Using of Cupping Therapy among Palestinian Women in Reproductive Age using a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Introduction: Cupping therapy or Hijamah is a traditional practice after spiritual healings and herbal medicine in Islamic Arabic culture. Wet cupping is by far the most common type of cupping therapy. No previous study in Palestine about this topic and nurses are not in isolation of this topic. So, the purpose of the study is to investigate the use of cupping therapy among women in reproductive age. Methods: A cross-sectional study from September 2018 through December 2018, to evaluate the use of cupping therapy among women in reproductive age in three centers at 48 lands/ Palestine. The sample size was included 100 Palestinian women from 48 lands were selected from three centers taken from their files. Developed questionnaires were used based on previous study and researchers’ experience. SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. Results: Show there is a significant relationship between using cupping therapy and improvement in the Menstrual cycle with a significant P-value (0.0377). The study showed that (34%, n=34) of women answered that they have used therapy to treat back pain; (67%, n=23) of them reported improvement and pain decreased. The study (24%, n=24) of women answered that they have used therapy to treat infertility; (75%, n=18) of them become pregnant after 2-3 sessions of cupping therapy. The study showed that (13%, n=13) of women answered that they have used therapy to treat migraines; (46%, n=6) of them reported relieved headache after Hijama. While, (11%, n=11) of women answered that they have used therapy to treat menopausal signs and symptoms; (18%, n=2) of them reported improvement. About (8%, n=8) of women have used therapy for irregular menses; (62%, n=5) of them reported improvement. Finally, (7%, n=7) of women have used in just because of “Sunnah” or religious issues, and (3%, n=3) have used for dysmenorrhea with good outcomes. Lab tests for these patients were the same before and after Hijama except for the infertility group. For this group the mean of test for 24 participants was: FSH before cupping was 7 IU/L and after 9 IU/L, TSH was 0.6 IU/L and after 1.2 IU/L, LH was 5 IU/L and after 7.5 IU/L, progesterone was 6 IU/L after cupping becomes 7.5 IU/L, with high satisfaction level (77%, n=77) of participants. Discussion and Conclusion: In general these results support and reinforce our hypothesis that cupping therapy has a positive effect on women in reproductive age in treating menstrual disorders, migraine, infertility, back pain and findings recommended several conditions. The nurses should have knowledge regards to this complementary treatment to provide culturally competent care.