Abstract

A variety of methods for taking blood from the body, such as cupping and defecation, have been considered as important methods both for the prevention and treating some diseases. This study aimed to compare some laboratory parameters of venous blood before and after cupping therapy. In a follow-up study, 53 candidates for cupping phlebotomy were chosen. Before phlebotomy, 10 ml of venous blood was taken from every subject and used for specific biochemical, hematological, and immunological tests. After that, more volunteers were used for wet cupping ucolfnder standard conditions. After 7 days, intravenous blood samples were taken from each subject and were analyzed and compared with before. The mean age of the subjects was 40.86 years. The results showed that the difference in the mean number of red and white blood cells, the amount of hematocrit, platelets, ESR, and ferritin, were not statistically significant before and after cupping. Mean blood hemoglobin before and after cupping were statistically significant. Statistically, there were significant differences in the amounts of iron, uric acid, urea, and blood sugar before and after the cupping intervention, but other variables, did not show a statistically significant difference before and after this intervention. The results showed that phlebotomy by cupping therapy approach could improve some blood and other biochemical variables in treated individuals, although the differences in some laboratory results and analyzes were not significant for some variables.

Key words: Cupping, Phlebotomy, Venous Blood, Laboratory Parameters