah. 27 Al-hijamah (suction, scarification, and suction method) was reported to significantly decrease the level of serum C-reactive protein better than phlebotomy in patients having urticaria and angioedema; 69 Al-hijamah decreased serum CRP from 11.95 to 1.1 mg/L, while phlebotomy decreased it to a much lower extent. 69 …”