Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry ISSN 2089-6514 (paper)

Volume 8, Number 2, 2019 | Pages: 33-36 | DOI: 10.14421/biomedich.2019.82.33-36 ISSN 2540-9328 (online)

The Effects of Wet Cupping Therapy in Blood Pressure,

Glucose, Uric Acid and Total Cholesterol Levels

Sutriyono1,*, Muhammad Rodham Robbina2, Meksianis Zadrak Ndii3

1
Department of Biology; 2Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
3
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang-NTT, Indonesia

Author correspondency*:
[email protected]

Abstract

Wet cupping therapy is a simple, cheap, and effective alternative medical treatment. In China wet cupping therapy become a formal
treatment in the hospital. 14 centuries ago Prophet Muhammad implemented wet cupping therapy or hejamah as a curing treatment and
become sunnah for muslim. Today in a modern world, many studies proved the advantages of wet cupping therapy, which is a sunnah
since 14 centuries ago. The aims of this study were to measure the effects of wet cupping therapy treatment on blood pressure, blood
glucose, uric acid, and total cholesterol level. 21 participants were treated with hejamah/wet cupping, blood pressure and blood samples
were collected from all the participants one week before and one week after hejamah. Blood pressure, either systolic or diastolic was
significantly decreased following therapy (p|<|0.05), blood glucose had a slight decreased but not significant (p|>|0.05). uric acid and total
cholesterol level was also significantly decreased following therapy (p|<|0.05). With only just one time treatment, hejamah had a
significant effects on blood pressure, uric acid and total cholesterol level, that is proved the advantages of hejamah.

Keywords: Hejamah; wet cupping therapy; cardiovascular diseases; hematology; blood pressure; blood glucose; uric acid; cholesterol

INTRODUCTION civilization termed cupping therapy, Al-hijamah therapy

(which means in Arabic to restore to the original size),
Cardiovascular diseases are major health problems and where it was used in treating hypertension,
they are associated with mortality and morbidity (Refaat polycythemia, headache, migraine and drug intoxication.
et al, 2014). The World Health Organization (WHO) has They diagnosed polycythemia whenever there was an
reported that cardiovascular diseases are responsible for exaggeration of the pink color of the skin (Omar, 2009).
30% of all deaths, which is equivalent to the combined Interestingly, venesection (phlebotomy) is still being
death rates associated with several other medical used currently in hospitals for treating polycythemia,
conditions (Rehm et al, 2009). The estimated number of where blood is drawn out and is replaced by saline
death due to cardiovascular diseases by the WHO is 17.3 infusion (McMullin et al, 2005).
million people per year and the number is expected to Cupping therapy is being practiced nowadays in
increase to 23.3 million/year in 2030 (Ng et al, 2012). many countries all over the world including Germany,
Several benefits of Complementary Norway, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, China
Medicine/Alternative Medicine, also known as and other countries. German people are familiar with
traditional medicine, have been shown and it is effective cupping therapy (Michalsen et al, 2009) and so are
in the prevention of disease, treatment of non- Danish and Norwegian peoples where those European
communicable diseases, and improvement of the quality societies already have a shift in attitude to include
of life for persons living with chronic diseases (Burge complementary medicine within the conventional health
and Albright, 2002). The WHO has been encouraging care system (Salomonsen et al, 2011). The exact origin
the implementation of traditional medicine since many of cupping therapy is a matter of controversy. Chinese
patients are not satisfied by the outcomes of modern scientists report in their literature that cupping therapy is
medicine particularly those related to chronic diseases a part of the traditional Chinese medicine dating back to
(WHO, 2002). One of the alternative medicines is at least 2,000 years (Chirali, 2014).
Islamic hejamah/wet cupping.
In the middle east, Arabic writers report that cupping
therapy dates back to 3500 B.C. (5500 years ago), where MATERIALS AND METHODS
Assyrians were the first Arab population to use primitive
tools as animal horns and bamboo wood for cupping This study was a true experimental research. 21 adult
therapy then the Chinese physician, Jee Hong (381- 281 men were recruited into the study, wet cupping was
B.C.) was among the leaders in that art. Arabic performed on the study subjects one time according to
34 Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry 8 (2), 2019: 33-36

Islamic protocol, the subject were asked to be fasting at RESULT AND DISCUSSION
least 3 hours before the initiation of the procedure.
Blood pressure and blood sample were obtained from Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version
the subject before the procedure. We run a test to the 15. Normality and homogeneity of data were assessed
blood sample to measure blood glucose, uric acid, and with the Shapiro-Wilk test.
total cholesterol level. A second blood pressure and
Table 1. The effect of wet cupping therapy to blood pressure.
blood sample were obtained from the subjects 7 days
after wet cupping therapy. Mean (mmHg) P
Systolic
Pretest 132.33 0.001
Posttest 124.81
Diastolic
Pretest 86.29 0.001
Posttest 81.19

According Table 1 that using t test showing that

there is a different on blood pressure (systolic and
diastolic) between before the wet cupping therapy and
after the wet cupping therapy. There is some reduction
on the mean of systolic pressure in amount of 7.5 mmHg
from 132.33 mmHg becomes 124.81 mmHg, while for
the diastolic pressure there is some reduction in amount
of 5.1 mmHg from 86.29 mmHg becomes 81.19 mmHg.
The analysis result using t test to systolic pressure and
diastolic pressure showing the p value is 0.001
(p|<|0.05), then the effect of wet cupping therapy to the
reduction of subjects blood pressure after wet cupping
therapy is significant. The study of Refaat et al (2014)
showing the same result that wet cupping therapy can
reduce blood pressure significantly.
The positive effect that given by wet cupping therapy
into the reduction of blood pressure is because wet
cupping therapy has benefit to remove all waste and
sediment in blood artery that connected to the
circulation of blood (ICA, 2011). The blood pressure
Figure 1. Wet cupping therapy.
reduction also happen because wet cupping therapy in a
skin (cutaneous), under skin tissue (sub-cutaneous),
Wet cupping therapy were performed using seven fascia, and the muscle will cause the damage of mast
points on the back of each subjects, the cup was cell, the result of this damage will release a few
sterilized using alcohol. The cups were placed on the substance like serotonin, histamine, bradikin,
chosen sites and a negative pressure was created by slowreacting substance (SRS), and few other substance,
manual suction using the provided pump with the kit. this substance will cause capillar and arteriole dilatation
The cups were left for a period of 7-10 minutes after also flare reaction in the place of wet cupping therapy
ensuring their firm attachment to the skin. The cups point. Capillar dilatation also happen in a place who far
were removed and 12-15 superficial incisions were from wet cupping therapy point, this is cause the blood
made on each chosen area of the skin using sterile artery microcirculation repair, then will show relaxation
surgical blades. After soaking the cups, they were effect in clumsy muscle also because of vasodilatation
replaced back on the chosen areas of the skin and will reduce blood pressure (Refaat et al, 2014)
negative pressure was created as previously described.
The cups were left on the skin till they were filled with
blood from the capillary vessels. The cups were Table 2. The effect of wet cupping therapy to blood glucose.
removed approximately after 3 minutes and new cups
Blood Glucose Mean (mgdL-1) p
were placed on the same areas as previously mentioned.
The used cups were socked in betadine solution for Pre-test 98.48 0.311
Post-test 93.33
sterilization. The process of blood-letting was repeated
for two times in total.
According to Table 2 that using t test, it is showing
that there is a different on blood glucose level between
 Sutriyono et al. – The Effects of Wet Cupping Therapy in Blood Pressure … 35

before wet cupping therapy and after the wet cupping and after the wet cupping therapy in amount of 16.62
therapy. There is some reduction on the mean of blood mgdL-1 from 177.05 mgdL-1 becomes 160.43 mgdL-1.
glucose level between before wet cupping therapy and The analysis result using t test to total cholesterol level
after the wet cupping therapy in amount of 5.15 mgdL-1 showing the p value is 0.022 (p|<|0.05), then the effect
from 98.48 mgdL-1 becomes 93.33 mgdL-1. The analysis of wet cupping therapy to the reduction of subjects total
result using t test to blood glucose level showing the p cholesterol level after wet cupping therapy is significant.
value is 0.311 (p|>|0.05), then the effect of wet cupping The reduction of total cholesterol level has shown the
therapy to the reduction of subjects blood glucose level effect of wet cupping therapy to total cholesterol level,
after wet cupping therapy is not significant, even though which mean that if wet cupping therapy is doing
the effect of wet cupping therapy still make some regularly, wet cupping therapy can be alternative
reduction on blood glucose level. treatment beside conventional treatment for stroke
Wet cupping therapy enhances insulin sensitivity in patients to reduce total cholesterol level.
healthy subjects with normal glucose levels and The reduction of total cholesterol level after wet
normoferritinemia (Vakilinia et al, 2016). Bleeding due cupping therapy is because there is some effect from
to hijamah was found to decrease glucose serum and hematology system mechanism who give main effect
triglycerides in patient with diabetes (Lowe, 2017). through the regulation system pathways of coagulant-
Some study has proved the efficacy of wet cupping anticoagulation with the improvement of blood flow and
therapy, on of it is the study by Farahmand et al (2012), organ oxygenation (Ahmadi et al, 2008). Considering
this study prove that wet cupping therapy an diet have hepar is a place that blood filtration from various toxic
significant effect to lipid profile improvement. Another substances who entering the body happen, through ti=his
study about efficacy of wet cupping therapy is the study hematology system mechanism and immune system
by Refaat et al (2014) who mention that wet cupping mechanism the total cholesterol level can be reduced
therapy has positive effect to blood glucose level on (Ahmadi et al, 2008).
subject who has diabetes mellitus disease. However, there are some consideration that need to
be consider. First the sample we were taken is small,
Table 3. The effect of wet cupping therapy to uric acid. and we didn’t consider the health factor of subjects of
this study. Second, in the process of our study we didn’t
Uric acid Mean (mgdL-1) P consider factors who maybe have a big impact to this
Pretest 7.15 0.001 study, like subjects diet, sleep patterns, etc.
Posttest 5.91
Despite the shortcomings of this study, hejamah has
been proven have some benefits in the prevention of
According to Table 3 that using t test showing that cardiovascular diseases. Study of Bassem Refaat (2014)
there is a different on uric acid level between before wet shown that although hejamah have no significant impact
cupping therapy and after the wet cupping therapy. on decreasing total cholesterol level, but significantly
There is some reduction on the mean of uric acid level raised HDL (High Density Lippoprotein) level and
between before wet cupping therapy and after the wet decreased LDL (Low Density Lippoprotein) level. With
cupping therapy in amount of 1.24 mgdL-1 from 7.15 lower LDL level can lower the risk of stroke attack.
mgdL-1 becomes 5.91 mgdL-1. The analysis result using
t test to uric acid level showing the p value is 0.001
(p|<|0.05), then the effect of wet cupping therapy to the CONCLUSION
reduction of subjects urid acid level after wet cupping
therapy is significant. This Reduction is positive enough Overall, wet cupping therapy is a traditional treatment
to prevent cardiovascular disease because high level of that is a sunnah from Prophet Muhammad.
uric acid or commonly called hyperuricemia according First the sample we are taken is small, and we didn’t
to Euser et al (2008) can rise the risk of cardiovascular consider the health factor of subjects of this study.
disease. Second in the procces of our study we didn’t consider
factors who maybe have a big impact to this study, like
Table 4. The effect of wet cupping therapy to total cholesterol. subjects diet, sleep patterns, etc.
Despite the shortcomings of this study, hejamah has
Cholesterol Mean (mgdL-1) p been proven have some benefits in the prevention of
Pretest 177.05 0.022 cardiovascular diseases. Study of Bassem Refaat (2014)
Posttest 160.43 shown that although hejamah have no significant impact
on decreasing total cholesterol level, but significantly
According to Table 4 that using t test showing that raised HDL (High Density Lippoprotein) level and
there is a different on total cholesterol level between decreased LDL (Low Density Lippoprotein) level. With
before wet cupping therapy and after the wet cupping lower LDL level can lower the risk of stroke attack.
therapy. There is some reduction on the mean of total The conclusion is hejamah or wet cupping theraphy
cholesterol level between before wet cupping therapy have a great chance to become a medical treatment who
36 Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry 8 (2), 2019: 33-36

can reduce blood pressure, blood glucose level, urid acid McMullin, M. F., Bareford, D., Campbell, P., Green, A. R.,
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Michalsen, A., Bock, S., Lüdtke, R., Rampp, T., Baecker, M.,
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