Brachialgia paraesthetica nocturna can be relieved by "wet cupping"-Results of a randomised pilot study.
Rainer Lüdtke,
Uwe Albrecht,
Rainer Stange,
Bernhard Uehleke
Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Am Deimelsberg 36, 45276 Essen, Germany.
BACKGROUND:
Centuries ago
cupping was one of the most used medical therapies worldwide but it is
now regarded as an antiquated and unsafe treatment. Nevertheless it is
widely used especially in Germany and China.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate
the effectiveness of "wet cupping" of a defined connective tissue area
(over the Musculus trapezius) in patients suffering from brachialgia
paresthetica nocturna. DESIGN:
Monocenter, randomised, controlled,
sequential clinical trial.
SETTING:
Section of pain management at the
District Hospital of Rüdersdorf, Germany.
PATIENTS:
Brachialgia-patients
of both sexes without age restictions were eligible if they suffered
from chronical tonsillar irritations and showed pathologic indurations
of the connective tissue area.
INTERVENTIONS:
The active group was "wet
cupped" once, i.e. the skin first was scarified and then blood was drawn
by applying vacuum cupping glasses. The control group was left
untreated.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
Pre- to post-treatment change of
brachialgia severeness, calculated from 1-week averages of the means of
three subscales (pain, tingling and numbness), each assessed on a 0-10
numeric analogue scale. RESULTS: N=20 patients were randomised (13
women, median age 47 years). Treatment effects can be found in the
active (-2.3+/-1.9 score points) but not in the control group
(+0.5+/-1.0 points; p=0.002; triangle test). The results are supported
by secondary outcome criteria. Adverse events were not documented in any
patient.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study suggests short-term effects of a
single wet cupping therapy, which remain at least for 1 week. As the
trial lacks of an adequate and blinded placebo therapy the findings are
potentially biased.
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