Efficacy of Wet Cupping Therapy on Fibromyalgia

Background: Cupping therapy is a traditional treatment method especially belonging to our geography. In addition to being on the agenda as a traditional treatment method all over the world in recent years, it has also been the subject of an increasing number of scientific studies in the medical literature. In addition to studies investigating positive effects on blood biochemistry such as reducing LDL and TGS levels (1,2), removing heavy metals from the blood (3), there are also studies showing that it is effective in the treatment of migraine (4) and in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain (5). As a result of clinical studies, it was determined that cupping is effective in painful conditions (headache, myofascial pain, fibromyalgia), calcification, gonorrhea, spondylosis.

It has also been found to be effective in skin diseases (such as acne, herpes zoster), vascular diseases, blood pressure problems, lung and respiratory diseases, and some psychiatric disorders (as a tranquilizer in depression, schizophrenia)(6,7,8,9,10,11, 12,13). It has been suggested that wet cupping therapy stimulates healing by removing inflammatory mediators and toxins from the body. Some practitioners claim that it reduces or even seizes pain by regulating the autonomic nervous system. (13).

Purpose: The aim of our study is to investigate how and to what extent wet cupping therapy will affect the patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Method: The patients who were referred to Umraniye Training Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Polyclinic will be enrolled in the study.

The inclusion criteria are being 18-65 years old, having been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (ACR 2016 diagnosis criteria), and consenting to participate in the study. Those who are accompanied with any chronic disease and on daily medication, contraindicated to WCT as determined in the routine blood tests that were routinely performed before the prior to application (Hgb <9,5; INR> 1,2,; Hgb <9,5, etc) and who received WCT in the last three months will be excluded.

The volunteers will be randomized into two separate groups as study and control group Control group will not receive any intervention while the study group will undergo 3 successive WCT sessions once in a month throughout 3 months (On 0, 30, and 60 days). Vacuum cups will used on different acupuncture points to perform WCT: The one on the posterior median line, in the depression below the processus spinosus of the 7th cervical vertebra, was DU 14 (Dazhui) point; the ones on the back, 3.0 cm lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra interscapulum region were UB 42 (Pohu) bilateral points; and the ones on the back, 3.0 cm lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra were UB 46 (Geguan) bilateral points and additionally the patient's trigger points which we detect during the examination. There will be 5-7 points in total. The technique used will be triple S (Sucking, Scarification, Sucking) in all sessions.

At 0 and 3 months, to both patient groups those questionnaires: Fibromyalgia Impact Survey (FEA), VAS, and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-3L) quality of life scale will be applied. Evaluation will be made between two groups regarding the scores of those scales