Cupping-Hijama – ACH Clinic

CUPPING / HIJAMA

Wet Cupping/Hijama is a traditional Islamic method of treatment, where blood is drawn by vacuum from a small skin incision for therapeutic purposes.

How Does Cupping Help Healing In The Body?

* Cupping removes toxins from the body, stimulates your vital force/QI energy, relieves tension in your muscles and improves your range of mobility. The technique relies on suction cups that pull the skin back and loosen muscles and tendons. The therapy helps break up and deliver blood to overworked tissues.

* Cupping can be performed almost anywhere on the body (except a few sensitive parts) for a large number of medical conditions, often at the site of an ache or pain in order to ease or alleviate it.

* Cupping remained a constant in professional medical treatment throughout Europe. It was practiced by such famous physicians as Galen (131-200AD), Paracelsus 1493-1541) and Ambroise Pare (1509–90). Cupping was also practiced by other practitioners including barbers, surgeons and bath house attendants (Chirali, 1999).

It is reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said "Indeed the best of remedies you have is Hijama, and if there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is Hijama".

***AN EXPERIENCED, CERTIFIED, FULLY INSURED FEMALE HIJAMA THERAPIST AVAILABLE***

Scientific Studies

In March 2011, three systematic reviews were analysed for the effectiveness of wet cupping (Hijama) and dry cupping in which two out of three showed some evidence for the effectiveness of wet cupping for pain. However, one of the three reviews showed little effectiveness for cupping for stroke rehabilitation. A study by Ahmed and colleagues was carried out in order to evaluate the efficiency of wet cupping therapy in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. To sum up they concluded cupping combined with conventional medical therapy has several advantages. It significantly reduces the laboratory markers of disease activity and it modulates the immune cellular conditions particularly of innate immune response NK cell % and adaptive cellular immune response SIL-20 (FACT, Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies).

(Abdullah Albedah,Mohamed Khalil, Ahmed Elolemy, Ibrahim Elsubai, Asim Khalil (Hijama a review of the evidence, Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 12–16, March 2011).

Using a pre-post research design, 70 patients with chronic tension or migraine headache were treated with wet-cupping. Three primary outcome measures were considered at the baseline and 3 months following treatment: headache severity, days of headache per month, and use of medication. Results suggest that, compared to the baseline, mean headache severity decreased by 66% following wet-cupping treatment. Treated patients also experienced the equivalent of 12.6 fewer days of headache per month. We conclude that wet-cupping leads to clinical relevant benefits for primary care patients with headache. Possible mechanisms of wet-cupping's efficacy, as well as directions for future research are discussed.

(www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0192415X08005564).

There is some evidence that wet-cupping is effective in the treatment of non-specific lower back pain.

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19114223).

Studies have also shown some evidence that it may be effective in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia.

(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151529/).

Hijama is considered to be a form of energetic remedy. It helps to unclog the meridians in the body and stimulates your natural healing ability!

In our experience, greater health effects were shown when wet cupping (Hijama) was combined with other alternative treatments like Homeopathy.

Procedure

Disposable plastic cups are generally used; seven different sizes of cups are used according to the area to be cupped on the body in order to ensure a tight seal with the cup. We prefer new technology and use a pump to create a vacuum. The cup is left to cling to the skin for a few minutes, then it is lifted off and a few very small superficial incisions are made in the skin. The cup is then put back as it was before until the flow of blood subsides.

Cupping Is Widespread And Popular With the General Public And Many Celeberaties

Michael Phelps (USA Swimmer) appeared in public with cupping marks in Olympic Games. But Phelps is not the only fan of Cupping, here are seven more celebrities who perform cupping!

Gwyneth Paltrow, The Iron Man actress sported cupping marks on her body all the way back in 2004, and brought the treatment into the limelight.

Jennifer Aniston, The Friends star was spotted with multiple cupping marks on her back in 2013; Aniston supposedly underwent the treatment to boost her fertility.

Lady Gaga, the popular singer has also given cupping a shot.

Justin Bieber, part of his spiritual (and physical) makeover, Bieber is said to have undergone an intensive cupping session to flush out toxins from his body and seek relief from physical stress caused by lifting weights.

Victoria Beckham, another early adopter of the technique, Beckham is said to have taken up cupping on Paltrow’s advice.

Kim Kardashian West, not one to miss out on a celebrity trend, Kardashian recently revealed on Snapchat that she has turned to cupping to seek relief from neck pains.

Lena Dunham, Dunham spoke up about her love for cupping by tweeting an image of herself post-cupping with the caption, “Da cure.”

Comparision With Bloodletting

Side Effects

Hijama is considered to be a quite safe treatment, however, small chances of few side effects can not be ignored besides minimal discomfort due to the method of application of skin cuts to the patient. A potential risk is an infection, which may be introduced by the skin superficial incisions themselves.
Another possible minor side effect that may occur is the feeling of slight lightheadedness post-therapy, this is similar to the sensation one feels after having blood taken when donating blood. Cupping encourages blood flow to the cupped region (hyperaemia), one may therefore feel warmer and hotter as a result of vasodilatation taking place and slight sweating may occur.
Pregnant women, children under 15 years of age, menstruating women (in case of anaemia), cancer (metastatic), and patients with bone fractures or muscle spasms are also believed to be contra-indicated. Some practitioners suggest that a low risk of blood clotting is possible and therefore walking and staying awake after a procedure is advisable.