• 대한약침학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.94-98
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• 2023

A forty-three-year-old male patient was diagnosed with an acute abscess in the dorsum of the right hand. On the 5th day of conventional pharmacological therapy the patient was still suffering, and was referred to the Outpatient department (OPD) to evacuate and drain the abscess and treat the edema around the area with Hijama (wet cupping therapy, WCT). The hand abscess was successfully cured within a week using an integrative approach of wet cupping therapy together with conventional drug therapy.

• 한국멀티미디어학회논문지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.207-217
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• 2015

A multi-cup electric cupping system (MECS) was proposed, based on the ancient cupping method. MECS consisted of several cups that could be used simultaneously to treat 85 lumbago patients. Each cup was equipped with its own pump and pressure-monitoring system. The vacuum pressure of the cups was controlled using fuzzy logic. Through automated control of the vacuum pressure, long-term relief of muscle tightness was achieved. To develop a scientific foundation for this alternative treatment, we compared the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores from conventional basic cupping to the ODI scores for our proposed MECS. The ODI scores using MECS decreased from $11.71{\pm}1.61$ before treatment to $4.81{\pm}1.48$ and $1.87{\pm}1.61$ after three and five treatments, respectively. The improvement rate in the ODI scores using MECS after three treatments was higher than that achieved by basic cupping. These results, combined with the convenience offered by enhanced information technology and fuzzy logic capabilities, should increase the efficiency of this device, and facilitate the opportunity to further explore the potential of Oriental medical practices.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.187-192
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different cupping therapy methods combined with Korean medicine treatments for peripheral facial paralysis. Methods: 105 patients treated for peripheral facial paralysis with cupping therapy and other Korean medicine treatment at Gil Korean medicine hospital, Gachon University between May 19, 2014 and June 30, 2018 were selected and their medical charts retrospectively analyzed. 48 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups: wet cupping (WC) therapy, or dry cupping (DC) therapy combined with Korean medicine treatment. The duration of treatment ranged from 2 weeks for inpatient treatment to 2 months for outpatient treatment. Both WC and DC therapy were performed on TE13, 3 times per week during the treatment period. The effect of cupping therapy was evaluated by using the Gross Grading System of the House-Brackmann (HB score) and the Yanagihara's Unweighted Grading System (Y score). Results: For both WC and DC treatment of symptoms related to peripheral facial paralysis, HB scores showed a significant decrease and Y scores showed a significant increase from baseline to end of treatment, indicating a beneficial improvement in patient symptoms for both WC and DC. Conclusion: In this study, both DC and WC treatment had significant improvements on peripheral facial paralysis symptoms, with WC having significantly greater beneficial effects than DC.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.308-316
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• 2021

Objectives : This study aimed to develop a cupping pressure control valve for limiting maximum negative pressure while achieving clinical therapeutic outcomes to minimize side effects induced by excessive negative pressure of air extraction cupping devices. Methods : To determine the clinical necessity and suitability of the cupping pressure control valve, this study was designed to measure the change in pressure with or without the valve using both a manual and an electric suction pump. Results : While the maximum pressure was limited by the pressure control valve, the pressure did not increase above a certain level regardless of the type of manual or electric pump. Conclusions : This study will contribute to the development of a safer and more effective base technology for cupping treatment in oriental medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.317-322
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• 2022

Gold thread therapy (GTT) continuously stimulates acupoints and is used to treat chronic conditions/diseases such as chronic lumbar pain. During the procedure gold thread is embedded into the skin and although gold thread is medically pure, GTT is an irreversible treatment where there is limited evidence on its safety. Here, we report a case of a 79-year-old woman being treated for low back pain who developed side effects following moving cupping therapy at a site of GTT (performed in the 1970s). Adverse reactions causing radiating pain persisted more than at least 9 days following moving cupping therapy. The symptoms of pain were evaluated using the numerical rating scale, and changes in tenderness and the state of bruising was recorded. Low back pain improved but the radiating low leg pain did not improve. This case highlights the need for caution when performing moving cupping therapy where GTT has been previously performed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.83-89
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• 2017

Objective: Computers and smartphones have become a necessity for modern people, and the use of these things in an inappropriate position has increased the number of people who complain about neck problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes of cervical angle, range of motion (ROM) and pain threshold according to the McKenzie stretching and dry cupping therapy. Design: Cross-over design. Methods: We included 12 male and 6 female college students in their twenties, and conducted a pre- and post-test to evaluate the changes of each variable after the application of the McKenzie stretching and dry cupping therapy. Results: Neither the cervical spine angle nor the turtle neck angle showed any change in both the McKenzie stretching and the dry cupping treatment. In the McKenzie stretching, the pain threshold decreased, and the ROM of the cervical spine increased in all directions but there was no significant difference. The pain threshold was increased in the dry cupping treatment, and the ROM of the cervical spine was significantly increased in all directions (p<0.05). Comparisons of the McKenzie stretching and cupping treatment showed that the cupping treatment produced significantly greater pain thresholds and improvements in ROM of the cervical spine than the McKenzie stretching technique (p<0.05). Conclusions: Cupping treatment is more effective in improving ROM of the cervical spine and pain thresholds than the McKenzie stretching technique. In the future, cupping treatment will be one of the treatment options for pain and ROM impairments of the cervical spine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was accomplished to investigate the effects of venesection with cupping therapy at Jeonjung($CV_{17}$) on the heart rate variability(HRV) in healthy adults. And based on that, we tried to find out how venesection with cupping therapy at Jeonjung($CV_{17}$) affects the activity and the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : We investigated on 60 healthy volunteers consisted of 30 subjects in venesection with cupping therapy group and 30 subjects in control group. The study was established by randomized trial. venesection with cupping therapy was applied at Jeonjung($CV_{17}$) for 10 minutes in venesection with cupping therapy group. No treatment was executed in control group. We measured HRV 3 times : First, baseline measurement and two more times after treatment in venesection with cupping therapy group(after rest in control group). The SPSS 12.0 for Windows was used to analyze the data by paired t-test(in both group), independent-test(between the groups) and Chi-square test(between the sexs). Results : 1. In venesection with cupping therapy group, SDNN, Ln(TP), Ln(LF), Normalized LF, and LF/HF ratio increased significantly. Normalized HF decreased significantly. Mean HRT, RMSSD, PSI, Ln(HF), and Ln(VLF) were not affected. 2. In control group, Ln(HF) decreased significantly. Mean HRT, SDNN, RMSSD, PSI, Ln(TP), Ln(LF), Ln(VLF), Normalized LF, Normalized HF, and LF/HF ratio were not affected. Conclusions : This study suggests that venesection with cupping therapy at Jeonjung($CV_{17}$) increases the activity of the autonomic nervous system and has effects on the balance of the autonomic nervous system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.1-17
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of moving cupping therapy on the edema of paretic hand in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects were stroke patients with flaccid hemiplegia. Each subject's routine therapy program was maintained throughout single subject ABAB design. During the first week, baseline data were gathered. During the second and fourth week, intervention was provided(total 20minutes of moving cupping therapy, from contralateral to ipsilateral, distal to proximal). During third and fifth week, data were gathered with treatment withdrawn. Edema was measured with hand volumeter and measuring tape. Basically Bayesian analysis was performed using WinBUGS(ver. 1.4), for addition, visual graph and mean score were also presented for comparison between treatment(moving cupping therapy) and non-treatment. Results : The visual graph and mean score showed decrease in edema during the treatment weeks. Overall decrease in edema by moving cupping therapy was verified significantly by using Bayesian ana-lysis(95% credibility intervals). Conclusions : This study suggests that moving cupping therapy could be applicable for reducing post-stroke hand edema. Further research would be needed to establish guidelines for use.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.23-32
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Flexibility and range of motion are very important factors in sports performance, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of cupping therapy on flexibility, muscle activity, and pain threshold of hamstring muscle compared to passive stretching in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned in a crossover design to cupping therapy and passive stretching. Subjects were tested to compare their effects according to the intervention such as Passive range of motion (PROM) (straight leg raising) and active range of motion (AROM). And algometer (pain) testing and MVC assessment using EMG were performed as dependent variables. RESULTS: The cupping therapy group and passive stretching group showed significant differences in all variables including PROM (p=.00, p=.00), AROM (p=.00, p=.03), Pain Threshold (p=.03, p=.08), Semitendinosus MVC (p=.01, p=.00), and Biceps femoris MVC (p=.01, p=.16). There were no significant differences between the two groups in all variables. CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggested that cupping therapy has as much positive effect on flexibility, pain threshold, and muscle contraction as passive stretching. Also, it is more convenient and easier to work on patients than passive stretching. Therefore, cupping therapy should be considered as another option to treat range of motion, pain, and muscle activity in the clinical field.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to develop the system and evaluate the optical analytical technique that reflects acupoint pigmentation and extravasated blood by cupping. Methods : We designed the system able to express XYZ coordinate on local skin color. To evaluate measurement-accuracy, we compared with 24 Color Checker Chart by standardized Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage. After confirming the performance of system, we experimented with cupping which was 80 kPa negative pressure for 1 minute on left/right BL13. The X, Y and Z values were converted to R, G and B, $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$, Erythema Index (E.I.), and Melanin Index (M.I). We compared and analyzed two cases on before/after cupping. Results : The R, G and B values which were converted by X, Y and Z values had high linearity as a high level of R-square (R: 0.969, G: 0.996, and B: 0.992). Moreover, we confirmed that it was possible to quantitatively analyzed the change in skin color by cupping using R, G, B, $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, E.I., and M.I. Conclusions : Therefore, we proposed the new analytical technique for objectifying the oriental medical diagnostic method using cupping and optical sensing technique.