Clinical efficacy of <i style="">Al Hijamah</i> (cupping) in <i style="">Wajaul</i> <i style="">Mafasil Muzmin</i> (osteo arthritis)

Abstract

According to <i style="">Unani</i> system of medicine, disequilibrium of humours quantitatively or qualitatively causes diseases. <i style="">Wajaul mafasil</i> is a painful condition, which causes immobilization of the joint or cessation of its functions. In <i style="">wajaul mafasil</i>, humours collect in the joints, thereby leading to pain, swelling, and articular tissue damage. Although the drug therapy is quite effective in the treatment of <i style="">wajaul mafasil</i>, but Unani physicians also employed certain <i style="">tadabeers</i> like <i style="">Fasad</i> (venesection), <i style="">Taleeq </i>(leech application) and <i style="">Al Hijamah</i> (cupping). In the study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the efficacy of <i style="">Al Hijamah</i> (cupping) in the patients of <i style="">wajaul mafasil muzmin</i> (osteoarthritis). The study revealed statistically significant improvement in pain intensity and joint stiffness. It also showed improvement in physical function and difficulty in walking but it is not statistically significant.