The effect of wet cupping on baroreceptor sensitivity in hypertensive patients in sidenreng rappang regency, south sulawesi

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Wet cupping therapy removes toxins, thereby increasing blood flow and stimulating baroreceptors sensitivity which provides a stimulus to the autonomic nerves. This stimulus reduces the sympathetic nerves’ work and inhibits the vasomotor center, and leading to vasodilation, thereby decreasing blood pressure and pulse frequency. AIM: This research aims to determine the effect of wet cupping therapy on baroreceptors sensitivity with blood pressure and pulse frequency indicators. METHODS: It was conducted in Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi, Eastern Indonesia from February to May 2021. Randomized Controlled Trial method was used including two groups of 31 respondents each. The intervention group used wet cupping therapy to regulate anti-hypertensive drugs and the control group used anti-hypertensive drugs with blood pressure and pulse frequency measurements until 6 weeks after the therapy. The measurement of arterial baroreflex sensitivity, such as the magnitude of the change in the RR interval and changes in the systolic blood pressure is expressed in milli-seconds/mmHg units. Wet cupping affects baroreceptor sensitivity by reducing the indicators. RESULTS: The result showed a significant difference in blood pressure measurement (systolic and diastolic) before and after the 2-week follow-up period (p = 0.000; p = 0.001), and between 2 and 4 weeks (p = 0.000; p = 0.000), but between 4 and 6 weeks there was no significant difference in the intervention group (p = 0.248; p = 0.583). There was a significant difference in pulse frequency at 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention (p = 0.016). Furthermore, a difference was also observed in arterial baroreflex sensitivity values in the RR interval parameters before and after cupping therapy (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, wet cupping therapy effectively increases baroreceptor sensitivity by reducing blood pressure and pulse frequency indicators in hypertensive patients up to 4 weeks limit after the therapy, without any serious side effects experienced by respondents.