الفهرس 
HISTORY OF CUPPING THERAPYOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Few hundreds years ago, the Western medicine has been evolved
and replaced effectively the old traditional medicine (alternative
medicine). Nowadays many patients are seeking the old traditional
medicine owing to the limitations and drawbacks of the western
medicine. Cupping is an ancient remedy that has been used by physicians
for thousands of years and then died in America and Europe in the early
years of the twentieth century. Although the mechanism of cupping is
unknown, it seems that counterirritation, stimulation of acupoints,
improvement of local circulation, immunomodulation, and regulation of
neurotransmitters are likely mechanisms. The sites used for cupping are
either acupoints and energy meridians of traditional Chinese medicine,
certain reflex zones designed by the German doctor Abele or the sites
chosen by the prophet of Islam Mohamed, peace be upon him. There are
two forms of cupping (1) the dry (non-bloody) form, in which glass cups
with negative pressure are applied to the skin, and (2) the wet (bloody)
form in which the skin is cut at designated sites before the cups are
applied. The preliminary studies done on cupping, proved its efficacy in
treatment of many diseases. If the proper precautions are done, cupping is
very safe.
Conclusions: Cupping the safe traditional remedy, can help to treat
many diseases where Western medicine proved to be unsatisfactory.
However, the limited studies available, only produce preliminary data,
that is suitable for future researches, to precisely determine the
mechanism of cupping, and to provide us with a simple clinical approach
to indications and sites for cupping therapy.
Keywords: Alternative medicine, Western medicine, Dry cupping,
Wet cupping, Acupoints.