Efficacy of Wet Cupping in the Management of Sciatica: A Case Report
Abstract
Sciatica, a prevalent and debilitating condition, is characterized by radiating pain along the sciatic nerve, often resulting from lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. In Unani medicine, the condition is referred to as Irq-un-Nasa, considered a subtype of Waja-ul-Mafasil (joint pain). Unani texts attribute the cause of Irq-un-Nasa to the accumulation of morbid humors (khilt) like Khilt-e-Balgham or Khilt-e-Dam, causing inflammation and obstruction in the affected nerves and joints.This study evaluates the effectiveness of Hijama (wet cupping therapy) in treating sciatica through two case reports. Case 1 involves a 38-year-old female with L5-S1 disc herniation and left-sided sciatica, while Case 2 concerns a 42-year-old male with right-sided sciatica due to lumbar spondylosis. Both patients underwent four sessions of Hijama over 28 days. Results were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment. These findings indicate that Hijama effectively alleviated sciatica pain in both cases. The therapeutic effect of Hijama is believed to involve neural, haematological, and immune mechanisms, promoting pain relief, blood circulation, and immune modulation. The results suggest Hijama as an effective, low-cost alternative for managing sciatica.
Keywords: Irq-un-Nasa, lumbar disc herniation, Low Back Pain, Unani medicine, Hijama, wet cupping therapy.
Keywords:
Irq-al-nasa, Lumbar disc herniation, Low Back Pain, Unani medicine, Hijama, Wet cuppingDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v14i12.6898References
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