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Evaluation of Wet Cupping Therapy on the Arterial and Venous Blood Parameters in Healthy Arabian Horses


Affiliations
1 Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
3 Immunology Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany
4 Veterinary Al-Waha Clinic, Qatar Street, Hofof, AlHasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
 

Aim: Recently, the complementary therapies such as cupping and acupuncture are being used in veterinary medicine. This research was carried out to determine the effects of wet cupping therapy (Hijama) on the hematological and the biochemical parameters in the healthy Arabian horses for the first time.

Materials and Methods: In this study, seven clinically healthy Arabian horses were randomly selected. Four points on the animal body were selected to perform the cupping therapy. Two points were selected at the back just behind the scapula on the left and right sides; another two points were located in the rump. Cups with 4 oz (125 ml) size with narrow mouths were used. A manual pump (sucking cups) was used to create the negative pressure within the cups during cupping. Arterial and venous blood parameters and serum cortisol concentration were measured before cupping and 3 days and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after cupping.

Results: No significant differences were estimated in most hematological and biochemical parameters after cupping. A significant decrease in the concentration of serum cortisol was observed in 3 and 14 days after cupping.

Conclusion: Cupping induced minor changes on the hematological and biochemical parameters in Arabian horses. This is the first trial on the effects of wet cupping therapy on the different parameters in Arabian horses, which would be useful for further investigations on the role of complementary therapies in horses. Our further studies will include different disease models.

Keywords

Biochemical, Cortisol, Cupping, Hematological, Horse.
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  • Evaluation of Wet Cupping Therapy on the Arterial and Venous Blood Parameters in Healthy Arabian Horses

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Authors

Turke Shawaf
Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
Wael El-Deeb
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
Jamal Hussen
Immunology Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany
Mahmoud Hendi
Veterinary Al-Waha Clinic, Qatar Street, Hofof, AlHasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
Shahab Al-Bulushi
Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia

Abstract


Aim: Recently, the complementary therapies such as cupping and acupuncture are being used in veterinary medicine. This research was carried out to determine the effects of wet cupping therapy (Hijama) on the hematological and the biochemical parameters in the healthy Arabian horses for the first time.

Materials and Methods: In this study, seven clinically healthy Arabian horses were randomly selected. Four points on the animal body were selected to perform the cupping therapy. Two points were selected at the back just behind the scapula on the left and right sides; another two points were located in the rump. Cups with 4 oz (125 ml) size with narrow mouths were used. A manual pump (sucking cups) was used to create the negative pressure within the cups during cupping. Arterial and venous blood parameters and serum cortisol concentration were measured before cupping and 3 days and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after cupping.

Results: No significant differences were estimated in most hematological and biochemical parameters after cupping. A significant decrease in the concentration of serum cortisol was observed in 3 and 14 days after cupping.

Conclusion: Cupping induced minor changes on the hematological and biochemical parameters in Arabian horses. This is the first trial on the effects of wet cupping therapy on the different parameters in Arabian horses, which would be useful for further investigations on the role of complementary therapies in horses. Our further studies will include different disease models.

Keywords


Biochemical, Cortisol, Cupping, Hematological, Horse.

References