Akbar Razaghi - Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Mehrdad Vahedian - Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Nouzar Nakhaee - Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Ali Asadipour - Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Mehrnaz Mehrabani - Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abnoos Mokhtari - Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, and Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Mehrzad Mehrbani - Herbal and Traditional Medicines Research Center, Faculty of Persian Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Distal polyneuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus with a considerable negative impact on the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dry cupping on distal polyneuropathy in diabetic patients.Methods: This controlled clinical trial was performed on ۳۴ patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) for eight weeks. The non-invasive dry and fixed cupping therapy was performed on the sole of the right foot in the patients three times a week for ۱۰ min, and the left foot of the same patient was considered as a control. The severity of diabetic neuropathy was measured using the modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS), and the symptom and sensory test scores were determined.Results: ۲۰ patients (۴۰ feet) completed the study. There was a significant difference between the control foot and the treated foot in terms of the mTCNS after four and eight weeks (p-values = ۰.۰۰۴ and ۰.۰۰۱, respectively), in terms of the sensory test scores after four and eight weeks (p-values = ۰.۰۰۷ and ۰.۰۰۵, respectively), and in terms of the symptom scores after eight weeks (p-value = ۰.۰۰۲).Conclusion: For the first time, this study demonstrated that cupping therapy might be effective as a complementary treatment in alleviating the symptoms of DPN, although understanding the underlying mechanism requires further investigation.

Diabetes, Neuropathy, Dry cupping, Persian medicine