Efficacy of Cupping Therapy and Oral Medications in the Management of Non Specific Low Back Pain-A Pilot Study

Background: Globally, non-specific low back pain has grown to be a significant public health concern. Clinical practice guidelines on the management of NSLBP insist on the use of reassurance, physical activity, paracetamol, NSAIDs, spinal manipulation therapy, etc. NSLBP is correlated to katishula in Ayurveda and management includes parasurgical procedures like Agnikarma and Raktamokshana, which are practiced widely for vatavyadhi predominant with pain. Oral medications like Yograja guggulu and external applications of Dhanwantaram taila are commonly prescribed to relieve pain. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of Alabu Raktamokshana (Cupping therapy) and oral medications in Nonspecific Low Back Pain (NSLBP). Materials and Methods: Twenty patients diagnosed with NSLBP presenting with shoola, stambha, suptata, at kati pradesha and who are yogya for Raktamokshana fulfilling all the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Raktamokshana by Alabu (Cupping therapy) was done on the first and 7th day, followed by internal medications such as Yogaraja Guggulu, Erandamoola kashaya and local application of Dhanwantharam taila for 14 days. VAS, VDS, SLR, Oswestry Disability Score, Shoola, Stambha, Suptata and Range of Movements were assessed at various time points, i.e., the 7th and 14th days from the day of enrollment. The dependent “t” test and the Wilcoxon match-paired test were applied to evaluate the results. Results: Significant results (p<0.05) were observed in all the assessed parameters at various time points. Conclusion: Alabu raktamokshana, along with oral medications, has given good results in the present study. Further randomised clinical trials in this aspect are necessary to provide evidence-based results.