95 Cupping therapy in STS

Introduction:

Cupping therapy is a medical technique that has gained popularity in recent years. As the name suggests, cupping involves cups used to create suction on the skin. This suction is believed to improve blood flow and reduce pain. Cupping  therapy is a medical technique that is a product of STS because of the medical traditions, effectiveness, mechanism of action, and applications of the practice.

Figure 1; AI-generated image showing the intersection of

traditional healing practices and modern healthcare

through cupping therapy.

Connection to STS:

Cupping therapy can be considered a product of STS due to its integration of medical traditions, scientific research, and societal acceptance. The practice has evolved, incorporating knowledge from different cultures and medical systems. Scientific studies have provided evidence for its effectiveness and mechanisms of action. Moreover, the growing popularity of cupping therapy in mainstream society reflects the influence of STS on healthcare practices. Wang et al. (2023) emphasizes how cupping therapy, once rooted in ancient medicine, is now being carefully studied and integrated into evidence-based clinical frameworks, showing how society and science continue to inform each other.

Origins and Medical Traditions:

Cupping therapy has a long history and is rooted in various medical traditions. It has been practiced in ancient Egypt, China, and the Middle East. In traditional Chinese medicine, cupping is believed to balance the flow of qi in the body. In Islamic medicine, it is considered a form of Hijama, a therapeutic bloodletting technique. These medical traditions have  contributed to the development and refinement of cupping therapy over time (Nimrouzi et al., 2014).

Mechanisms of Action:

The mechanisms of action of cupping therapy have yet to be fully understood, but several theories have been proposed. One theory suggests that cupping therapy stimulates blood circulation andlymphatic flow, promoting the removal of toxins and waste products from the body. Another theory suggests that cupping therapy activates the body’s natural healing mechanisms, such as releasing endorphins and anti-inflammatory substances. Al-Bedah et al. (2018) discussed the various mechanisms of action, including the modulation of the immune system and the release of neurochemicals.

​​In addition to its clinical outcomes, cupping therapy has recently now been studied for its underlying mechanisms. Wang et al. (2023) described multiple pathways by which cupping may reduce pain and promote healing. These include stimulation of the nervous system, increased local blood circulation, activation of the immune response, and modulation of inflammatory markers. The study noted that cupping may affect the levels of cytokines and neurotransmitters associated with pain perception. These biological effects support the idea that cupping is not just a placebo or traditional belief, but a practice with measurable physiological responses. This aligns with theories in traditional medicine while being validated through modern clinical research.

Effectiveness of Cupping Therapy:

Numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of cupping therapy. A systematic review by Cao et al. (2012)      concluded that cupping therapy showed promising results in pain management. Mehta Dhapte (2015) highlighted the wide range of medical ailments cupping therapy can address. Additionally, Lee et al. (2019) found that cupping therapy induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in skin cells, which can promote healing.

A comprehensive review done by Cao, Li, and Liu (2012) examined 135 randomized controlled trials and found that cupping therapy, especially wet cupping, showed significant effectiveness in treating conditions such as herpes zoster, facial paralysis (Bell palsy), acne, and cervical spondylosis. Their meta-analysis revealed that cupping combined with other treatments was more effective than using those treatments alone. For example, wet cupping showed nearly double the success rate in curing herpes zoster compared to antiviral medications alone. Importantly, they found no serious adverse effects across the trials. However, the authors also pointed out that most of the included studies were of low methodological quality, emphasizing the need for more rigorous research. These findings support the therapeutic potential of cupping while also highlighting the importance of improving clinical research standards in traditional medicine.

In a broader analysis, Choi et al. (2021) created an evidence map based on 13 systematic reviews and found potential benefits of cupping therapy for conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, knee osteoarthritis, herpes zoster, and plaque psoriasis. However, they also pointed out that some areas still lack strong evidence and need more research. This map offers a useful overview of what cupping has been studied for, and where the gaps in evidence remain.

Applications of Cupping Therapy:

Cupping therapy has many uses in modern medicine. Mohamed et al. (2023) conducted a systematic review and found  evidence supporting the use of cupping therapy in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation. Vieira et al. (2022) analyzed the acute effects of cupping therapy on trigger points in the cervical region and reported a significant decrease in pain. Furthermore, cupping therapy has been used to treat various medical ailments, including respiratory conditions, skin disorders, and mental health conditions (Mehta & Dhapte, 2015).

Cupping therapy is also used to treat skin and nerve-related conditions. Cao et al. (2012) found that wet cupping was helpful for people with herpes zoster (shingles), reducing both pain and the risk of long-term nerve problems. The study also showed that cupping helped improve symptoms in people with acne and Bell’s palsy, a type of facial muscle weakness. These examples show that cupping therapy is not just for back or neck pain — it may also help with a wider range of health issues. As more studies are done, cupping could become a more common part of treatment in many areas of medicine.

Conclusion:

Cupping therapy is a medical technique practiced for centuries in various medicaltraditions. The effectiveness of cupping therapy in pain management and its potential applications in different conditions make it a valuable therapeutic option. The mechanisms of action of cupping therapy are still being explored, and further research is needed to understand its effects fully. Integrating cupping therapy into modern medical practices demonstrates the intersection of Science, Technology, and Society in healthcare.

Chapter questions:

1. Why is cupping therapy considered a product of Science, Technology, and Society (STS)?
2. How have different medical traditions contributed to the development of cupping therapy?
3. What do recent studies say about how cupping therapy might work in the body?
4. What are some conditions cupping therapy has been shown to help with, according to research?
5. How can combining traditional practices like cupping with modern science improve healthcare today?

*AI discloser statment*

scite.ai was used to help me find information about cupping therapy that fits the goals of this textbook chapter. It provided sources from outside the Western world, offering diverse perspectives. I then combined these with other sources I had gathered to strengthen the chapter’s content.
scite.ai. (2023). scite.ai (beta version) [Large Language Model]. https://scite.ai/assistant

Microsoft Co-Pilot was also used to help me find information about the influence of social media on stock market behavior. It gave me sources from a variety of economic and financial perspectives. I then used the other sources I had gathered to apply additional elements to the chapter.
Co-Pilot. https://copilot.microsoft.com

References

Al-Bedah AM, Elsubai IS, Qureshi NA, et al. The medical perspective of cupping therapy: effects and mechanisms of action. J Tradit Complement Med. 2018;9(2):90-97. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2018.03.003

Cao, H., Han, M., Li, X., Dong, S., Shang, Y., Wang, Q., … & Liu, J. (2010). Clinical research evidence of cupping therapy in china: a systematic literature review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-70

Cao, H., Li, X., & Liu, J. (2012). An updated review of the efficacy of cupping therapy. Plos One, 7(2), e31793. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031793

Cao, H., Li, X., & Liu, J. (2012). An updated review of the efficacy of cupping therapy. Plos One, 7(2), e31793. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031793

Lee, H., Lee, H., Kim, G., Choi, J., & Hong, J. (2019). Plasma cupping induces vegf expression in skin cells through nitric oxide-mediated activation of hypoxia inducible factor 1. Scientific Reports, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40086-8

Mehta, P. and Dhapte, V. (2015). Cupping therapy: a prudent remedy for a plethora of medical ailments. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 5(3), 127-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2014.11.036

Mehta, P. and Dhapte, V. (2015). Cupping therapy: a prudent remedy for a plethora of medical ailments. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 5(3), 127-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2014.11.036

Mohamed, A., Zhang, X., & Jan, Y. (2023). Evidence-based and adverse-effects analyses of cupping therapy in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation: a systematic and evidence-based review. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 36(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.3233/bmr-210242

Moura, C., Chaves, E., Cardoso, A., Nogueira, D., Corrêa, H., & Chianca, T. (2018). Cupping therapy and chronic back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 26(0). https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2888.3094

Nimrouzi, M., Mahbodi, A., Jaladat, A., Sadeghfard, A., & Zarshenas, M. (2014). hijamat in traditional persian medicine. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine,19(2), 128-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587214524578

Vieira, S., Batista, L., Gomes, G., Ferreira, B., Taube, O., Silva, G., … & Fabrin, S. (2022). Analysis of the acute effect of acupression and cupping therapy techniques applied to trigger points in the cervical region of university students. International Journal of Health Science, 2(69), 2-11. https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1592692215118

Choi, T. Y., Ang, L., Ku, B., Jun, J. H., & Lee, M. S. (2021). Evidence map of cupping therapy. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(8), 1750. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/8/1750

Cao, H., Li, X., & Liu, J. (2012). An updated review of the efficacy of cupping therapy. *PLOS ONE, 7*(2), e31793. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0031793

Wang, L., Cai, Z., Li, X., & Zhu, A. (2023). Efficacy of cupping therapy on pain outcomes: An evidence-mapping study. *Frontiers in Neurology, 14*, 1266712. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1266712/full

Images

Figure 1 Leonardo.Ai. (2024). Cupping therapy in modern and traditional medicine [AI-generated image]. https://leonardo.ai

Alt Text:

A digital illustration of a person receiving cupping therapy in a clinic, with traditional medicine tools on one side and modern medical equipment on the other, showing how science and culture blend in healthcare.