Cerebral HypoxiaNCT06540781
The Efficacy of Wet Cupping Therapy on Cerebral Oxygenation
A study testing wet cupping therapy in people with Cerebral Hypoxia, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. With the demonstration of the positive effect of the WCT on cerebral oxygenation, it was aimed to use it effectively in stroke rehabilitation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cerebral Hypoxia
- What is being tested?
- wet cupping therapy
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2025to 1 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy individual
- Age 18-65 years
- Consent to participate
Who cannot join
- Having received cupping therapy in the past 3 months
- Contraindications for WCT (such as hemoglobin level below 9.5 g/dL, bleeding disorders, receiving antithrombotic or antiplatelet therapy, INR value above 1.5),
- Coexisting chronic conditions and using any medication
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Investigation of Wet Cupping Therapy Effect on Cerebral Oxygenation Levels by NIRS
The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. With the demonstration of the positive effect of the WCT on cerebral oxygenation, it was aimed to use it effectively in stroke rehabilitation.
In the outpatient clinic setting, firstly the sensor pads of the NIRS device will be attached to the arcus superciliaris (GB14) under the tuber frontalis on both sides. After the measurement is initiated, WCT will be applied to the planum occipitale (DU 20) and to the pars squamosa (GB6-8) of the temporal bone on the sides. Measurement will continue for 10 minutes during and after the WCT application. NIRS and oxygenation measurement data will be compared before, during, and after the WCT application.
Read the detailed description
The importance of NIRS is that it can detect differences in tissue oxygen uptake that cannot be routinely identified by existing methods (24). The ability of near-infrared (NIR; near infrared; wavelength 650 - 1100nm) light to penetrate tissues and to be absorbed by some chromophores (such as haemoglobin, cytochrome oxidase, bilirubin, urobilin) has formed the basis of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) measurement (15). NIRS is a technique in which the amount of absorption of NIR light by chromophore molecules [such as oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxyhaemoglobin (HHb), cytochrome-c oxidase (CCO), myoglobin] is measured while passing through tissues (16). rScO2 values less than 40% or changes greater than 25% from baseline values may be a harbinger of cerebral ischaemia (17). Cerebral oximetry has attracted attention because it is easy to use and uncomplicated. NIRS should be used as a trend monitor.
In the current study, it is aimed to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. Following the enrollment of the healthy individuals, they will all receive one session of WCT. During the WCT application, the cerebral oxygenation levels will be measured with an NIRS device.
In the outpatient clinic setting, the NIRS device's sensor pads will be attached to the arcus superciliaris (GB14) under the tuber frontalis on both sides. After the measurement is initiated, WCT will be applied to the planum occipitale (DU 20) and the pars squamosa (GB6-8) of the temporal bone on the sides. Measurement will continue for 10 minutes during and after the WCT application. The data obtained by NIRS will be compared before, during, and after the WCT application so that we will be able to find out any possible effects of WCT on cerebral oxygenation.
- Conditions
- Cerebral Hypoxia
- Being tested
- wet cupping therapy
- Keywords
- Cerebral oxygenation, Wet cupping therapy, NIRS
- Medical subject headings
- Hypoxia, Brain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
wet cupping therapyProcedure or surgery
The cupping (WCT) procedure consists of five phases:
Primary suction: Using a manual suction pump, air was drawn from glass cups that were positioned on the chosen locations. The skin and subcutaneous tissue swelled as a result of the cups' five minutes of skin contact.
Area disinfection: After disinfecting the cupped areas with povidone-iodine, they were wiped with sterile gauze.
Scarification: Using a sterile number 11 surgical blade, superficial incisions measuring 20-30 gauge in length and 1-2 mm in depth were made on the skin.
Bloodletting and secondary suction: Once again applied to the scarified areas, the previously removed cups created suction using the manual pump which was previously mentioned. In order to fill the cups, blood was drawn from the skin's and subcutaneous tissue's capillaries.
Removing and dressing: After 10 minutes, the cups filled with blood were removed. The application areas were wiped with sterile gauze, and dressings were applied.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | The intervention group will receive one session of WCT. Before, during and after the WCT application cerebral oxygenation levels will be measured by NIRS device. Receives: Procedure: wet cupping therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Oxygen levels
Cerebral oxygenation levels measured by NIRS device
Measured: Just before WCT application and 10 minutes after the application
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Aug 2024
- Study start1 Jun 2025
- Primary completion1 Dec 2025
- Study completion1 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cerebral HypoxiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single arm pretest-posttest interventional study
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, SULEYMAN ERSOY, Karabuk University
- Investigators
- Ali R Benli, Study chair, Kayseri research hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06540781
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- WCT-11
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 24 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of Wet Cupping Therapy Effect on Cerebral Oxygenation Levels by NIRS
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06540781
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- WCT-11
- Conditions
- Cerebral Hypoxia
- Keywords
- Cerebral oxygenation, Wet cupping therapy, NIRS
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. With the demonstration of the positive effect of the WCT on cerebral oxygenation, it was aimed to use it effectively in stroke rehabilitation.
In the outpatient clinic setting, firstly the sensor pads of the NIRS device will be attached to the arcus superciliaris (GB14) under the tuber frontalis on both sides. After the measurement is initiated, WCT will be applied to the planum occipitale (DU 20) and to the pars squamosa (GB6-8) of the temporal bone on the sides. Measurement will continue for 10 minutes during and after the WCT application. NIRS and oxygenation measurement data will be compared before, during, and after the WCT application.
Detailed description
The importance of NIRS is that it can detect differences in tissue oxygen uptake that cannot be routinely identified by existing methods (24). The ability of near-infrared (NIR; near infrared; wavelength 650 - 1100nm) light to penetrate tissues and to be absorbed by some chromophores (such as haemoglobin, cytochrome oxidase, bilirubin, urobilin) has formed the basis of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) measurement (15). NIRS is a technique in which the amount of absorption of NIR light by chromophore molecules [such as oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxyhaemoglobin (HHb), cytochrome-c oxidase (CCO), myoglobin] is measured while passing through tissues (16). rScO2 values less than 40% or changes greater than 25% from baseline values may be a harbinger of cerebral ischaemia (17). Cerebral oximetry has attracted attention because it is easy to use and uncomplicated. NIRS should be used as a trend monitor.
In the current study, it is aimed to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. Following the enrollment of the healthy individuals, they will all receive one session of WCT. During the WCT application, the cerebral oxygenation levels will be measured with an NIRS device.
In the outpatient clinic setting, the NIRS device's sensor pads will be attached to the arcus superciliaris (GB14) under the tuber frontalis on both sides. After the measurement is initiated, WCT will be applied to the planum occipitale (DU 20) and the pars squamosa (GB6-8) of the temporal bone on the sides. Measurement will continue for 10 minutes during and after the WCT application. The data obtained by NIRS will be compared before, during, and after the WCT application so that we will be able to find out any possible effects of WCT on cerebral oxygenation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single arm pretest-posttest interventional study
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Procedure: wet cupping therapyThe intervention group will receive one session of WCT. Before, during and after the WCT application cerebral oxygenation levels will be measured by NIRS device. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Healthy individual
- Age 18-65 years
- Consent to participate
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Having received cupping therapy in the past 3 months
- Contraindications for WCT (such as hemoglobin level below 9.5 g/dL, bleeding disorders, receiving antithrombotic or antiplatelet therapy, INR value above 1.5),
- Coexisting chronic conditions and using any medication
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| wet cupping therapyThe cupping (WCT) procedure consists of five phases: Primary suction: Using a manual suction pump, air was drawn from glass cups that were positioned on the chosen locations. The skin and subcutaneous tissue swelled as a result of the cups' five minutes of skin contact. Area disinfection: After disinfecting the cupped areas with povidone-iodine, they were wiped with sterile gauze. Scarification: Using a sterile number 11 surgical blade, superficial incisions measuring 20-30 gauge in length and 1-2 mm in depth were made on the skin. Bloodletting and secondary suction: Once again applied to the scarified areas, the previously removed cups created suction using the manual pump which was previously mentioned. In order to fill the cups, blood was drawn from the skin's and subcutaneous tissue's capillaries. Removing and dressing: After 10 minutes, the cups filled with blood were removed. The application areas were wiped with sterile gauze, and dressings were applied. | Procedure or surgery | Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Oxygen levels
Time frame: Just before WCT application and 10 minutes after the application
Cerebral oxygenation levels measured by NIRS device
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Feb 2026.
Related trials for Cerebral Hypoxia
RecruitingPhase 2
The PROTECT-HIE Pilot Trial
Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
RecruitingPhase 2/3
A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Efficacy of RLS-0071 in Newborns With Moderate or Severe Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
RecruitingObservational study
Predict Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Recruiting
Amnioinfusion for Chorioamnionitis: Targeting Neonatal Brain Injury Biomarkers
Chorioamnionitis Affecting Fetus or Newborn, Amnioinfusion
Recruiting
Minimal Sedation Versus Standard Continuous Sedation After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ali R Benli study chair
Kayseri research hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing wet cupping therapy in people with Cerebral Hypoxia, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Oxygen levels (time frame: Just before WCT application and 10 minutes after the application). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Feb 2026.