The Efficacy of Wet Cupping Therapy on Cerebral Oxygenation

February 21, 2026 updated by: SULEYMAN ERSOY, Karabuk University

Investigation of Wet Cupping Therapy Effect on Cerebral Oxygenation Levels by NIRS

The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. With the demonstration of the positive effect of the WCT on cerebral oxygenation, it was aimed to use it effectively in stroke rehabilitation.

In the outpatient clinic setting, firstly the sensor pads of the NIRS device will be attached to the arcus superciliaris (GB14) under the tuber frontalis on both sides. After the measurement is initiated, WCT will be applied to the planum occipitale (DU 20) and to the pars squamosa (GB6-8) of the temporal bone on the sides. Measurement will continue for 10 minutes during and after the WCT application. NIRS and oxygenation measurement data will be compared before, during, and after the WCT application.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The importance of NIRS is that it can detect differences in tissue oxygen uptake that cannot be routinely identified by existing methods (24). The ability of near-infrared (NIR; near infrared; wavelength 650 - 1100nm) light to penetrate tissues and to be absorbed by some chromophores (such as haemoglobin, cytochrome oxidase, bilirubin, urobilin) has formed the basis of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) measurement (15). NIRS is a technique in which the amount of absorption of NIR light by chromophore molecules [such as oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxyhaemoglobin (HHb), cytochrome-c oxidase (CCO), myoglobin] is measured while passing through tissues (16). rScO2 values less than 40% or changes greater than 25% from baseline values may be a harbinger of cerebral ischaemia (17). Cerebral oximetry has attracted attention because it is easy to use and uncomplicated. NIRS should be used as a trend monitor.

In the current study, it is aimed to investigate the efficacy of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on cerebral oxygenation using the NIRS device. Following the enrollment of the healthy individuals, they will all receive one session of WCT. During the WCT application, the cerebral oxygenation levels will be measured with an NIRS device.

In the outpatient clinic setting, the NIRS device's sensor pads will be attached to the arcus superciliaris (GB14) under the tuber frontalis on both sides. After the measurement is initiated, WCT will be applied to the planum occipitale (DU 20) and the pars squamosa (GB6-8) of the temporal bone on the sides. Measurement will continue for 10 minutes during and after the WCT application. The data obtained by NIRS will be compared before, during, and after the WCT application so that we will be able to find out any possible effects of WCT on cerebral oxygenation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

40

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy individual
  • Age 18-65 years
  • Consent to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having received cupping therapy in the past 3 months
  • Contraindications for WCT (such as hemoglobin level below 9.5 g/dL, bleeding disorders, receiving antithrombotic or antiplatelet therapy, INR value above 1.5),
  • Coexisting chronic conditions and using any medication

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
The intervention group will receive one session of WCT. Before, during and after the WCT application cerebral oxygenation levels will be measured by NIRS device.
Procedure: wet cupping therapy

The cupping (WCT) procedure consists of five phases:

Primary suction: Using a manual suction pump, air was drawn from glass cups that were positioned on the chosen locations. The skin and subcutaneous tissue swelled as a result of the cups' five minutes of skin contact.

Area disinfection: After disinfecting the cupped areas with povidone-iodine, they were wiped with sterile gauze.

Scarification: Using a sterile number 11 surgical blade, superficial incisions measuring 20-30 gauge in length and 1-2 mm in depth were made on the skin.

Bloodletting and secondary suction: Once again applied to the scarified areas, the previously removed cups created suction using the manual pump which was previously mentioned. In order to fill the cups, blood was drawn from the skin's and subcutaneous tissue's capillaries.

Removing and dressing: After 10 minutes, the cups filled with blood were removed. The application areas were wiped with sterile gauze, and dressings were applied.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Oxygen levels
Time Frame: Just before WCT application and 10 minutes after the application
Cerebral oxygenation levels measured by NIRS device
Just before WCT application and 10 minutes after the application

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Karabuk University

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Ali R Benli, Kayseri research hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 2, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 2, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

August 6, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 21, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • WCT-11

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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