In this study, cupping was performed on 30 patients suffering with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Nine patients were male and 21 were female, and the age range was 28-54. All of the patients complained of fatigue, while most mentioned problems with headache, insomnia, muscle-joint, neck, shoulder, upper back aching and pain, poor intake and poor memory. There were also reports of some head distention, dizziness, blurred vision, spontaneous sweating, gastrointestinal disturbances, five-center heat, bitter taste in the mouth, etc.

Twice a week, the patients received sliding cupping treatments along the Back-Shu points with Hong Hua You (Carthamus oil) first applied to their backs. This was done for a total of 12 treatments. After the final treatment, there was no marked improvement with head distention, five-center heat or bitter taste in the mouth. However, there was vast improvement in fatigue levels, insomnia, poor memory, spontaneous sweating, sore throat, profuse dreams, poor intake, abdominal distention, diarrhea, and alternating constipation and diarrhea.

Yang, Huang and Qian, Yu. Si Chuan Zhong Yi (sichuan Chinese Medicine), #6, 2001, pgs. 70-71. Abstracted and translated by Bob Flaws, Dipl. Ac. & C.H., FNAAOM, FRCHM