Effect of Ḥijāma bilā Shart (Dry cupping) and Unani Formulation on Waja’-i-Mafṣal-i-Katif (Frozen Shoulder) - A Case Study

Abstract

In Unani literature, term Waja-i-Mafsal-i-Katif is used for frozen shoulder which is mentioned by Unani scholars as Tahajjur which means ‘to become hard.’ In this case report a female patient, house-wife aged 47 years visited OPD of RRIUM Srinagar on 9/3/2024 with complaints of pain and stiffness in her right shoulder. The pain was gradual on onset, sharp in character, non-radiating associated with stiffness of the same joint and numbness and tingling sensation of the forearm from past sixteen weeks. The patient was treated with dry cupping along with Unani formulation in the patients with Waja’-i-Mafṣal-i-Katif (frozen shoulder). 5 sittings of Hijama bilā Shart (dry cupping) were given to the patient for 5 consecutive days and the Unani medication for a period of 14 days. In this study, reduction in pain, improvement in range of motion and ability to do the activities of daily living after the treatment were improved. This study concluded that one of the known regimenal therapies of Unani Medicine that is Ḥijāma bilā Sharṭ along with the Unani formulation has a significant effect on improving the symptoms related to frozen shoulder.