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Original Article | Open Access

Key elements that determine the efficacy of cupping therapy: A bibliometric analysis and review of clinical studies

Jiayin Taoa, Pei Zhaoa, Tingting Moa, Ruiming Zhaob, Nan Yanga, Myeong Soo Leec,d, Jianping Liue, Huijuan Caoe( )
Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China
Department of Respiration, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
Clinical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, South Korea
Korean Convergence Medicine, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, 34113, South Korea
Centre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

Peer review under responsibility of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this review was to identify the possible mechanisms behind cupping therapy by employing an evidence-based approach, and to explore its possible regional and systemic effects in the human body.

Methods

We searched six electronic databases and four online trial registries for articles published up to January 1, 2020. Clinical studies on the mechanisms of retained cupping, flashing cupping, moving cupping, and vacuum cupping were considered for this review. The methodological qualities of controlled studies were assessed using the National Institute for Clinical Excellence methodology checklist, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Characteristic statistical description and qualitative summary of results were used for data analysis.

Results

Thirty-eight studies (37 full texts and one abstract) were included in this study. Due to the clinical heterogeneity among the studies, we could not conduct a meta-analysis. The results showed that the key factors that contribute to the efficacy of cupping therapy are negative pressure and temperature. Cupping therapy mainly causes local and systemic changes in hemodynamics, immune regulation, metabolism, and pain relief.

Conclusion

We identified negative pressure as the key element behind cupping therapy. Cupping therapy may cause redistribution of oxygen at the cupping site and in neighboring tissues, thereby inducing a therapeutic effect by increasing regional blood flow. It may also induce metabolic change, immunomodulation, and neuromodulation. However, additional rigorous clinical research needs to be conducted to further clarify the mechanism behind cupping therapy.

Keywords

TemperatureImmunomodulationBibliometricsCupping therapyNegative pressureHemodynamics

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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
Volume 7 Issue 4,
December 2020
Pages 345-354
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcms.2020.11.001
Cite this article:
Tao J, Zhao P, Mo T, et al. Key elements that determine the efficacy of cupping therapy: A bibliometric analysis and review of clinical studies. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, 2020, 7(4): 345-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcms.2020.11.001

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Received: 13 March 2020
Revised: 03 November 2020
Accepted: 03 November 2020
Published: 09 November 2020
© 2020 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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