Cupping therapy, an ancient healing technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has gained popularity in recent years as a natural and holistic treatment option. Scientific research provides support for the effectiveness and potential benefits of cupping therapy. By understanding the evidence, we can better comprehend the potential advantages of this traditional practice. Here are the 3 major benefits of cupping therapies:
1. Pain Relief
Cupping therapy has been widely used to alleviate pain, particularly musculoskeletal discomfort. Several studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing pain and improving quality of life:
A systematic review published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2019 analysed 26 clinical trials and concluded that cupping therapy showed significant pain reduction in conditions such as neck pain, low back pain, and knee osteoarthritis[^1].
Another study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2011 examined the effects of cupping on chronic neck pain. The results indicated that cupping therapy was more effective than usual care in reducing pain intensity and disability[^2].
2. Muscle Recovery and Sports Performance
Cupping therapy is increasingly utilised by athletes for muscle recovery and performance enhancement. While research in this area is limited, some studies have suggested positive effects:
A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research in 2012 investigated the effects of cupping on range of motion and muscle activation. The findings indicated that cupping therapy led to increased shoulder range of motion and improved muscle activation patterns[^3].
In a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2014, researchers examined the effects of cupping therapy on athletes’ performance and recovery. The results showed improvements in pain reduction, muscle fatigue, and recovery time[^4].
3. Stress Reduction and Psychological Well-being
Cupping therapy is often associated with relaxation and stress relief. Although more research is needed in this area, some studies have reported positive psychological outcomes:
A randomised controlled trial published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2017 investigated the effects of cupping therapy on anxiety and depression. The study found that cupping therapy significantly reduced anxiety and depression scores compared to a control group[^5].
A systematic review published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine in 2018 analysed six studies on cupping therapy’s effects on psychological well-being. The review suggested that cupping therapy had a positive impact on reducing anxiety and improving overall psychological health[^6].
It is important to note that while these studies provide promising results, more high-quality research is needed to establish the efficacy and specific mechanisms of cupping therapy in various health conditions.
Conclusion
Cupping therapy, an ancient practice of Chinese medicine with a growing body of research, demonstrates potential benefits in pain relief, muscle recovery, and psychological well-being. Scientific studies have indicated positive outcomes in these areas. However, further research is necessary to better understand the mechanisms and effectiveness of cupping therapy.
1. Cao H, Zhu C, Liu J. Wet Cupping Therapy for Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Altern Complement Med. 2019;25(4):325-336.
2. Lauche R, Cramer H, Choi KE, et al. The influence of a series of five dry cupping treatments on pain and mechanical thresholds in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain – a randomised controlled pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011;11:63.
3. Arslan M, Çakmakçı E, Ekinci G, et al. The Effects of Cupping Massage on Shoulder Range of Motion and Adhesive Capsulitis in Male Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(8):799-805.
4. Bridgett R, Kloseck M, Overend T, et al. Acupuncture and dry needling in the management of myofascial trigger point pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Pain. 2014;18(7):939-959.
5. Chen XH, Yu F, Wang SC, et al. Cupping therapy for anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial. J Tradit Chin Med. 2017;37(3):324-328.
6. Liu X, Ma J, Wu J, et al. The effects of cupping therapy on depression, anxiety and psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:271-278.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as a natural therapy to treat various health conditions. However, when it comes to scientific research, acupuncture studies often face criticism for being of low quality. This perception stems from several challenges that make it difficult to conduct rigorous, high-quality research. In this blog, we’ll explore the key reasons behind these challenges and what’s being done to improve acupuncture research.
Key Challenges in Acupuncture Research
1. Methodological Challenges
Acupuncture research often struggles with methodological issues due to the unique nature of the treatment. For example:
Placebo Controls: Creating a convincing placebo for acupuncture (like the Streitberger placebo needle) is challenging because patients can often tell if they’re receiving real acupuncture.
Blinding: It’s difficult to blind both participants and practitioners in acupuncture studies, which can introduce bias.
Double-Blind Studies: Designing double-blind studies (where neither the patient nor the practitioner knows who’s receiving real treatment) is nearly impossible in acupuncture research.
These factors make it hard to conduct randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that meet the highest standards of research design.
2. Blinding Difficulties
Blinding, or masking, is a critical part of high-quality research. However, in acupuncture studies:
Sham Acupuncture: Sham treatments (like non-insertive needles) may not fully mimic the experience of real acupuncture, making it easier for participants to guess which group they’re in.
Practitioner Bias: Acupuncturists may unintentionally influence the study results if they know which patients are receiving real treatment.
This lack of effective blinding can compromise the validity of study results.
3. Heterogeneity of Acupuncture Treatments
Acupuncture is a highly individualised therapy, which creates challenges for standardisation:
Different Techniques: Practitioners may use different needling techniques, point selections, and treatment protocols.
Variable Outcomes: This variability makes it difficult to compare results across studies, leading to inconsistent findings.
Without standardised protocols, it’s hard to draw definitive conclusions about acupuncture’s effectiveness.
4. Limited Funding and Resources
Acupuncture research often receives less funding compared to conventional medical research. This can lead to:
Small Sample Sizes: Limited funding often means smaller studies, which reduce the statistical power of the results.
Shorter Study Durations: Insufficient resources may prevent long-term studies, limiting the ability to assess lasting effects.
Limited Access to Advanced Methodologies: High-quality research often requires expensive tools and technologies, which may be out of reach for acupuncture studies.
5. Publication Bias
Publication bias is a significant issue in acupuncture research:
Positive Results: Studies showing positive or significant results are more likely to be published.
Negative Results: Studies with negative or inconclusive findings often go unpublished, skewing the overall body of evidence.
This bias can create an overestimation of acupuncture’s effectiveness and limit the availability of balanced data.
6. Language Barriers
Many acupuncture studies are published in non-English languages, which can limit their accessibility:
Exclusion from Reviews: Non-English studies are often excluded from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, reducing the diversity and quality of the evidence.
Limited Global Impact: Valuable research may not reach the wider scientific community, hindering progress in the field.
Efforts to Improve Acupuncture Research
Despite these challenges, the acupuncture research community is working to improve the quality of studies. Some initiatives include:
Standardized Protocols: Developing consistent treatment protocols to reduce variability across studies.
Rigorous Study Designs: Implementing more robust methodologies, such as larger sample sizes and longer study durations.
Multi-Center Trials: Conducting large-scale, multi-centre trials to gather more comprehensive data.
These efforts aim to strengthen the evidence base for acupuncture and enhance its credibility in the scientific community.
Conclusion
While acupuncture research faces several challenges—such as methodological issues, blinding difficulties, and limited funding—efforts are underway to improve the quality of studies. By addressing these barriers, researchers can provide stronger evidence for acupuncture’s effectiveness and ensure it’s recognised as a valuable treatment option.
Chemotherapy can sometimes lower your platelet count, which increases the risk of bleeding and other complications. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for centuries to treat various health issues, including low platelet counts. Some scientific evidence suggests that these herbs might help boost platelet counts during chemotherapy, but more research is needed.
How Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Help?
Our registered Chinese medicine practitioners will assess your overall health and make a Pattern Diagnosis based on Chinese medicine principles. They will then recommend an herbal formula and treatment plan tailored to the severity of your low platelet count.
You can use Chinese herbal medicine alongside other treatments, but always under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
Research and Reviews
Shen Cao Granules Study: This study found that Shen Cao granules helped reduce low platelet counts in chemotherapy patients with gastrointestinal cancer. It also shortened the duration of low platelet counts and reduced hospital stays and costs.
Chang Gung Platelet Elevating Formula (CGPEF): A 2018 study on gynecologic cancer patients showed that CGPEF might increase platelet counts during chemotherapy. The study was small, so more research is needed.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: A review of 12 trials found that Chinese herbal medicine could increase platelet counts and reduce bleeding risks in chemotherapy patients. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Summary
Chinese herbal medicine has traditionally been used to boost platelet counts. Always consult your doctor and a registered Chinese medicine practitioner to ensure safe and effective treatment.
References
Chunfeng Yu et al., “Effects of Shen Cao Granules on Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2019.
Yi-Hong Wu et al., “Use of Chinese Herbal Medicine Improves Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia among Gynecological Cancer,” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2018.
Li YX et al., “Effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Improving Platelet Count among Patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” BMC Complement Altern Med, 2017.
Is maternal caffeine intake associated with neonatal anthropometry?
Findings
In this cohort study of 2055 women from 12 clinical sites, measures of caffeine consumption (plasma caffeine and paraxanthine and self-reported consumption) were associated with neonatal size at birth.
Increasing caffeine measures were significantly associated with lower birth weight, shorter length, and smaller head, arm, and thigh circumference.
A study has found that caffeine consumption during pregnancy, even in amounts less than the recommended 200 mg per day, is linked to smaller neonatal anthropometric measurements.
The longitudinal cohort study in JAMA Network Open concluded that compared to women who drank no, or very little caffeine, women who drank the most caffeine (a plasma caffeine level of ≤ 28 ng/mL) had neonates who weighed 84 g less, were 0.44 cm shorter in length, a 0.28 cm smaller head circumference, a 0.25 cm smaller arm circumference, and a 0.29 cm smaller thigh circumference.
“Most of the research on caffeine and neonatal size at birth focuses on birthweight and length, while relying on self-reported measures of caffeine consumption.,” said senior author Katherine Grantz, MD, an investigator in the Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Maryland.
The current study analyzed data from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons, which enrolled 2,055 nonsmoking women at low risk for fetal growth abnormalities with complete information on caffeine consumption from 12 U.S. clinical sites between 2009 and 2013.
“In the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies, we have rich data on multiple measures of neonatal anthropometry to more specifically characterize neonatal size, as well as objective measures of plasma concentrations of caffeine and its primary metabolite, paraxanthine,” Grantz told Contemporary OB/GYN.
The two main sources of caffeine were coffee and soda, which accounted for 35% and 41% of caffeine intake, respectively.
Caffeine was evaluated by both plasma concentrations of caffeine and paraxanthine and self-reported caffeinated beverage consumption measured/reported at 10 to 13 weeks gestation.
Caffeine metabolism was defined as fast or slow, based on genotype information from the single nucleotide variant rs762551.
“Prior caffeine studies have observed lower birthweight after consumption of higher amounts of caffeine — usually 200 to 300 mg, or 2 to 3 cups of coffee, daily,” said Grantz, who served as a co-principal investigator of the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies.
Before starting their analyses, the current authors knew that the average consumption in the sample was much lower, about 35 mg/day, and only 16 women reported drinking more than 200 mg/day.
Because of this low consumption, we were uncertain we would see any significant results, so it was surprising that we still found that increasing caffeine consumption, even at low levels, was associated with some smaller anthropometric measures in the offspring,” Grantz said. “Also, the finding that the decreases in birthweight were manifested by decreases in bone and muscle measures, but not skin folds and fat mass, were unexpected. These findings may indicate decreases in lean tissue as caffeine consumption increases.”
The clinical implications of the study are unknown, considering there were only small reductions in some neonatal anthropometric measures, Grantz said. “Other evidence suggests that even small amounts of caffeine intake during pregnancy (50 mg/day) could be associated with a higher risk of excess growth in infancy and childhood that could put children at higher risk of later cardiometabolic disease,” she said.
“Therefore, our results could indicate some disruption in normal fetal growth patterns, but will require more research to confirm.”
Although the study authors are unable to make recommendations based on the results of their single study, “we encourage pregnant women to talk to their providers about caffeine consumption, and suggest that caution may be warranted,” Grantz said.
The next step for the investigators is to evaluate the serial ultrasounds and fetal volumes conducted throughout pregnancy by the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies to determine when changes begin in fetal growth in relation to caffeine measures, and how these changes may be manifested in fetal volumes.
Disclosure
Grantz reports no relevant financial disclosures.
Reference
Gleason JL, Tekola-Ayele F, Sundaram R, et al. Association between maternal caffeine consumption and metabolism and neonatal anthropometry: a secondary analysis of the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons. JAMA Network Open. Published online March 25, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3238
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Fertility and IVF Support
Many couples exploring fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), often seek complementary therapies to improve their chances of success. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been widely used for fertility support, with emerging research suggesting potential benefits. While some studies indicate positive outcomes, it is important to consult with your treating practitioners about how acupuncture may be able to help you. Additionally, regulatory bodies such as AHPRA may not accept these studies as definitive evidence.
Research on Acupuncture and IVF Outcomes
The Effects of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes of IVF: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2019)
This study found that acupuncture may benefit women undergoing IVF, particularly those with previous unsuccessful attempts. The number of acupuncture treatments appears to be an influential factor. However, methodological flaws in existing studies highlight the need for further research.
Impact of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM) on IVF Outcomes (2015)
A review of 1,231 IVF patient records found that WS-TCM was associated with higher live birth rates compared to IVF alone or embryo transfer with acupuncture only. Both donor and non-donor IVF cycles showed improved outcomes with WS-TCM.
Effects of Chinese Herbs Combined with IVF and Embryo Transfer (2014)
A randomized controlled trial found that Chinese herbal medicine increased endometrial thickness, improved embryo quality, and enhanced IVF success rates.
A Meta-Analysis on Chinese Herbal Medicine for Female Infertility (2015)
This review of 40 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 4,247 women found that Chinese herbal medicine could double pregnancy rates within 3–6 months compared to Western fertility drugs. It also improved ovulation rates, cervical mucus quality, and endometrial thickness.
Traditional Chinese Medicine for Diminished Ovarian Reserve (2014)
A systematic review found that TCM reduced FSH levels and increased antral follicle count, suggesting benefits for women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). It also showed promise as an adjunct to IVF-ET.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Acupuncture for PCOS (2017)
The study found that acupuncture could improve ovulation and menstrual regularity, with additional benefits when combined with medication. However, the evidence quality was rated low to very low.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for PCOS-Related Infertility (2018)
This study found that combining acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and letrozole improved menstrual cycles, ovulation rates, and pregnancy outcomes for PCOS patients.
Acupuncture for Improving Endometrial Receptivity: A Systematic Review (2019)
The study concluded that acupuncture showed statistically significant benefits for women with low endometrial receptivity. However, the quality of evidence was low, warranting further research.
A Literature Review on Acupuncture and Women’s Sex Hormones (2018)
Acupuncture was found to influence hormone levels, including estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, FSH, and LH, potentially improving reproductive health.
Research suggested that garlic may enhance fertility due to its antioxidant properties, improving testosterone levels and testicular structure. However, more clinical trials are needed.
While research on acupuncture and TCM for fertility and IVF support is promising, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings. If you are considering acupuncture or herbal medicine as part of your fertility journey, consult with a qualified practitioner to determine the best approach for your individual needs.
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