A RESEARCH PROJECT BY DR NADIA GANI

A REQUIREMENT FOR COMPLETION OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BCM (UNANI TIBB)

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of Wet cupping using B1, B5 and B10 as standard points in all patients and the use of local points according to associated conditions or symptoms. The frequency of cupping ranged from a single wet cupping session, fortnightly or monthly depending on patients’ needs and availability. The sample is made up of patients with varying temperaments and varying types of headaches all chronic in nature. Before patients come in for a session of wet cupping they are prepped for optimal results. They are to increase their water intake, not eat for 3 hours prior, take a hot shower before and where possible have a session after a full-moon. This will aid physis in restoring balance by concocting and eliminating excess humour responsible for causing the headaches. Patients experienced dramatic improvement in the frequency and severity of headaches as well as associated symptoms. A few patients suffered with a severe headache 1-2 days after the session, but felt the benefits thereafter. This could result from the readjustment made by Physis to restore harmony to the body.

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TIBB PHILOSOPHY: Four Headache types Each with a characteristic ‘pattern’

ACUTE: Qualitative imbalance CHRONIC: Humoral imbalance

FOCUS OF STUDY: chronic headaches (Humoral imbalances)

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CAUSE: Excess blood in head region POSSIBLE SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS ∙ blackouts ∙ dizziness ∙ papitations in temple region ∙ heaviness in eye region

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CAUSE: Cold + Moist imbalance CHARACTERISTIC PATTERN: ∙ frontal headache ∙ spreads to the rest of the head ∙ usually accompanied by sinus complaint ∙ worse with cold

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CAUSE: Bilious accumulation in the CNS CHARACTERISTIC PATTERN: ∙ unilateral ∙ typical migraine ∙ worse with excessive Hot + Dry lifestyle

factors

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CAUSE: Cold + Dry imbalance in the body SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS: ∙ dull feeling in occipital region ∙ pulling of neck muscles ∙ defective digestion

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Increase water intake No food to be eaten for 3 hours prior to

session Hot shower before session Sessions done after full-moon, where

possible

RATIONALE

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Female Age 52 Temperament: Phlegmatic Sanguinous C/O: Bilious headaches for past 41 years ∙ aggravated by stress and dairy products Current Rx: daily Adcodols ∙ relief is slight and temporary

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SESSION 1: B1, B5, B10

SESSION 2: B1, B5, B10

SESSION 3: as above, H2

SESSION 4: as above, H2

Severe headache the next day

Severe headache next day, then noticeable improvement

Decreased frequency & severity, less dependent on meds

A single HA (due to stress). Meds required once every few weeks!)

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Male Age 22 C/O: Bilious HA 1/7, epistaxis 1-2/7, acne,

leg muscle cramps Severe injuries & cerebral oedema 17

months prior- MVA Current Rx: Perbex (acne)

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FOR HA’S: B1, B5, B10

LOWER EXTREMITIES & LIVER POINTS (for other complaints)

FOLLOW-UP: 1 MONTH LATER

NO HEADACHES OR NOSEBLEEDS FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH!

1/ 2 EPISODES OF MUSCLE CRAMPS

ACNE CLEARING NO NEW PIMPLES

HAVE APPEARED SINCE THE CUPPING SESSION

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Female Age 46 Temperament: Phlegmatic C/O: Bilious HA’s worse on LHS ∙ Severe & extensive keloid formation on

back & chest

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DRY CUPPING: F3, mid-forehead

WET CUPPING: N4 (LHS), B1, B2, B5, B10

Follow-up 5 days later: no HA since cupping

No keloid formation on cupping scars

A month later: no migraine attack since cupping

Only slight, occasional pain more on RHS of head

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Male Age 47 Temperament: Sanguinous Bilious C/O: Bilious HA’s worse on RHS, twice daily

for past few years ∙ burning in neck & shoulders for months Current Rx: 6-8 Adcodols daily (sometimes

more) Chronic smoker

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B1, B5, B10 5 DAYS LATER: no HA since cupping session

1 MONTH LATER: HA’s are less frequent, less severe, less reliant on meds. Panado sufficient for pain relief!

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Male Age 34 Temperament: Sanguinous Bilious C/O: a combination of bilious & melancholic

HA’s

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H2, B1, B5, B10 FOLLOW UP 3 DAYS LATER: No HA since the cupping session

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Female Age 52 C/O: Sanguinous- Phlegmatic HA’s ∙ high blood pressure

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SESSION 1: B1, B5, B10

SESSION 2: B1, B5, B10

3 DAYS LATER: Patient felt much better

HA’s much less than before

Another 2 weeks later HA’s had ceased completely & BP readings are within normal range

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Female Age 21 Temperament: Melancholic Phlegmatic C/O: A combination of phlegmatic &

melancholic HA’s almost daily, lasting the entire day

Current Rx: Tripiline & Indoblock ∙ using for a few weeks without much relief

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SESSION 1: Wet-cupping B1, B2, B5, B10

SESSION 2: Wet-cupping N4, N5, B1, B2, B5, B10. Dry-cupping on temple area

5 days later slight improvement in HA & neck tension,head feels lighter

HA only lasts for +- 2 hrs, frequency is the same

10 days later: head feels lighter, no neck tension, HA less frequent & last 30 min!

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DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN FREQUENCY & SEVERITY OF HEADACHES AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS & OTHER PROBLEMS

FEW EXPERIENCED A SEVERE HA 1-2 DAYS AFTER THE SESSION

COULD BE DUE TO THE BODY RE-ADJUSTING (PHYSIS’S ROLE IN RESTORING HARMONY TO THE BODY)

THIS WAS ONLY TEMPORARY & IN FEW PATIENTS

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IDEALLY, ALL PATIENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, BUT THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE

OVERALL: EXCELLENT RESULTS WERE OBTAINED

ALL PATIENTS IMPROVED & WERE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE RAPID & LASTING RESULTS

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FROM THE STUDY CONDUCTED, WE CONCLUDE THAT CUPPING IS, INDEEED, EFFECTIVE AS A MONOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEADACHES

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