Evaluation of the Effect of Wet Cupping on hematological parameters in a sample of Libyan Adults

Wet cupping is an ancient procedure used to treat and prevent various systemic diseases by removing blood from the body. This study aimed to analyze the impact of wet cupping on complete blood count (CBC) parameters in adults aged between 22 and 50 years. This study was conducted from June to August 2023 and involved 50 participants who were interested in undergoing wet cupping. Of these participants, 21 were male and 29 were female. Blood samples were taken before their first cupping session and again two weeks after the session. The collected blood samples were analyzed using a hematology analyzer (Sysmex-XP 300) to perform a complete blood count (CBC) analysis. There were no significant differences in the mean levels of WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and PLT between the pre-cupping and post-cupping samples. However, the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels significantly decreased in the post-cupping samples compared to the pre-cupping samples (P=0.009 and P=0.004, respectively). In conclusion, based on the study's findings, wet cupping did not cause any significant changes in the RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and PLT levels, but there were significant decreases in the HGB and HCT levels.