Study on the Treatment of Low Back Pain Using Cupping Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a common health issue that significantly affects patients’ quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers interesting treatment modalities, particularly Cupping Therapy, whichhasgainedincreasingattentionfor the managementof LBP. This studyaimedtoreview andsynthesize researchevidenceontheuseof Cupping Therapyfor the treatmentof LBPinthe contextof TCM.
Methodology: This literature review involved the search in major electronic databases, including Thai Journal Online (ThaiJO), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI),PubMed, and Web ofScience, from January2014toDecember2023. Thekeysearchtermsincluded“traditional Chinesemedicine,”“Cupping Therapy,” “low back pain,” and “lumbarpain.”
Results: Cupping Therapyhasbeenfoundtosignificantlyreducetheintensityof lowerbackpain, improve the mobility of back muscles, and enhance the quality of life of patients. Furthermore, the therapy has a high safety profile and can be used in combination with other treatments, such as modern medications, Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture, therapeutic bleeding, heat compress, or exercise, to enhance the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
Discussion: Cupping Therapy is an effective treatment modality for the management of lower back pain, which aligns with the TCM principle of restoring the body’s balance. When combined with other treatment approaches, the therapy can further improve the treatment outcomes. However, there are limitations in this study suchasvariations in Cupping Therapytechniques,heterogeneityof LBPsymptoms, anddifferences infollow-up durations, which warrant further investigation.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Cupping Therapyhasbeenfoundtobeaneffectivetreatment for lower back pain according to the TCM principles, and can be used in conjunction with other therapies to enhance the overall treatment efficacy.Specifically, the therapyhasbeenshowntosignificantlyreducepainintensity, improve spinal mobility,andenhancethequalityof lifeofpatients,andpossessahighsafetyprofile. Therefore, thetherapy maybeapromisingtreatmentoptionfor lower back pain. However, more in-depth studies are needed in the future to provide a deeper understanding of this therapeutic approach.
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