Cupping therapy for the treatment of Iron overload ( Medical Laboratory Sciences)

Supervisor:

Mr. Ahmad Abdalrahim

Abstract:

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of therapy in which a local suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates (400 BC) used cupping for internal disease and structural problems. Hemochromatosis is a disease in which too much iron builds up in the body. The body needs iron but too much of it is toxic. The body has no natural way to get rid of the extra iron. It stores it in body tissues, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas. The extra iron can damage your organs. Without treatment, it can cause your organs to fail. Controversial information was reported in the literature about the cupping therapy and iron status in the body. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of cupping therapy as a therapeutic method for the treatment of iron overload. 50 patients with iron overload will be participated in this study. Iron studies including serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation tests will be used to evaluate the iron status in these patients before and after cupping therapy.