Effect of Cupping Therapy on Microcirculation in Healthy Volunteers

After the initial vascular occlusion test and a subsequent 10-minute rest period, the plastic therapy cup was placed on the forearm, 5 cm away from the medial and lateral epicondyles by a certified cupping therapist. The size of used cup was determined according to the size of the volunteer's forearm which cover 50% of the area. The cup was vacuumed two times full pumping with a manual hand pump and remained in place for 5 minutes. And then the air was removed by releasing the cups through the release valve.

A blood pressure cuff was placed on the upper arm. The adult probe of the NIRS device (Covidien INVOS™ 5100C Cerebral/Somatic Oximeter, Dublin) was placed on the thenar region of the ipsilateral hand and the regional oxygen value was recorded during all study term. Baseline arterial pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored (GE Healthcare Oy, Helsinki, Finland) from the side of dominant hand and recorded. After a 3-minute stabilization period, the vascular occlusion protocol was started. The blood pressure cuff was rapidly inflated within 3-4 seconds to 50 mmHg above baseline systolic blood pressure and kept at this pressure during 3 minutes. Following this, the cuff was deflated within 1 second. Five minutes after cupping therapy this protocol had done again.