OBJECTIVETo use distinctive water-medicine cup therapy for treatment of cervical spondylopathy of cervical type as a sample to provide a more effective cupping method for clinic.

METHODSOne hundred and forty cases were randomly divided into a medicine cup group (n = 47), a water cup group (n = 47) and a empty cup group (n = 46). The medicine cup group were treated by cupping therapy with a self-made medicine cup with 45 degrees C Chinese herb solution; the water cup group were treated with a cup with 45 degrees C water, and the empty cup group with a cup with nothing. Clinical symptoms and signs were observed for comparison of therapeutic effects.

RESULTSClinically cured was 39 cases, and markedly effective was 8 cases in the medicine cup group; 20 cases were clinically cured, 22 cases were markedly effective and 5 cases were effective in the water cup group; 12 cases were clinically cured, 19 cases were markedly effective and 15 cases were effective in the empty cup group. There were significant differences in the ratio of cases of different therapeutic effects and the difference of pain score before and after treatment between the medicine cup group and the water cup group (P < 0.05), between the water cup group and the empty cup group (P < 0.05), and between the medicine cup group and the empty cup group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of the distinctive medicine cup is better than the water cup group, and the water cup group is better than the empty cup group.