Investigation of Wet Cupping Therapy on Heavy Metal Levels of Steel Industry Workers

NCT ID: NCT03693079

Last Updated: 2018-10-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 44 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-09-03
• Study Completion Date: 2018-10-01

Brief Summary

This interventional study investigates the efficacy of Wet cupping therapy on heavy metal levels.The levels of the selected heavy metals will be measured in the blood samples obtained from the participants before and after the interventions

Detailed Description

Wet cupping therapy (WCT) is a traditional therapy which was used for centuries especially for detoxifiying purposes.Current literature also points out its blood clarifiying capacity in order to illuminate the underlying mechanism of this ancient treatment.

Steel industry workers, different from the general population are exposed to heavy metals more often.Conducting a study in this special group where we will evaluate the levels of selected heavy metals in blood before and after the three sessions of WCT might let us know its detoxifiying capacity based on measurable parameters.

Conditions

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Wet Cupping

wet cupping therapy will be applied to all participants

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Wet cupping therapy

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

CT was applied using plastic disposable vacuum cups on the back in the 5 areas of C7 cervical spine (DU14 acupoint), T2-4 lateral spine bilaterally (BL41-42 acupoint) and T6-8 lateral spine bilaterally (BL44-46). The cupping technique procedure was conducted in five phases:

1. Primary suction; cups are left attached to the skin for 5 minutes.

2. Area disinfection; areas are wiped with sterile gauze after disinfection with povidone iodine.

3. Scarification; Superficial incisions (20-30 gauge), 5 mm length and 1-2 mm depth, are made on the skin with a sterile, number 11 surgical blade.

4. Bloodletting and secondary suction; the cups which had been previously removed are placed again on the scarified areas Blood leaks from the capillary vessels of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and fills the cups, which are left in place for 15 minutes.

5. Removing and dressing; the cups full of blood are removed. The areas of application are wiped with sterile gauze and then a dressing is applied

Interventions

Wet cupping therapy

CT was applied using plastic disposable vacuum cups on the back in the 5 areas of C7 cervical spine (DU14 acupoint), T2-4 lateral spine bilaterally (BL41-42 acupoint) and T6-8 lateral spine bilaterally (BL44-46). The cupping technique procedure was conducted in five phases:

1. Primary suction; cups are left attached to the skin for 5 minutes.

2. Area disinfection; areas are wiped with sterile gauze after disinfection with povidone iodine.

3. Scarification; Superficial incisions (20-30 gauge), 5 mm length and 1-2 mm depth, are made on the skin with a sterile, number 11 surgical blade.

4. Bloodletting and secondary suction; the cups which had been previously removed are placed again on the scarified areas Blood leaks from the capillary vessels of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and fills the cups, which are left in place for 15 minutes.

5. Removing and dressing; the cups full of blood are removed. The areas of application are wiped with sterile gauze and then a dressing is applied

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy individuals
• Iron and Steel industry workers

Exclusion Criteria

• having any chronic disorder
• being on daily medication
• wet cupping application in the last 6 months

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Karabuk University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

SULEYMAN ERSOY

Assist.Prof. Department of Family Medicine

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Suleyman Ersoy

Safranbolu, Karabük Province, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

KBU-BAP-17/1-KA-071

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id