WHAT IS HIJAMA?
SECRETS OF THE ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICE
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE; these words are sure to set a lot of tongues wagging. Most of them are in criticism for sure. Yet gradually, the battle for acceptance of alternative medicine has been brought right to the doorstep of its critics. And fortunately, many expansive research trials have been initiated to filter the truth out of its mystery.
Cupping is one of the most widely practiced methods of alternative medicine. And the quest to understand it has been wonderfully rewarding. Cupping has its origins in Ancient Egyptian and Chinese traditions. Wet cupping (which actually refers to hijama) is a type of cupping that has its origins in the old Arabian culture. Muslims have practiced this method widely across space and time on account of its recommendation by the Prophet Muhammad. Even to this day, the practice continues to benefit large populations in Muslim lands.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Cupping as the name suggests involves cups. These cups are placed on the skin (of the back and neck usually) and a vacuum is created in the cupped area. This vacuum works as a sort of negative pressure that pulls upon the skin and stretches it to a great degree. This, in theory, relaxes the blood vessels in the area and increases blood flow. This blood contains a lot of toxins that are released at the site of cupping. This helps the body in getting rid of the accumulated wastes and thus treats many ailments.¹
Another theory suggests that cupping induces immune modulation and direct pain reduction along with its action of increasing local blood flow. This may account for its benefits in treating many systemic diseases and cancer.²
TYPES
There are many types of cupping depending upon the method.
DRY CUPPING, as explained above, is fairly simple.
WET CUPPING involves micro cuts on the surface of the cupped skin which promotes bloodletting. This is a more direct method of removing toxic wastes from the body.
FIRE CUPPING involves the use of a flame to create a vacuum as it burns through all of the oxygen within the cup.
WHAT DOES IT TREAT?
There have been some contradictory reports regarding the benefit of cupping in treating diseases. However, I will try to present to you the facts that are more or less undisputed as of now.
LOCAL EFFECTS:
Cupping has been shown to have a localized relaxing effect on the muscles and the skin. It relieves local sores and itching, muscle pain, and skin rigidity and helps local healing processes. This, of course, is all a consequence of the increased blood flow that it theoretically induces.
PAIN:
The methods used in allopathy to treat pain are not without their faults. The painkillers used have a lot many side effects and build up a tolerance with time. Not only that, but often enough, the pain is merely masked not actually diminished, which has its own problems.
Cupping is more of an organic method of treating pain. A 2009 study reports that cupping can significantly reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (which causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the arm and the hand).³ Another study has reported significant success in treating chronic back pain with cupping therapy.⁴
The pain related to arthritis and other joint problems has also been shown to respond to cupping therapy.
SYSTEMIC ILLNESS
Many systemic diseases have been treated to some extent with this technique. A study published very recently in the Baltimore journal of Medicine has shown the positive effects of cupping in treating Asthma.⁵ There are still too few studies to be certain of this beneficial effect but the prospects seem promising.
A 2016 study has also demonstrated that Hijama can be a complementary therapy for treating diabetes.⁶ Acne also responds to cupping therapy. A 2021 trial has demonstrated that treating acne with antibiotics and wet cupping is more effective than treating it with just antibiotics.⁷
CANCER
This one might be a little surprising. An Iranian study demonstrated effective treatment of Leukaemia (cancer of white blood cells) by using wet cupping. The patient had been treated with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy without significant improvement in symptoms. However, cupping proved to be extremely beneficial and his lab values returned to normal. The lab tests were repeated after 8 months and they showed no abnormality.⁸
This study was a mind-blowing addition to the benefits of cupping therapy. A lot many studies are still needed to make the definitive judgment of course, but still, this is a very solid beginning.
AGE-REVERSAL
Some of the effects of aging are manifested on our skins in the form of wrinkles and increased laxity. That is exactly what cupping can treat. It does so by pulling the skin away from the deeper layers of the fascia lining the underlying muscles and promoting blood flow. This not only improves the apparent condition of the skin but also removes toxic metabolites which generally promote health.⁹
To understand real age reversal techniques that will keep you healthy and youthful throughout your life, you can check out my book Lead A Horse To Water.¹⁰
IS IT REALLY SAFE?
Cupping therapy has infrequent adverse effects. Sometimes it can cause local effects like itching, burning, and prolonged redness of the skin. Headache, dizziness, and burns have also been reported as somewhat rare side effects of cupping. Generally, however, it has been shown to be safe by medical authorities.
Cupping can increase the risk of a cardiovascular event in people who have high cholesterol in their blood. Similarly, people with bleeding problems should avoid cupping as it can precipitate extensive bleeding. Pediatric patients should also avoid cupping as it may prove to be more harmful to them.¹¹
VERDICT
The medical research on cupping has only just begun a few years ago and still is in its initial phase. There are many who question the credibility of the ongoing research.
We should understand that many western academics have a habit of resisting any form of alternative medicine and refusing to acknowledge their benefits. Therefore, it will take some time for the trickle of knowledge regarding cupping to change into an avalanche, yet when it does, the truth will be filtered out and I have no doubt that it will prove to be extremely useful!
The real problem, therefore, is the lack of understanding and the fleeting knowledge that we possess. This means that we must show caution and not jump to conclusions. Yet it also means that we must not come to accept the deficiency of knowledge regarding the benefits of cupping as a proof of its uselessness.
As I mentioned above, some robust studies have reported such benefits of cupping that cannot be disputed. So the future seems extremely promising. At the end of the day, combining eastern wisdom of old with the modern western medical techniques is only going to help us stay healthy, and live happy and fulfilling lives.
And that is what we believe in, here at LiveYounger.
“CUPPING HAS ITS ORIGINS IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN AND CHINESE TRADITIONS. WET CUPPING (WHICH ACTUALLY REFERS TO HIJAMA) IS A TYPE OF CUPPING THAT HAS ITS ORIGINS IN THE OLD ARABIAN CULTURE. MUSLIMS HAVE PRACTICED THIS METHOD WIDELY ACROSS SPACE AND TIME ON ACCOUNT OF ITS RECOMMENDATION BY THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD.”
Bibliography
- M. S. Lee, J. I. Kim, D. H. Lee, K. Boddy, and E. Ernst, “Cupping for Treating Pain: A Systematic Review,” Evid. Based. Complement. Alternat. Med., vol. 2011, 2011, DOI: 10.1093/ECAM/NEP035.
- A. M. N. Al-Bedah et al., “The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action,” J. Tradit. Complement. Med., vol. 9, no. 2, p. 90, Apr. 2019, DOI: 10.1016/J.JTCME.2018.03.003.
- “Cupping Therapy Alleviates Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Pain — ScienceDaily.” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090616190512.htm (accessed Mar. 26, 2022).
- C. de C. Moura, É. de C. L. Chaves, A. C. L. R. Cardoso, D. A. Nogueira, H. P. Corrêa, and T. C. M. Chianca, “Cupping therapy and chronic back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis,” Rev. Lat. Am. Enfermagem, vol. 26, 2018, doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.2888.3094 Sateesh MK (2008). Biotechs And Biosafety. I.K. International Pvt Ltd. Pp. 456-. ISBN 978-81-906757-0-3.
- “Hijama (Wet Cupping or Dry Cupping) for Diabetes Treatment – PubMed.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27840503/ (accessed Mar. 26, 2022).
- “Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2014 – ISAA Brief 49-2014.” ISAA.org.
- F. Tabatabaei, M. Pasalar, H. Tajadini, M. Kamali, and T. Rampp, “Effectiveness of Wet Cupping on Patients with Facial Acne Vulgaris: A 12-Week, Randomized, Single-Blind, Intervention-Sham-Controlled Trial,” Complement. Med. Res., vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 508–515, Dec. 2021, DOI: 10.1159/000514943.
- “Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Multiple Relapses in a 3-Years-Old Child with 8 Years Follow-up According to Iranian Effective Medicine | Traditional and Integrative Medicine.” https://jtim.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jtim/article/view/75 (accessed Mar. 26, 2022).
- H. Y. Lee, H. J. Lee, G. C. Kim, J. H. Choi, and J. W. Hong, “Plasma cupping induces VEGF expression in skin cells through nitric oxide-mediated activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1,” Sci. Rep., vol. 9, no. 1, Dec. 2019, DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-40086-8.
- N.Sakr, “Lead A Horse To Water”
- H. Shixi and C. Yu, “Cupping Therapy,” J. Chinese Med., no. 82, pp. 52–57, Jan. 2022, DOI: 10.1007/bf02874744.