• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 2008

Objectives : Cupping therapy is a stimulation therapy similar to acupuncture and moxibustion with effects that differ depending on the degree of stimulus. To make the strength of the skin objective in cupping therapy for this study, we measured negative pressure in the cupping jar and calculated the expansion rate of the skin. Subjects and Methods : In this study, we experimented with cupping therapy jars made for sale and used in clinics. We studied the pressure in the jars and the changes on the skin surface by measuring properties. We used commercial jars of four different volumes and diameters and tried to discover the properties on the size of the jar. Results : The results of experiment with the cupping therapy are as follows: 1. The lowest pressure in a jar was measured at $-600{\sim}610mmHg$, and the number of operating of vacuum pump for reaching lowest pressure was increased recording where the volume of the jar would be big, but the lowest pressure was not increased recording where the size of that would be big. 2. As the vacuum pump continued to operate, the pressure gradient in the jar got smaller which shows that the expansion rate of the skin was not linear. The pressure gradient shows different operational numbers on the vacuum pump near 0mmHg/operation unrelated to jar volume. 3. When negative pressure worked on the jar, air in the jar decreased. The percentage of air gradually reduced as the negative pressure acted in the jar. For example, the percentage of skin was 37-66% when the negative pressure, reatched -500mmHg. According to out results, different test areas generate different percentages of air in the jar, presumably related to skin elasticity. This phenomenon was most pronounced with the smallest jars. 4. At -500mmHg, the expansion rate of the skin was 1.57-1.9 on the abdomen, and $1.52{\sim}1.68$ on the back. The expansion rate of the skin appeared greater when the jar was relatively small, and it appeared smaller when the jar volume was relatively large relatively.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2008

Objectives : It is sure that standardization of medical instruments is very important and necessary. Cupping therapy is one of the traditional oriental medical method, and it is necessary to set up a standard of cupping therapy and instruments. Methods : We select 3 major cupping instrument makers according to a questionnaire survey of 2001 oriental medical doctors. Dae Gun is A maker, Han Sol is B maker, Dong Bang is C maker. And with these air pumps we make experiments on stability by an inner impact test and a falling test. With these cups we check stability by an inner impact test and a disinfection test. And to know function of these instruments we test a negative pressure and maintain attached cups until 5 to 10minutes. Results : All results of experiments(impacted test, disinfection test, falling test) on stability of cups and air pumps are suitable for medical instrument. And the efficiency of 3 major makers shows various results. Negative pressure of B group is the highest, C group is the second, A group is the lowest. Pressure maintenance test shows A and C group is comparatively up to the experimental standard(<10%), B group is comparatively below the experimental standard(<10%). Conclusions : Results show stability of cups and air pumps is suitable for medical instruments. And negative pressure of cupping and maintenance of pressure show various results. So it is necessary to set up a standard negative pressure of cupping and maintenance of pressure.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2022

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of wet cupping on the treatment of mental illness. A total of 2,670 studies were retrieved using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases, and of these, 2,661 were excluded due to not meeting the inclusion criteria. There were 9 articles included in this review including 1,124 individuals who received wet cupping. Mental health was explored in, those who had migraines, metabolic syndrome, smoking addiction, post-traumatic stress, chronic medical disease, and depression. As an intervention procedure, the triple S technique was used in all studies. Only 3 studies reported that none of the participants complained of adverse events during or after the cupping therapy. In all studies, wet cupping was reported to be effective in reducing psychological symptoms. However, there are few randomized controlled trials testing the e?ectiveness of wet cupping in the treatment of mental health, and most are of poor quality. Therefore, more rigorous studies are required before the effectiveness of wet cupping for the treatment of mental illness can be determined.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-3
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• 2018

This case report demonstrates the beneficial effects of cupping therapy (CT) in a 35-year-old man who is diagnosed with a fracture of the radial shaft due to a motorcycle accident. One year after the treatment started, pseudoarthrosis developed in the radius and an autogenous iliac bone graft was performed. However, extension dysfunction in the wrist became evident. After another 6 months of physical therapy and rehabilitation, no improvements were observed. Therefore, CT and adjunctive electrostimulation were performed, after 30 days of treatment, marked recovery of muscle function and full wrist extension were observed, as determined by electromyography and a grade 5/5 on the Medical Research Council power of wrist extension scale. The results in this case study suggest that CT in conjunction with adjunctive electrostimulation, may accelerate functional recovery from postoperative radial palsy, and provide a useful alternative treatment in this situation.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the present medical treatment in Korean oriental pediatrics. Methods : We selected 24 hospitals attached to 11 colleges of oriental medicine those stand for oriental pediatrics. We sent questionnaires of medical treatment for investigation and analyzed 15 copies of those were answered. Results : The most popular treatment was medicinal therapy. Acupuncture with medicinal therapy was not used as much, but laser acupuncture was used five times more in rhinitis. The frequency of using moxibustion and cupping were less than acupuncture and moxibustion was used as indirectly. Aroma therapy was the third most frequent therapy after medicinal therapy and acupuncture therapy. Aroma therapy was mainly used as a vapor inhalation and massage. 16 of the answered that the most popular exercise therapy would be by providing exercise guidebook and 11 of them said writing exercise diary, and 5 of them said by using exercise machine in the hospital. Conclusions : The most popular oriental therapy in Korea was medicinal therapy and next following were aroma therapy and moxibustion, cupping which is one of the traditional therapies in Korean oriental medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.200-204
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• 2021

Background: Standardized procedures for the clinical application of fire cupping methods have not been established. In particular, the pressure parameters have not been fully characterized and described. Therefore, using various materials, this study investigated the pressure range exerted during fire cupping therapy. Methods: In this study, 3 differently sized (small, medium, large) glass and bamboo cups were used in the cotton ball fire cupping procedure to measure the pressure inside the cup applied to a human skin model. The pressure in each cup was measured 15 times for a total of 90 measurements. Results: A small bamboo cup had the minimum overall pressure (-305.4 mmHg), whereas the large glass cup exerted the maximum pressure (-401.3 mmHg), followed by the medium glass cup, large bamboo cup, small glass cup, and medium bamboo cup. The average pressure exerted by the cotton ball method for all cups ranged from -348.715 mmHg to -358.694 mmHg (95% confidence interval). Overall, the glass cups had a greater pressure than the bamboo cups in all groups (p < 0.001). Among the glass cups used, the larger the size of the cup, the higher the average pressure detected (-381.947 mmHg to -391.973 mmHg; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Large glass cups which are widely used in clinical practice, when used in the fire cupping method exerted pressure ranging from -381.947 mmHg to -391.973 mmHg (95% CI).

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2015

Objective This study investigated the effect of Korean Traditional medicine treatment with Acupuncture, Cupping, Physical Therapy and Ganghwalijetong-yeum(Qianghuochutong-yin) on Knee joint Osteoarthritis patients. Methods 5 Knee joint Osteoarthritis patients were treated with Ganghwalijetong-yeum(Qianghuochutong-yin), acupunture, cupping, physical therapy and exercise for Knee joint Osteoarthritis. K-WOMAC(Western Ontario and McMasters Universitis) Index, VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) were checked to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. Results K-WOMAC of patients treated with Ganghwalijetong-yeum(Qianghuochutong-yin) is improved from $67.00{\pm}24.41$ to $44.80{\pm}21.18$ and there was statistical significance(p<0.05). VAS of patients treated with Ganghwalijetong-yeum(Qianghuochutong-yin) is also improved from $4.20{\pm}1.79$ to $2.30{\pm}1.10$ but there was no statistical significance(p>0.05). Conclusions According to the study, Korean Traditional complex therapy with Ganghwalijetong-yeum(Qianghuochutong-yin) might improve Knee joint Osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.101-112
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• 2009

Objectives : This comparative study aimed to identify the effect of the Buddeumi(cupping-and-moxibustion device) therapy and moxibustion-only therapy on treating constipation of stroke patients who were admitted in the hospital of oriental medicine. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Methods : The subjects of the study consisted of 23 stroke patients, and they were divided into two groups : one was the experimental group of 11 patients and the other was the control group of 12 patients. The Buddeumi therapy and the moxibustion-only therapy were given respectively. Each Buddeumi and moxibustion-only therapies on the 天樞(ST25, right & left) in abdomen were administered to the each group for 40 minutes a total at 10 times. The posttest included the frequency of defecation with the Constipation Assessment Scale every day for one week after the experiment. The data were analyzed by the $x^2$ test, t-test, Fisher exact test, and repeated measures ANCOVA using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results : The results were as follows : First, Hypothesis 1 : 'The patients who are given the Buddeumi therapy in the experimental group have a lower Constipation Assessment Scale than the control group.' was supported(F=4.367, P=0.049). Second, Hypothesis 2 : 'The patients who are given meridian acupressure in the experimental group have a higher frequency of defecation per week than the control group.' was supported(F=0.947, P=0.034). Accordingly, 'The patients who are given the Buddeumi therapy in experimental group have a higher effect on constipation than the control group.' was supported. Conclusion : The Buddeumi therapy reduced the constipation assessment scale of stroke patients and increased the frequency of their defacation per week. Therefore, the Buddeumi therapy could be an effective treatment for constipation of stroke patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2023

Background: Wet cupping (WC) is an efficient and cost-effective technique for removing metabolic waste from the bloodstream via the skin. The study aimed to examine the effect of WC on cholesterol levels including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a Sudanese population. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 30 participants undergoing regular WC therapy were enrolled. Blood samples collected twice: pre-WC therapy (case group) and 10-14 days afterward (controls). Results: Of the participants, 56.67% were male and 43.33% were female, aged 24-69. Pre-WC TC and LDL-C levels were significantly higher than the post-WC control group (p = 0.001). Conversely, HDL-C levels decreased significantly in the pre-WC cases compared to controls (p = 0.001). No significant sex-based difference in mean cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: After WC, males and females experienced significant reductions in TC and LDL-C, and significant increase in HDL-C.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2023

This study aimed to report the effect of moving cupping therapy (MCT) on peripheral facial palsy (PFP). Four patients with PFP treated with MCT combined with integrative Korean medicine treatment (KMT). Patients were hospitalized for < 17 days. House-Brackmann Grading System (HBGS), Yanagihara grading score (Y-score), and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SBGS) were used to assess the changes during treatment periods, and facial photos were taken at admission, interim, and discharge. Facial paralysis symptoms and HBGS grades improved in all patients (Patient 1: HBGS of IV to II; Patient 2: HBGS of V to III; Patient 3: HBGS of IV to II; Patient 4: HBGS of IV to II) following an average of 14.5 days of treatment. The mean (± standard deviation) Y-scores and SBGS scores also increased (Δ[Y-score]: 13.75 ± 3.50 and Δ[SBGS]: 40.00 ± 13.11) from baseline to end of treatment. These findings suggest the clinical effectiveness of MCT combined with integrative KMT in treating patients with PFP.