Dry Cupping Therapy And Primary Dysmenorrhea
Condition: Primary Dysmenorrhea
MeSH terms: Dysmenorrhea
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      There is growing evidence of the effects of dry cupping therapy on pain in primary
      dysmenorrhea. However, very few studies have explored the effects of dry cupping therapy on
      the severity of symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea. The study aims to explore the effects of
      dry cupping therapy and the severity of symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea
    

Detailed description: 
      A randomized, standard controlled clinical trial was conducted from August 2014 to February
      2016. Diagnosed case of primary dysmenorrhea aged between 12-30 years were included in the
      research. A total of 60 subjects were assigned randomly to the interventions. They divide
      subjects into three groups randomly using computer software (graph pad software quickcals)
      each group has 20 number of subjects .The test group A received 3gm of herbal drug namely
      hulba twice in a day from day 1 to day 3 of menstrual cycle. The test group B received same
      dose of hulba with dry cupping. For dry cupping three medium cups were applied below the
      umbilicus for 15 minutes on day 1 and day 3 of menstruation. Group C is controlled group
      which received standard drug mefanamic acid, 500 mg twice daily for same duration as the test
      drug. These interventions were given for three consecutive cycles by the end of three months
      results were analyzed. The parameters were evaluated before and after the trial. after the
      completion of statistical analysis they find out that the dry cupping was more effective than
      mefanamic acid in reducing pain intensity in dysmenorrhea .they also notice the overall
      improvement in other associated symptoms like nausea vomiting fatigue and headache .No
      adverse effects had observed either in the subjects of test group or standard group .

      Another research in 2018 was conducted they divide subjects into two groups In the
      intervention group, dry cupping therapy from 3 days before to 3 days after the onset of
      menstruation for three successive menstrual cycles they placed two cups on the lower back on
      each side of the spine and another on the supra pubic area for 10-15 min once daily. Students
      in the control group did not receive cupping therapy but their PD severity symptoms were
      assessed and documented for three menstrual cycle .Results indicated a significant decrease
      in PD severity after dry cupping for three menstrual cycles. Similarly, a study in India
      found that cupping therapy significantly reduced the PD by improving the local blood to
      uterus and reduces blood congestion. This study concludes that dry cupping can be effective
      in significantly reducing PD and its associated symptoms. Given its effectiveness,
      inexpensiveness, and safety, individuals with PD can refer to cupping technicians to receive
      dry cupping for PD management. More studies with larger samples are still needed to provide
      conclusive evidence about the effectiveness of dry cupping in reducing PD .

      According to research in 2018 conducted the highest incidence of PD (57.5%) was observed in
      the group of 15-25years and less (8.57%) in the age group of above 35 years The highest
      incidence of dysmenorrhea (27.5%)was observed in10th class students while lowest
      incidence(5%) was observed in post-graduation students. It has been concluded that cupping is
      very effective for relief of it is cheaper and well tolerated by patient and there are no
      observed side effects of cupping therapy on patient .

      Reviewing the previous literature on the effects of dry cupping therapy provides sufficient
      evidences on pain management with Primary dysmenorrhea but controlling the other associated
      symptoms through dry cupping is not enough. Hence dry cupping is an effective intervention to
      control symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea but its clinical application is very limited.
      In this study dry cupping will be used to minimize pain and manage backache during
      menstruation.
    

Intervention name(s): conventional physical therapy; Dry cupping therapy
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): TENS; Experimental group was given Dry cupping therapy along with TENS.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Cupping Therapies; Pain; Painful Mensturation; TENS