Islamic Wet Cupping and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases: Effects on Blood Pressure, Metabolic Profile and Serum Electrolytes in Healthy Young Adult Men

Abstract

Background: Wet cupping (Hejamah) has been used as alternative treatment for several diseases. Objectives:Materials and methods: 16 participants were treated with hejamah for 2 consecutive months. Blood pressure was measure before and 30 minutes after the treatment. Blood samples were collected from all participants before and 48 hours after hejamah and all participants were fasting for 12 hours before sample collection. Results:Fasting blood glucose was significantly decreased before the treatment in the second month only. The levels of serum triglycerides significantly decreased after the first treatment and remained low in the 2nd month. There was no significant difference between the different time points in total cholesterol except for the 48 hours of the second month compared to the samples collected before the procedure of the same month. There was a significant decrease in LDL and significant increase in HDL following hejamah therapy (P<0.05). Significant decrease in sodium and significant increase in potassium 48 hours following treatment with hejamah was observed in the 2 months (P<0.05). Conclusions:The performance of hejamah during fasting state could represent a useful complementary method for the regulation of diastolic blood pressure and prevention/treatment of risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases. Further studies are required to explore the role of hejamah in controlling blood pressure and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Blood Pressure and Total Cholesterol on Healthy Young Male Adults

“…Both of the studies are not in line with the present research. The present study, similar to Refaat et al, showed that wet cupping has no significant effect on lower TC levels but substantially increased HDL and lower LDL levels [21]. This study's principal factor is the decline in total blood cholesterol, resulting in improved metabolic control among participants.…”

“…Blood removal (which can reach 50 mL) through the wet cupping technique decreases its volume in the arteries and directly impacts BP [9]. Capillary dilation frequently happens far from the wet cutting point; it allows the blood artery to restore microcirculation, often displaying a relaxing effect in the clumsy muscle vasodilatation, which lowers BP [21].…”

The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy (Al-Hijamah) on Some Blood Components: A Comparative Study

“…[18] Also, a study in KSA revealed that using wet cupping reduce LDL and increase HDL level. [19] Another study carried on the hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women showed that total cholesterol and LDL were reduced and HDL was increased after the CT. [20] The current study indicated a higher concentration of both uric acid and urea in the blood of CT in comparison with the venous blood. The result was parallel with previous studies.…”

Effect of Cupping Therapy on Biochemical and Hematological Parameters

“…Blood sample from cupping showed insignificant increase (p<0.001) in serum SGOT and decrease (p<0.001) in serum SGPT levels. 39 This concluded that the cupping therapy have positive impact on biochemical and hematological parameters and also potential physiological influence in human body. This study contributes to the existing literature to understand base line information of cupping therapy and their correlation with different profiles.…”