Cupping therapy as na integrative and complementary practice in the treatment of stress

Abstract

The increase in stress in contemporary society has driven the search for treatments and in this scenario, Integrative and Complementary Practices are an alternative, including Cupping Therapy. This research is a review study with an integrative approach that analyzed works that relate cupping therapy with the treatment of stress and/or symptoms that are associated with stress, as well as studies that combine cupping therapy with other integrative and complementary practices, but who obtained results in terms of reducing symptoms and stress and thus improving quality of life. It aimed to evaluate the evidence supporting the use of cupping therapy to relieve stress symptoms. A search was carried out on the Google Scholar electronic database to identify studies that examined the relationship between cupping therapy and stress. The studies selected for analysis were mainly qualitative and involved small samples. The results showed that participants who received cupping therapy reported significant improvements in several stress-related symptoms, including anxiety, depression and physical pain. Additionally, combining cupping therapy with other complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and music therapy, has been shown to increase overall therapeutic effects. However, the lack of large-scale randomized clinical trials and the heterogeneity of study designs and results make it difficult to establish a causal relationship between cupping therapy and stress reduction. Further research with rigorous methodologies is needed to confirm patient-reported outcomes and elucidate underlying mechanisms of action.