1, What
is Hijama (cupping)?
Hijama (cupping) is an ancient treatment in which evacuated
cups are ap-plied to intact or scarified skin in order to draw blood toward or
through the skin surface. It was used for disorders associated with an excess
of blood, one of the four humors of medieval physiology.
A partial vacuum is created in the cup placed on the skin by
either applying a heated cup to the skin allowed it to cool [Fire Cupping], or
by applying a suction device [Suction Cupping] The name “cupping “is referred
to using the cup as a tool for therapeutic purposes.
Cupping practitioner may use a cup made of glass, metal, or
wood [notably bamboo] and burn alcohol, alcohol-soaked cotton, wool, herds.
Paper, or a taper therein. Before or after the burning is complete. The
practitioner applies the cup upside- down to a relatively flat body surface and
leaves it in this position for five to ten minutes.
Cupping also has several forms, the above description relates
to the fire cupping method, also called “Traditional Cupping” Other forms of
cupping `include the air pumping method, in which the air inside the cups is
pumped either manually or by means of a machine [a suction device] for creation
of a vacuum.
2. Types
of cupping
Three
different cupping methods have been used. These methods include dry cupping,
wet cupping, and massage cupping.
1. Dry
Cupping
Dry Cupping is the application of a suction cup over an area
of intact skin. The cups are applied to the skin with heat from a flame to make
a vacuum in the cup or by any other method to create negative pressure. The
idea is to draw underlying blood and fluid to the surface of the skin, away from
the area of inflammation. The method relieved the congestion from the inflamed
area but did not remove fluid from the body. No cut [incision] is made in dry
cupping.
Dry cupping
produces a low amount of pressure. The cups are better suited for use on the
softer tissue so that a secure and tight seal is allowed against the skin. The
skin may also be lubricated so that the cups can be moved around from one area
to a larger area.
2. Wet
Cupping
When cupping is combined with bloodletting this is called
“Wet Cupping” In wet cupping, the skin is previously incised, with a special
lancet at selected points or sites followed by applying cups over and could be removed.
Wet Cupping is also called “Cupping & Letting Therapy” or “Bloodletting
Cupping”.
Wet cupping
produces a milder suction or vacuum and can also be kept in place for up to
three minutes like dry cupping therapy. However, during a wet cupping therapy
session, the cupping therapist will make small cuts on the patient’s skin,
typically by using a sterilized scalpel and then perform a second cupping
session to draw out some of the blood. It can take up to ten days for the
patient’s skin to return to normal after a wet cupping therapy session. It is
important that the skin is cleaned before and after a wet cupping therapy
session so that any risk of infection can be avoided.
Wet cupping is a form of bloodletting and is used to remove stagnant blood, expel heat, and provide pain relief.
Wet cupping is a form of bloodletting and is used to remove stagnant blood, expel heat, and provide pain relief.
3. Massage
Cupping.
in massage cupping, the cups are moved around and glide them
across the skin, and it is recognized as a form of massage therapy. Massage
Cupping has been used for weight loss and cellulite reduction. Silicone therapy
cups are more typically used for this form of cupping therapy because these
therapy cups are softer and more flexible which makes it easier for the
practitioner to glide them across the patient’s body.
In massage cupping therapy, the muscles are tended to with the application of pressure. Negative pressure is better to help with pain management than tissue compression. With the cupping therapy method, the skin, tissue, and muscles are instead pulled upwards to enhance circulation and provide pain management.
Massage cupping therapy also utilizes different oils so that the cup can glide easily across the back of the patient. Massage cupping is considered an alternative medicine to help with pain management and induces feelings of relaxation and stress relief to ease tension.
In massage cupping therapy, the muscles are tended to with the application of pressure. Negative pressure is better to help with pain management than tissue compression. With the cupping therapy method, the skin, tissue, and muscles are instead pulled upwards to enhance circulation and provide pain management.
Massage cupping therapy also utilizes different oils so that the cup can glide easily across the back of the patient. Massage cupping is considered an alternative medicine to help with pain management and induces feelings of relaxation and stress relief to ease tension.
3.Other
Names for Cupping
The many forms of practice and schools of thought from
various cultures and individuals have given rise to the different terms of
cupping by textual investigation, considerable clear recognition can be reached
on the names, cupping instrument, cupping measure, indications and
contradictions in different historical stages. Cupping was originally called
“Horn Therapy” in ancient China, but variations of it have been used in Turkey,
Greece, France, Italy, and Eastern Europe. There were also many other names for
cupping Therapy such as “Horning”, “Needle Horn”, “Sucking Method”,
“Fire-Cupping”, “Boiling Bamboo Cylinder”, cupping is also known as “The
Therapy with Sucker”, “Suction Tube Treatment” or “Blood- Stasis Treatment.”
The Arabs called cupping treatment “Al- Hijama”, The Arabic
word “Hijama” means “sucking”. It comes from the Arabic root “Al- hajm”, which
means “sucking”, and is used for the action of draining the breast when an
infant is sucking his mother’s breast, as in the Arabic phrase [حجم
الصبي ثدي أمه].
‘Al-hajjaam”
is the name given to the cupper, and “hijama” is the name given to the tool or
the vessel in which blood is collected, or to the lancet used by the cupper.
In conclusion “hijama” refers to the extraction of blood from
the body by means of cupping using a suitable vessel or whatever modern equipment
serves the same purpose.
2.Virtues
of Cupping
Result of cupping include erythema (reddening of the skin due
to capillary expansion), edema (excessive fluid accumulation in tissue spaces),
and ecchymoses (purple discoloration of the skin due to rupture of blood vessels).
Cupping is the best deep tissue massage available. It has
been found to affect the body up to four inches the tissues. When the cup is
left in place on the skin for a few minutes, it draws up the underlying tissues
causing superficial local congestion and localized heating takes place through
allowing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, veins,
arteries and capillaries.
The technique is said promote blood circulation, remove
stasis, and alleviate swelling and pain. It is employed for a variety of acute
ailments and is favored for treatment of arthralgia. It was widespread
throughout the whole of Europe and Asia as well as china and also in the
Islamic societies where cupping therapy was and still a socially acceptable
practice used as a remedy and supported by religious beliefs.