The Effect of Wet Cupping on Serum Lipoproteins in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

Elevated serum cholesterol and, particularly, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is significant risk factors associated with development and progression of atherosclerosis and consequently CHD. Wet cupping has been known as a complementary medicine to reduce cholesterol. Thus with attention to peoples demand to these complementary methods, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of wet cupping on serum lipoprotein concentrations. In this clinical trial, 7 men and women with high blood cholesterol were randomly assigned into treated (N=8) and control (N=6) groups. Participants in treated group were subjected to wet cupping, whereas those in control group remained untreated. Then, the serum concentrations of lipoproteins were measured after weeks. Data were analyzed using statistical methods including Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Independent t-test, paired t-test. A significant difference was found in the amount of LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio before and after wet cupping (p<0.005), as the amount of LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio was lower in treated group compared to control (p<0.00). Although HDL-C reduction in control group was observed (p<0.0), but comparing two group differences did not show any significant changes at the end of study (p=0.6). Wet cupping may be an effective method to reduce LDL cholesterol and consequently may have a preventive effect against atherosclerosis.