The Compound Effect of Cupping Therapy: Searching Beyond the Meridians

Mohamed K.M. Khalil,Saud AlSanad 대한침구의학회 2018 대한침구의학회지 Vol.35 No.3

Cupping therapy (CT) is used in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and is prevalent in Muslim communities where it is recommended by the Prophet of Islam. The majority of modern, medical practitioners interested in CT, view it as a medical technique and distance themselves from the mechanisms proposed by traditional medicine. However, modern medicine does not offer a valid explanation for the mechanisms involved in CT. There is growing evidence of CT’s effectiveness, specifically in chronic pain management when compared to an inactive control, but not against sham treatment. CT accompanied by religion and prayer, as it is in Muslim communities, cannot be considered to be equivalent to any procedures in modern medicine. “Whole System Research” may be the most appropriate trial design to test the ancient practice of CT efficacy whilst pending development of a novel placebo for assessing the connectivity of body and mind interventions.

Cupping therapy in Saudi Arabia: from control to integration

Mohamed K.M. Khalil,Sulaiman Al-Eidi,Meshary Al-Qaed,Saud AlSanad 한국한의학연구원 2018 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.7 No.3

Cupping therapy or Hijamah is a leading traditional practice after spiritual healings and herbal medicine in Saudi Arabia. Wet cupping is by far the most common type of cupping therapy. Hijamah in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries is a model of religious influences, interconnectivity, and cross-cultural influences between different civilizations. Accordingly, differentiating the cupping practiced in Saudi Arabia, and other Muslims societies from that practiced in other countries like China, by Korea only by the technique or cupping sites is an underestimation of the differences. In Saudi Arabia, the profile or characteristics of cupping therapy user is distinct from the profile of other traditional medicine users by being more educated, with higher job rank and not affected by nationality or gender. After an era of unregulated practice, cupping therapy is currently regulated and monitored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Ministry of Health (NCCAM/MOH) of Saudi Arabia. Regulations and licensing include practitioners, practice place, and cupping equipment. After regulation, cupping is mainly offered by the private sector and paid directly by the client as insurance does not cover it. In the private sector, licensed cupping service is usually provided as a parallel and not an integrated service. However, there are few models of integrated cupping clinic in universities, academic institutions, and governmental hospitals. Further health system research is needed to develop more models of integrated cupping service pending for the healthcare transformation which is going on in Saudi Arabia.

The Compound Effect of Cupping Therapy: Searching Beyond the Meridians

Khalil, Mohamed K.M.,AlSanad, Saud Korean AcupunctureMoxibustion Medicine Society 2018 Korean Journal of Acupuncture Vol.35 No.3

Cupping therapy (CT) is used in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and is prevalent in Muslim communities where it is recommended by the Prophet of Islam. The majority of modern, medical practitioners interested in CT, view it as a medical technique and distance themselves from the mechanisms proposed by traditional medicine. However, modern medicine does not offer a valid explanation for the mechanisms involved in CT. There is growing evidence of CT's effectiveness, specifically in chronic pain management when compared to an inactive control, but not against sham treatment. CT accompanied by religion and prayer, as it is in Muslim communities, cannot be considered to be equivalent to any procedures in modern medicine. "Whole System Research" may be the most appropriate trial design to test the ancient practice of CT efficacy whilst pending development of a novel placebo for assessing the connectivity of body and mind interventions.

The future of integrative health and medicine in Saudi Arabia

Mohamed K.M. Khalil,Sulaiman Al-Eidi,Meshary Al-Qaed,Saud AlSanad 한국한의학연구원 2018 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.7 No.4

Saudi Arabia is witnessing a healthcare transformation to face the challenges of the increased burden of noncommunicable diseases and to maintain the quality of healthcare services. However, in Saudi Arabia, where low back and neck pain, depressive disorders, migraine, diabetes, and anxiety disorders cause the most disability, a broader way of integrative health approach is needed to foster healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. In the presence of the advanced modern medicine healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, the traditional medicine healing system is being used by a substantial proportion of Saudis but like a shadow healthcare system. This phenomenon of using two healthcare systems reflects a need for an integrative healthcare system. Integrative medicine or approach is about bringing traditional, complementary, and modern medicine in a harmonized system of healthcare which can give a high return and save cost. The rationale behind integrative medicine is to include the best practices of both conventional and complementary therapy, uniting these practices into an integrative approach. Pain management, care of cancer patients, and behavior change are among the leading areas of integration models that should be included in healthcare transformation in Saudi Arabia. Investment in behavior change and well-being outside the boundaries of the healthcare system in the Saudi 2030 vision will have more impact on health and wellness of the Saudi citizen in the face of the epidemics of the lifestyle diseases. Models of integrative medicine during the healthcare transformation can be developed, evaluated, and replicated.

Camellia sinesis leaves extract ameliorates high fat diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats: analysis of potential mechanisms

Mohamed Safaa H.,Shahat Abdelaaty A.,Mohamed Mohamed Ragaa,Khalil Wagdy K. B.,Salem Ahmed M.,Farrag Abdel Razik H.,Ahmed Hanaa Hamdy 한국약제학회 2021 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.51 No.2

Purpose Our research aims to address and determine the effect of Camellia sinensis extract in the management of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats. Methods Forty adult female albino rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 (G1) served as the control group, while the other three groups received high-fat diet for 32 weeks to induce NASH and then were later assigned to the following groups: (G2) NASH-afflicted group which was left untreated, (G3) NASH-afflicted group treated with Camellia sinensis extract in a dose of 400 mg/kg, and (G4) NASH-afflicted group treated with Camellia sinensis extract in a dose of 200 mg/kg. Results Significant elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase, albumin, bilirubin (total and direct), cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, triglycerides, leptin, Cox-2, and CD40 values was recorded. Moreover, overexpression of hepatic tumor necrosis factor alpha and hepatocyte growth factor genes were recorded, whereas blood platelet count and serum high density lipoprotein concentration revealed significant depletion, which was paralleled by significant downregulation of hepatic adiponectin gene expression level in NASH group versus the control group. On the opposite side, treatment of NASH groups with two different doses of Camellia sinensis extract reversed the values of the measured biochemical parameters and the targeted gene expression levels when compared with the NASH group. Optical micrograph of liver tissue sections of rats treated with Camellia sinensis extract showed the observed improvement in the studied biochemical and genetic markers. Conclusion This study provides a clear evidence for the promising therapeutic potential of Camellia sinensis extract against NASH. This could be ascribed to its hepatoprotective activity, hypolipidemic effect, and anti-inflammatory potency.

Wet Cupping — Traditional Hijamah Technique versus Asian Cupping Technique in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Sulaiman M. Al-Eidi,Ashry Gad Mohamed,Raid A. Abutalib,Abdullah M. AlBedah,Mohamed K.M. Khalil 사단법인약침학회 2019 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.12 No.6

To evaluate the feasibility of comparing the effect of the traditional Hijamah and the Asian wet cupping techniques in the management of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional and Asian wet cupping techniques for CLBP was conducted in two secondary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Seventy eligible participants with CLBP were randomized to receive one session of wet cupping using either Asian technique (34 patients) or traditional Hijamah technique (36 patients). Cupping was performed at four sites of the bilateral bladder meridian (BL23, BL24, and BL25). The numeric rating scale, Present Pain Intensity, and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire scores were measured immediately after intervention, at seven days, and 14 days after intervention. In both groups, there was a significant decrease in the numeric rating scale, Present Pain Intensity, and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire scores, immediately after intervention, at seven days, and 14 days after intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups across all the outcome measures up to 14 days after intervention. The study did not show a superiority of one technique compared with the other. Longer follow-up periods and more than one cupping session may be needed to evaluate the difference, if any, between both the techniques. Trial Registration: NCT02012205.