ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Nov. 23, 2021
Al-Hijama- A Possible Cure for Depression: A Pilot Study
Sabeela Noor, Saida Haider, Fasiha Fatima, Mahparah Mumtaz
Page no 181-185 |
10.36348/sijtcm.2021.v04i11.001
Background: Al-Hijama is an ancestral treatment option used in different societies for the cure of various diseases. Depression is now become epidemic in in several countries. Objectives: In this pilot study we have investigated the probable effects of Al-Hijama on improving depression symptoms with the score of geriatric depression scale (GDS) in local population. Methods: 132 eligible participants were enrolled in this open label single arm pre and post clinical trial for 3 months. Depression was assessed by using geriatric depression scale (GDS) before and after Al-Hijama therapy. Results: The mean score of depression calculated by GDS in study group were 8.95 ± 2.09 before intervention and 6.05 ± 1.54 after one month and 4.63 ± 1.47 after 3 months of continue Al-Hijama sessions. The decrease in depression scale between pre and post intervention was statistically significant (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed statically significant improvement in depression after Al-Hijama therapy. In future more studies should be conducted on larger scale to assess the effectiveness of this treatment option.