Moving cupping therapy combined with acupoint bloodletting for plaque psoriasis: A case report

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can present in various phenotypes, with the most common form being plaque psoriasis. Currently, no type of psoriasis can be cured, and existing treatment options are associated with certain safety concerns. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has achieved great results in treating psoriasis. Cupping therapy is a widely used method in China. In this case, the combination of moving cupping therapy and acupoint bloodletting has demonstrated a favorable therapeutic effect on plaque psoriasis.

A 35-year-old male diagnosed with plaque psoriasis for 20 years, presented with generalized itchy, erythematous, and scaly skin. The patient underwent moving cupping therapy combined with acupoint bloodletting once every other day, three times per week, for a total duration of 8 weeks. After treatment, the erythema, plaques, and scales on the patient's entire body had mostly resolved. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score decreased from 50 to 5, the Body Surface Area (BSA) improved from 60 % to 4 %, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) decreased from 17 to 2 points. No relapse was observed during the 6-month follow-up.

This case demonstrates that moving cupping therapy combined with acupoint bloodletting is well tolerated and effective in relieving skin lesion symptoms and improving the quality of life in patients with plaque psoriasis. As a cost-effective adjunctive therapy, moving cupping therapy combined with acupoint bloodletting holds promise as a non-pharmacological treatment option for plaque psoriasis.