- With Mayo Clinic internist
Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
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Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
Brent Bauer, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine. He is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine and director of the Department of Internal Medicine's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Bauer, a native of Madison, Wis., is also an associate professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School and a graduate of Mayo Medical School.
He serves on the editorial board of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter and EmbodyHealth Newsletter and has been with Mayo Clinic since 1992, first practicing at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., before joining Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., in 1996.
Dr. Bauer's principal research focus is the scientific evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies that patients and consumers are using with increasing frequency. He has authored several book chapters and papers on this topic, and is the medical editor of the "Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine." Dr. Bauer also spearheaded a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Gaiam in the creation of a series of 10 DVDs (Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions). These DVDs address common health problems (for example, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure) with integrative medicine approaches that empower people to take charge of their health.
Dr. Bauer is a member of NIH-NCCAM study section and is currently collaborating on over 20 studies being conducted at Mayo Clinic evaluating CAM therapies ranging from acupuncture to valerian. He is also a member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; the American Federation for Medical Research; the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and other professional organizations.
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Question
Cupping therapy: Can it relieve fibromyalgia pain?
Is there any evidence that cupping therapy relieves fibromyalgia pain?
Answer
from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
There's no conclusive evidence that cupping therapy relieves fibromyalgia pain. But anecdotal evidence suggests a benefit. Cupping therapy is typically practiced by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. The theory behind cupping is that it moves or stimulates your body's natural energy — also called qi.
Cupping therapy involves heating the air inside a glass cup, which removes some of the air from the cup. The cup is then quickly placed on the skin, and the resulting vacuum pulls the skin part of the way into the cup. The cup may be left in place for several minutes and then removed, leaving behind a bright red, circular welt.
Articles printed in Chinese medical journals support the use of cupping to treat chronic pain. But these results have yet to be replicated in studies outside of China.
Next questionIs fibromyalgia hereditary?
- Tham LM, et al. Cupping: From a biomechanical perspective. Journal of Biomechanics. 2006;39:2183.
- Chen GL, et al. Observation on therapeutic effect of multiple cupping at back-shu points on chronic fatigue syndrome. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2008;28:405.
- Li CD, et al. Clinical study on combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2006;26:8.
