Ayurveda View on Raktamokshan and its Mode of Action as per Modern Science

Ayurveda is old science which deals with many surgical and parasurgical procedures for the management of different pathological conditions. Amongst the many unique modalities Raktamokshan (bloodletting) is one of the important modality which provides health benefits in many diseases. Acharya Sushruta described importance of this procedure in conditions involving vitiation of Rakta and Dosha. Vitiation of Rakta is responsible for many health issues including skin problems and Raktamokshan helps greatly in this regard. Leech therapy, venesection and cupping therapy are subtype of Raktamokshan which helps in blood purification. The bloodletting therapies gaining attention of modern science due to their technical advancement. Raktamokshana mainly involves various techniques of blood liberation. Raktamokshan helps to treat conditions like eczema, swellings, inflammations and poisoning, etc.

The Effect of Wet Cupping on Baroreceptor Sensitivity in Hypertensive Patients in Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi

Wet cupping therapy removes toxins thereby increasing blood flow and stimulating baroreceptors sensitivity which provides a stimulus to the autonomic nerves. This stimulus reduces the sympathetic nerves’ work and inhibits the vasomotor center, leading to vasodilation, therefore decreasing blood pressure and pulse frequency. This research aims to determine the effect of wet cupping therapy on baroreceptors sensitivity with blood pressure and pulse frequency indicators. It was conducted in Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi, eastern Indonesia from February to May 2021. Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) method was used including two groups of 31 respondents each. The intervention group used wet cupping therapy to regulate anti-hypertensive drugs and the control group used anti-hypertensive drugs with blood pressure and pulse frequency measurements until 6 weeks after the therapy. Wet cupping affects baroreceptor sensitivity by reducing the indicators. The result showed a significant difference in blood pressure measurement (systolic; diastolic) before and after the 2-week follow-up period (P = 0.000; P = 0.001), and between 2 and 4 weeks (P = 0.000; P = 0.000), but between 4 and 6 weeks there was no significant difference in the intervention group (P = 0.248; P = 0.583). There was a significant difference in pulse frequency at 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention (P = 0.016). In conclusion, wet cupping therapy effectively increases baroreceptor sensitivity by reducing blood pressure and pulse frequency indicators in hypertensive patients up to 4 weeks limit after the therapy, without any serious side effects experienced by respondents.

Cupping Therapy Benefit in Glucose Blood Level

Some Muslims have used cupping therapy and occupies a popular position among other alternative therapeutic methods. Modern medical research evidence also confirms the benefits of the therapy recommended by the Prophet. Many medical experts know the efficacy of cupping therapy in treating disease. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in 2013, Indonesia was ranked seventh with diabetes. Cupping therapy plays a role in stimulating blood circulation in the muscles, thereby increasing the metabolism of nutrients and glucose consumption by the muscles. The increased sensitivity of insulin receptors was helping to reduce blood glucose levels. This effect is like the effect of exercise and physical activity on blood glucose levels. This study aims to determine the effect of cupping therapy on blood glucose levels.

The Effect of Cupping Therapy on Pain Degree in Athralgia

Joint inflammation characterized by swelling of the joints, redness, heat, pain and movement disorders. Arthralgia causes the elderly to have difficulty in carrying out activities that are burdening the joints of the body. Wet cupping therapy is a complementary therapy that has a working principle of vacuum, injury and blood-sucking in certain areas so it can cure the disease. This study was to identify the effect of cupping therapy on pain intensity in elderly patients with arthralgia in Malang. It was a quasy experiment research with pretest-posttest with control group approach. The sample in this study was 30 elderly then divided into two groups, i.e. 15 elderly in the wet cupping therapy group and 15 elderly in the warm compress group. It used purposive sampling. The average pain intensity before moist cupping therapy was 7.47, and after wet cupping therapy 5.53. While the moderate pain intensity before warm compress was 7.00 and after warm compress 5.73. Wilcoxon test results moist cupping therapy obtained P-value 0.001 means there are significant differences before and after the wet cupping therapy. While Wilcoxon test results, warm compress got P-value 0.001 means there are substantial differences before and after the warm compress. Mann Whitney test result obtained P-value 0.383 means there is no significant difference of effect between the treatment group and the control group. There is an effect of cupping therapy and warm compress on pain intensity. Elderly can use wet cupping therapy as an alternative treatment to decrease joint pain intensity arthralgia.