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Dewi Anggraini, Cupping and female reproductive problems
e-ISSN: 2828-4569,Volume 5, No 2, 2024
https://doi.org/10.55116/IJICM.V5I2.89
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CUPPING AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
Dewi Anggraini Padmaningtyas1*, Septiana Ade Ammalia,1, Sesaria Lukman1,
Andari Wuri Astuti1
1Master of Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
*Email : dewianggrainip@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Al-hijamah, or cupping therapy, uses a cupping device to vacuum suction the skin. The recommendation and
virtues of cupping are found in various hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him). It has been used traditionally for centuries and is gaining recognition for its potential health benefits,
especially in women's reproductive health. The aim of this review is to map the research results on the cupping
method (Al-hijamah) as an evidence-based treatment method for addressing reproductive problems in women.
This narrative review uses databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, and Grey Literature, as well as
Google Scholar and Research Rabbit. Based on the results of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 articles were
retrieved, and 2 themes were obtained, namely the role of cupping therapy for women's reproductive health and
various combinations of cupping with other methods. Cupping therapy can have a positive impact on various
aspects of female reproductive health, including menstrual disorders and infertility. Studies have shown
improvements in menstrual cycles, reduction in menstrual pain, and increased fertility rates in women who
undergo cupping therapy. In addition, cupping therapy has also shown promise in treating conditions such as
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and anemia associated with excessive menstrual bleeding.
Keywords: cupping, hijamah, reproductive health, infertility, dysmenorrhea
ABSTRAK
Al-hijamah yang dikenal dengan sebutan terapi bekam, adalah prosedur terapi yang melibatkan penyedotan
vakum pada kulit dengan menggunakan alat bekam. Anjuran dan keutamaan berbekam terdapat dalam berbagai
hadits Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam. Terapi ini telah digunakan secara tradisional selama berabad-abad
dan mulai dikenal karena potensi manfaatnya bagi kesehatan, terutama dalam kesehatan reproduksi wanita.
Tujuan artikel ini adalah untuk memetakan hasil penelitian tentang metode bekam (Al-hijamah) sebagai metode
pengobatan berbasis bukti dalam mengatasi masalah reproduksi pada wanita. Tinjauan naratif ini menggunakan
database antara lain PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, dan Grey Literature menggunakan Google Scholar dan Research
Rabbit. Terdapat 13 artikel berdasarkan hasil kriteria inklusi dan ekslusi dan diperoleh 2 tema yaitu peran terapi
bekam bagi kesehatan reproduksi perempuan dan macam-macam kombinasi bekam dengan metode lainya Terapi
bekam dapat memberikan dampak positif pada berbagai aspek kesehatan reproduksi wanita, termasuk gangguan
menstruasi dan infertilitas. Penelitian menunjukkan adanya perbaikan dalam siklus menstruasi, pengurangan
nyeri haid, dan peningkatan tingkat kesuburan pada wanita yang menjalani terapi bekam. Selain itu, terapi bekam
juga menjanjikan dalam menangani kondisi seperti Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) dan anemia yang
berhubungan dengan perdarahan menstruasi yang berlebihan.
Kata kunci: bekam, hijamah, kesehatan reproduksi, infertilitas, dismenore
Correspondence Author :
Dewi Anggraini Padmaningtyas
Master of Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Email: @dewianggrainip@gmail.com
Dewi Anggraini, Cupping and female reproductive problems
e-ISSN: 2828-4569,Volume 5, No 2, 2024
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1. INTRODUCTION
Al-hijamah, or cupping, is a minor surgical excretory procedure with a medical and scientific
basis in cleansing the blood and interstitial space from harmful substances and Causative
Pathological Substances (CPS). Modern and prophetic medicine has proven the benefits of wet
cupping therapy in treating various diseases with different etiologies and pathogenesis1.
According to Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jauzziyah in Zadul Ma'ad, hijamah removes blood from the
peripheral skin surface.
The medical method of cupping or hijamah has been known for thousands of years in
various cultures, including the Chinese, ancient Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, Romans, Persians,
and Arabs. The history of cupping can be traced through relics such as drawings on the tomb of
King Thot Enoch Amon (1333-1323 BC) and reliefs at the temple of Kom Ombo. The use of glass
cups for skin suction has also been practiced since ancient Egypt. They were also known to use
leeches for treatment. In a medical book from the Han dynasty in 1973, cupping was mentioned
as an attempt to cure various diseases2.
Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him), such as Abu Talhah, were known to be experts in cupping. The use of hijamah was not
only for preventing diseases but also for treating diseases. In the period after the Prophet, Al
Hijamah continued to be practiced as a sunnah. El Sayyed et al. mentioned that one of the
pioneers of the development of Al Hijamah and its publication was Ibn Sina's book Al-Qanon Fi
Al-Tib. Ibn Sina detailed the use of Al Hijamah to treat various diseases.3.
Cupping is known to be effective in treating a variety of health problems. The
recommendation and virtues of cupping are found in various hadiths. One of them, from Anas
bin Malik, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu' Alaihi wa Sallam), said, "Indeed, the ideal
treatment that you use is al-hijamah (cupping) and qusthul bahri" (Hadith takhrij Ahmad no.
12906, Al Bukhari no. 5371, Muslim no. 1577, and At-Tirmidzi no. 1278).
Reproductive health is one of the most critical aspects of health for women of
childbearing age, the most active and productive phase of life, but also vulnerable to various
health problems that can affect the quality of life and productivity. The most common
reproductive health problems experienced by women of childbearing age include infertility,
miscarriage, and menstrual problems. Some studies suggest that cupping therapy could be a
promising method for overcoming infertility in women4,5. Cupping is also used to treat
menstrual disorders6 and reduces menstrual pain7. Other benefits include general health
improvements felt by women of childbearing age in Palestine after cupping8.
Cupping therapy has a solid historical and cultural foundation supported by scientific
evidence and clinical practice. By understanding the therapeutic potential of cupping therapy
in addressing women's reproductive health issues. Broader integration of this practice in
modern healthcare systems could significantly contribute to improving women's overall well-
being and productivity. This review aims to map the current research on cupping (Al-hijamah)
Dewi Anggraini, Cupping and female reproductive problems
e-ISSN: 2828-4569,Volume 5, No 2, 2024
https://doi.org/10.55116/IJICM.V5I2.89
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as an evidence-based treatment approach. The main focus is to identify the clinical benefits and
potential application of this therapy in addressing women's reproductive health issues. Thus,
the results of this review are expected to provide a solid scientific basis for health practitioners
to consider cupping therapy as part of a holistic approach to women's reproductive health care.
2. METHOD
This research is a Narrative Review that focuses on cupping therapy in overcoming
reproductive health problems in women. The databases used in this literature review are
PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, and Search engines, namely Google Scholar and Research
Rabbit. In the process of searching for articles, researchers used several strategies, such as
truncation marks (*) and Boolean operators (OR, AND). The keywords used in the review
include:
(((((((((((((cupping) OR (cupping therap*)) OR (cupping treatment)) OR (hijamah)) AND
(female)) OR (women)) OR (woman)) AND (reproductiv*)) OR (reproduction)) OR (infertility)) OR
(infertilities)) OR (dysmenorrhea)) OR (menstrual pain)) OR (PCOS).
In identifying relevant articles, the authors determined the inclusion and exclusion
criteria. Inclusion criteria included: 1) Articles in Indonesian and English, 2) Journal research
topics on cupping methods in overcoming reproductive problems in women based on existing
scientific evidence and clinical practice, 3) Original Research, and 4) Articles published in the
last ten years (2015-2024). The exclusion criteria were: 1) Review articles, protocol reviews,
opinions, and brief reports.
3. RESULTS
The narrative review resulted in 13 relevant articles that met the inclusion criteria.
Seven of these articles discussed the use of cupping in infertility, and eight discussed the role of
cupping in menstrual problems. Each article was numbered A1-A13 and entered into the data
charting table to facilitate searching, as shown in Table 1.
Tabel 1. Data Charting
No
Author
and
Country
Design
Aim
Results
A1
9
China
Case report
Investigating the potential of
acupuncture combined with
cupping as a therapeutic
approach for female
infertility.
Combining acupuncture with
cupping therapy may offer a
promising approach to treating
infertility.
A2
10
Quasi-
Comparing and assessing the
Studies indicate that both dry
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Indonesi
a
experiment
effectiveness of dry cupping
therapy versus wet cupping
therapy in raising hemoglobin
levels during menstruation in
late adolescents.
and wet cupping therapy
significantly boosts hemoglobin
levels in women during
menstruation, making it an
effective treatment option for
anemia caused by heavy
menstrual bleeding.
A3
4
Saudi
Arabia
Pilot study
Evaluating the efficacy of wet
cupping (Hijama) as a
treatment for female
infertility.
Out of 59 women, 31 (52.5%)
had primary infertility, and 28
(47.5%) had secondary
infertility, with infertility lasting
1 to 22 years. After hijama, 12
women (20.3%) became
pregnant. Factors affecting
pregnancy rates were the
absence of dysmenorrhea,
secondary infertility, and a
history of OCP use.
A4
11
Iran
Randomize
d Clinical
Trial
Evaluate the effect of
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive
Therapy (MBCT) on the
quality of life-related to
fertility in women with
polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS) who are experiencing
infertility.
The study found that MBCT
therapy significantly improved
fertility-related quality of life for
women with PCOS. However, it
did not increase pregnancy rates
compared to the control group
receiving dry cupping therapy.
MBCT was more effective in
enhancing emotional, body-
mind, and social well-being.
A5
12
Turkey
Evaluative
Study
Assess the impact of
alternative and
complementary therapies on
the conception status of
women undergoing infertility
treatment.
It revealed a significant link
between ACT use and conception
rates, but further research is
necessary to clarify the specific
effects of certain therapies, such
as cupping.
A6
8Palestin
e
Cross
sectional
Understanding the use of
cupping therapy among
women of reproductive age.
The findings support the
hypothesis that cupping therapy
positively impacts the treatment
of menstrual disorders,
migraines, infertility, and back
pain.
A7
6
Pilot RCT
Comparing the efficacy of
Both fennel seed infusion
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Iran
fennel seed infusion
combined with dry cupping
therapy versus metformin in
managing oligomenorrhea in
patients with PCOS.
combined with dry cupping
therapy and metformin were
equally effective in decreasing
the interval between menstrual
cycles in patients with
oligomenorrhea due to PCOS.
A8
7
Indonesia
Kuantitatif
Evaluating the effectiveness
of cupping therapy and
abdominal stretching
exercises in alleviating
menstrual pain in Pepe
Village, Sedati, Sidoarjo.
Both cupping therapy and
abdominal stretching exercises
effectively reduced menstrual
pain among adolescents in Pepe
Village, Sedati, Sidoarjo.
A9
13
India
Case
Report
Emphasizes the positive
effects of static cupping on
primary dysmenorrhea and
related non-specific lower
back pain.
Cupping therapy, which targets
deep muscles, can be effectively
used alongside conventional
treatments for dysmenorrhea
pain due to its safety, cost-
effectiveness, and accessibility.
A1
0
14
Iran
RCT
Assess the effectiveness of dry
cupping in managing
excessive menstrual blood
loss in menorrhagia, using
well-validated menstrual
pictograms, and compare it
with medroxyprogesterone
acetate.
Dry cupping demonstrated
greater effectiveness in reducing
the intensity of bleeding and the
number of bleeding days during
menstruation than
medroxyprogesterone acetate.
A1
1
15
Indonesi
a
Pre
Experimen
tal Study
Evaluating the effectiveness
of wet cupping therapy on
menstrual pain
(dysmenorrhea) among
nursing students. This study
employed a pre-experimental
research design with a pre-
post-test model involving 15
participants.
Wet cupping therapy effectively
alleviates menstrual pain in
Stikes Surya Global Yogyakarta
nursing students.
A1
2
16
India
RCT
To assess the effectiveness
and safety of dry cupping and
fenugreek seeds in reducing
pain intensity associated with
primary dysmenorrhea.
Fenugreek seeds and dry
cupping are effective, safe, cost-
efficient, and well-tolerated.
A1
17
Experimen
Investigating the impact of
Wet cupping therapy did not
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3
Turkey
tal Study
wet cupping therapy on
anxiety levels and
thiol/disulfide balance in rats
with premature ovarian
failure (POF) induced by
cyclophosphamide (CYC).
alleviate anxiety in rats with
experimentally induced
premature ovarian conditions,
but it did improve the chemical
balance in the body.
Article Characteristics
Article characteristics by country can be seen in Chart 1.
Chart 1. Articles by Country
This narrative review used research articles from several countries, namely Saudi
Arabia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Palestine, and Turkey. The characteristics of articles based
on method can be seen in Chart 2.
Chart 2. Articles by Method
This narrative review selected 13 articles. The research articles comprised two case
reports, four RCTs, one Pilot RCT, one evaluative Study, one Cross-Sectional, one Quasi-
Experimental, one Quantitative, and one Experimental.
2
4
1 1 1 1 21
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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Through a meticulous process of theme identification using data extraction, the key
themes from the selected research articles have been discerned and are presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Analysis and Mapping of Themes in Research Articles
No
Theme
Sub Themes
References
,1
The role of cupping therapy
for women's reproductive
health
Cupping in infertility
A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A13
Cupping on menstruation
A2, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12,
2
Various combinations of
cupping with other methods
Combination of dry
cupping and wet cupping
A2
Combination of cupping
with other methods
A1, A7, A9, A12
4. DISCUSSION
Cupping therapy is a therapeutic procedure that involves vacuuming (suctioning with negative
pressure) the skin using a suction device18.
The ruling on learning the science of cupping is fardhu kifayah. This is the opinion of Imam
Al Ghazali, quoted in the book Taysirul Fiqh lil Muslimil Mu'ashir by Dr. Yusuf Qardhawi, which
reads, "Al Hijamah / cupping is fardhu kifayah. If no one in a region learns it, all the people will
sin. However, if there is one who does it and is sufficient, then the obligation of the others is
removed."2
When discussing cupping and its benefits, starting the discussion of its virtues can be
referred to the explanation of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
in the following hadith: Ibn Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) told us about the night when he was taken up, that he did not pass by a group of
angels but they ordered him: Command your Ummah to practice cupping!". The hadeeth is
reported by al-Tirmidhi (2053), al-Tirmidhi (3477) and al-Tajah (3477) and is saheeh by
Shaykh al-Albany in Saheeh al-Jami' (5671).
Studying and developing research on cupping is essential to ensure the method is safe and
effective. With proper research, cupping can be integrated into modern medical practice with a
better understanding of its indications, contraindications, and potential benefits and risks.
Based on the narrative review conducted, several themes and subthemes were generated as
follows:
Theme 1: The Role of Cupping Therapy for Women's Reproductive Health
Traditional and alternative medicine practitioners have been using cupping therapy for
centuries. Growing data suggests that it can help treat pain-related disorders in recent years19.
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The results showed that cupping therapy positively affected women of childbearing age9. The
widespread use of cupping in obstetrics and gynecology has a positive effect in alleviating
various conditions. Research shows that cupping therapy has positive effects on women's
reproductive health, especially in addressing menstrual disorders, migraines, and infertility.
Cupping therapy is significantly associated with improved menstrual cycles, decreased
menstrual pain, and increased fertility in women9.
Cupping in Infertility
Studies show that cupping therapy has the potential to help women experiencing
infertility. Research conducted by Abduljabbar (2016) showed that several women with
primary and secondary infertility experienced improvements after undergoing cupping
therapy. Hormonal profiles also experienced significant changes after cupping therapy4. This is
in line with other studies which state that patients who have problems with fertility experience
improvements in hormonal terms after receiving cupping therapy; patients who initially have
anxiety and insomnia problems, after routine cupping therapy, patients will feel calm and
rested, so the state of the body becomes better and ready for pregnancy9. Other studies
highlight a significant link between the use of cupping therapy and conception rates, with a
large percentage of women reporting successful pregnancies after using this therapy12.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of
childbearing age, with an estimated prevalence of about 4 to 12%. It is a lifelong multisystem
genetic disorder and is traditionally first recognized at puberty as menstrual irregularities and
weight gain1. Wet cupping therapy can also increase sexual potency in infertile men, improve
damaged semen quality and impaired sexual function, improve spermatogenesis in men, and
produce healthy offspring in women. The wife of the man who did the therapy became pregnant
after two months of wet cupping therapy. Wet cupping therapy can be effective in treating
individuals with infertility19.
Meyari's research (2020) examines the importance of alternative medicine, especially in
overcoming oligo/amenorrhea, especially in patients with PCOS. The results showed that wet
cupping affected menstruation in women with PCOS and fertilization20. The results of another
study showed that both fennel seed infusion and dry cupping therapy were effective in reducing
the time interval between two consecutive menstrual cycles in patients suffering from
oligomenorrhea due to PCOS syndrome. Both groups significantly reduced the number of days
between menstrual cycles after the intervention11. Results showed that factors such as no
dysmenorrhea, diagnosis of secondary infertility, and history of oral contraceptive use were
associated with increased pregnancy rates after cupping therapy4.
Cupping and Menstruation
Adolescence is a critical phase of transition from childhood to adulthood characterized by
various reproductive health challenges; anemia is a common problem, with approximately 10%
of women experiencing significant hemoglobin loss through menstrual bleeding. Cupping
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therapy, either using Cupping Puncturing Cupping - Wet Cupping Therapy (CPC-PWT)
technique or wet or dry cupping, can potentially increase hemoglobin levels in adolescents
during menstruation. Wet cupping is especially considered more effective than dry cupping.
Therefore, both methods can be considered viable alternative interventions to increase
hemoglobin levels in adolescents during menstruation10.
Cupping therapy has been shown to have a significant impact on hemoglobin levels.
Studies have reported an increase in hemoglobin levels after undergoing this therapy. Notably,
one study noted a significant increase in hemoglobin levels with a p value of less than 0.05,
indicating an average difference after the therapy. Other studies have also noted an increase in
hemoglobin levels after cupping therapy. In addition, cupping therapy is said to reduce
hemoglobin levels in certain clinical conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and liver
cirrhosis by thinning the blood21,22. Research conducted by Mourad, et al showed that anemia
is not a side effect of wet cupping or hijamah therapy23
The widespread use of cupping in obstetrics and gynecology positively alleviates various
conditions. Cupping therapy is identified as an effective method to improve primary
dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, hypercholesterolemia in menopausal women,
oligomenorrhea, idiopathic menorrhagia, low back pain due to pregnancy and labor, perineal
pain due to labor and postpartum anxiety24. Almost all women in the world have experienced
menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea. The incidence ranges from 45-95% of women of reproductive
age with varying degrees, ranging from excruciating sores around the pelvis and inside to
menstrual pain that forces women to rest or results in decreased quality of performance and
daily life7.
Research by Siddiqui et al. (2022) noted that during menstruation, women often
experience dysmenorrhea, which is a painful pain in the lower abdomen, often accompanied by
a cramping sensation. This pain radiates to the thighs and lumbosacral region, causing
discomfort. Research shows a decrease in pain to 2 out of 10 pain scales in the abdomen after
receiving cupping therapy13 is in line with previous research conducted by Alshawish (2021),
which shows that cupping therapy has a positive effect in reducing menstrual disorders,
migraines, and back pain in women of childbearing age. The positive effects of cupping therapy
were also seen in reducing menstrual pain and menorrhagia8. A study conducted by Andi and
Setyawan (2022) showed that wet cupping therapy is effective in reducing pain intensity in
nursing students who experience dysmenorrhea. The study results showed a significant
decrease in the mean value of dysmenorrhea after wet cupping intervention. This shows that
wet cupping therapy successfully reduces the intensity of menstrual pain8. In another study,
static cupping significantly reduced low back pain and abdominal pain related to primary
dysmenorrhea. After therapy, there was a reduction in pain and increased range of motion.
Specifically, pain intensity decreased to 2 out of 10 on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
for abdominal and low back pain, both during activity and at rest13.
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Theme 2: Various combinations of cupping with other methods
The research concludes that cupping therapy can be used in conjunction with other
therapies/interventions to treat abdominal and lower back pain associated with
dysmenorrhea, as the former is safe, cost-effective, and readily available13. Such therapies
include a combination of dry and wet cupping25, acupuncture9, and herbal materials11,16.
Combination of Dry Cupping and Wet Cupping
Dry and wet cupping techniques can be applied simultaneously to enhance the
therapeutic effect. Dry cupping is generally used for general relaxation and pain reduction,
while wet cupping is more intensive, detoxifying and improving blood circulation25. Cupping is
commonly applied for relaxation and reducing pain, while wet cupping is used for more
intensive treatments, such as detoxification and improving blood circulation9,25. Whether
performed with dry or wet cupping techniques, Cupping therapy has a significant positive
impact on increasing hemoglobin levels in women during menstruation. This makes cupping
therapy an effective option to treat anemia due to excessive menstrual bleeding10.
Combination of Cupping with Other Methods
Acupuncture and cupping therapy have shown positive effects in treating infertility, as
demonstrated by the case of a 39-year-old woman who successfully conceived naturally after
28 treatment sessions. In addition, various studies have shown that acupuncture can improve
pregnancy rates and reproductive outcomes by improving blood flow, reducing stress, and
potentially increasing the success of assisted reproductive therapy. However, further research
is needed to verify the effectiveness and understand the mechanisms and benefits of
acupuncture in the treatment of female infertilityClick or tap here to enter text.. A meta-analysis
review suggests that acupuncture may have a positive impact on the fertility of women
undergoing infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization. Acupuncture was associated
with increased rates of live births, biochemical pregnancy (resulting in a positive pregnancy
test result, but the pregnancy could not be maintained), and ongoing pregnancy (defined as any
pregnancy showing a positive heartbeat on ultrasound after 12 weeks of gestation) compared
to the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the rate of ongoing
pregnancy. Adverse events were slightly higher in the actual acupuncture group, and subgroup
analysis showed variable results depending on the type of acupuncture and control group used
in the study. Further research with larger samples and better-quality literature is needed to
understand the impact of acupuncture on infertility fully27.
A study combining fennel seed infusion with dry cupping therapy proved effective and
safe in reducing the interval between two menstrual periods and overcoming oligomenorrhea.
However, this study had some limitations, such as a limited sample population and insufficient
data on the effects of dry cupping. Future research should integrate measurements such as
ultrasound and hormone level analysis to understand better this therapeutic intervention11.
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Another study on the combination of cupping with the use of herbal materials concluded that
fenugreek seeds coupled with dry cupping therapy had comparable effectiveness to standard
medication (mefenamic acid) in reducing pain severity in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
The mean VAS scores for back pain intensity and lower abdominal pain decreased significantly
in all groups16.
5. CONCLUSION
Cupping therapy has various benefits for women's reproductive health. It can help with
menstrual disorders, migraines, infertility, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Cupping
therapy can also increase hemoglobin levels during menstruation and reduce menstrual pain.
Combining cupping therapy with other methods, such as acupuncture and herbal ingredients,
may enhance the therapeutic effect. Nonetheless, further research is needed to validate the
results and understand the mechanism of action of these treatments.
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