The Efficacy of Wet Cupping on Blood Pressure Among Hypertension Patients

Summary

This research proposal is submitted to fulfill the requirement of the PHD degree of Community Medicine Saudi Board at the Joint Program of Family and Community Medicine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Cupping is an ancient treatment remedy that has been used for many centuries in many parts of the world. In the Middle East, Wet cupping "Hijama" is still a popular treatment because of its religious background. Despite of that, it still has little scientific evidence that proves its efficacy. Many hijama healers claim that they have observed dramatic improvement in Blood pressure control of hypertension patients. Not many studies support that. This study should help to prove or disprove this hypothesis.

Objectives:

* To determine the efficacy of wet cupping on blood pressure among high blood pressure patients.
* To assess the incidence of wet cupping side effects in the intervention group.

Methods: The study design is a randomised controlled trial. There will be an intervention group of high blood pressure patients who will perform hijama in addition to their usual management, and a control group of high blood pressure patients who will receive their usual anti-hypertension management only. There will be 8 weeks follow up period. After that, data entry, analysis and interpretation will take place.

Hypothesis: Wet cupping has an effect on blood pressure in adult hypertension patients

Conditions

• Hypertension

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Wet cupping

Wet cupping is the process of using a vacuum at different points on the body in order to gather the blood in that area. Then apply few superficial incisions (small, light scratches using a razor) on those areas, followed by repeating the vacuum on the same areas in order to remove 'harmful' blood which lies just beneath the surface of the skin.

OTHER

Conventional treatment

According to Saudi Hypertension management guidelines, hypertension patients may require life style modification alone , especially for newly diagnosed cases, or my require life style modification and drug treatment. This will be decided by the treating team in the hospital.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Joint Program of Family and Community Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

  collaborator OTHER

• King Abdulaziz University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nouran A Aleyeidi, Resident Community Medicine · Ministry of Health

• Khaled Aseri, Consultant Community Medicine · National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

19 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-11-30

Primary Completion

2014-02-28

Completion

2014-03-31

Countries

• Saudi Arabia

Study Locations