Domestic and International Clinical Research Trends in Moving Cupping Therapy: Scoping Review
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objectives This study investigated domestic and international clinical research trends in moving cupping therapy (MCT) and suggested future directions for Korean medicine.Methods Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched the Research Information Sharing Service, Korean studies Information Service System, ScienceON, KMbase, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for studies published from 2010~2024 using MCT-related terms.Results Thirty-six studies (33 random controlled trials, three case reports) were analyzed.The most commonly treated conditions include obesity (7), musculoskeletal disorders (6), psoriasis (5), insomnia (4), chronic fatigue (3), and chronic cough (2).Seventeen studies reported treatment duration, with most sessions lasting 10 min.The bladder ≤ meridian and governor vessel acupoints were the most frequently used.The average cup size ranged from 4.5~7 cm in diameter.All studies reported statistically significant improvements in primary outcomes after MCT alone or combined with other interventions.Conclusions MCT may treat various conditions.Future research should explore clinical applications beyond musculoskeletal disorders and obesity with larger sample sizes and improved study designs to strengthen the evidence for this intervention.(
Authors: Sunah Lee, Wonbae Ha, Seojae Jeon, Junghan Lee, Hyeonjun Woo
Institutions: Wonkwang University, Semyung University
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Semyung University
OpenAlex ID: W7082652478