Treatment of Sciatica by HIJAMA (Regimental Therapy- Cupping)
Abstract
Though cupping therapy has been used in UNANI MEDICINE (Greco Arabic Medicine) for thousands of years but there has been no vast literature and clinical research studies on it. It has been widely practiced in the Middle East and the rest of the world for centuries. In the present study using pre and post research design, thirty five patients with sciatic pain were enrolled at baseline and two weeks following treatment having back pain (54.4 %), sciatica pain (65.5%) and headache (12.7%). Results suggest that by using cupping therapy (Wet Cupping) compared to baseline, sciatic pain was decreased more efficiently which indicated that wet cupping may leads to more clinical benefit for treating various chronic diseases. However, further more rigorous designed trials in relevant conditions are warranted to support this regimental therapy in practice.