Effectiveness of a Local Wet Cupping Protocol in the Treatment of Chronic Headache Findings from a Nine-Year Clinical Study

This preprint presents the findings of a nine-year clinical observational study evaluating the effectiveness of a localized wet cupping (Hijama) protocol in treating chronic headache syndromes. The study included 216 patients and focused on applying a standardized cupping technique at specific anatomical points (including the vertex, bregma, Al-Akhda'ain, and the C7 region). The results demonstrated a significant reduction in headache intensity, improvement in vascular–neurological pressure balance, and decreased reliance on analgesic medications, particularly among patients with migraine and tension-type headaches. Clinical observations also suggested a strong association between improved cervical alignment and headache relief. The study highlights the biological filtration hypothesis of wet cupping and its potential role in removing localized stagnation and inflammatory metabolites. It also outlines the limitations of observational data and emphasizes the need for controlled clinical trials and laboratory-based investigations to validate the proposed mechanisms. This work contributes an important clinical foundation for future research in integrative and complementary medicine, especially for chronic headache patients who are non-responsive to conventional therapies.