Significant and sustaining elevation of blood oxygen induced by Chinese cupping therapy as assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Cupping therapy has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to relieve muscle pain/tendency/fatigue and to cure or reduce symbols of other diseases. However, its therapeutic effect is sparsely interpreted in the language of modern physiology. To objectively evaluate its therapeutic effect, we focused on dry cupping treatment and utilized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess the concentration change in oxyhemoglobin ([HbO 2 ]), deoxy-hemoglobin ([Hb]), and blood volume in the course of cupping therapy over 13 volunteers on the infraspinatus muscle, where is usually applied for shoulder pains. Both a prominent drop in [Hb] and a significant elevation in [HbO 2 ] in the tissue surrounding the cupping site were observed during both cupping and post-treatment, manifesting the enhancement of oxygen uptake. This resulting promotion indicates potential positive therapeutic effect of cupping therapy in hemodynamics for facilitating muscular functions.

The hemodynamic changes during cupping therapy monitored by using an optical sensor embedded cup

“…From the results of the hemodynamic changes at the periphery site (Figure B), the RHb responses are comparable to a previous study , but a difference appears in the OHb response. In our study, the OHb decreases immediately after the application of negative pressure and then recovers back to the baseline level in the middle of the cupping therapy.…”

“…The S‐D was determined by considering the optical sensor size that can be placed inside the cup and the stable position of the LED and photodiode to maintain contact with the skin when the skin is sucked‐up into the cup during treatment. To monitor the hemodynamic changes at the periphery site, another optical probe was fabricated with S‐D of 3 cm which was decided to monitor hemodynamics globally because we expected that hemodynamics at the periphery site would not be specifically localized but would be more distributed, and it is same as the other group who monitored the periphery site . The cup with the optical probe was then placed on the thoracolumbar fascia for the cupping therapy.…”

Effects of moving cupping therapy for plaque psoriasis: study protocol for a randomized multicenter clinical trial

“…It plays a unique role in various diseases, including dermatology. Studies have found that cupping can lower the level of superoxide dismutase in the blood, which has a role in reducing oxidative stress [34,35]. Cupping can also significantly reduce the hemoglobin level in the cupping area and increase the level of oxyhemoglobin.…”

Anti- Versus Pro-Inflammatory Metabololipidome Upon Cupping Treatment

“…Cupping treatment is an ancient and traditional physical approach to improve health and maintain homeostasis [7]. To explore its underlying mechanism, we monitored the PUFA metabololipidome with a nude mice model.…”

“…Previous researches mainly focused on its role in improving skin temperature [5], plasma pressure [5], heat effect [12], and plasma oxygen in local sites [7], and subjective human feeling indices ( e.g ., pain scores [4], visual analogue scale [8], numerical rating scale [6]). Although these indices can quantify the therapeutic effect, the fundamental mechanism remains unclear.…”