Cupping-Hijama-Benefits of Cupping (Hijama)-Indications-Why and how Cupping Works

Benefits of Cupping (Hijama) – Why and how it Works 

Dr Izharul Hasan 

Lecturer, Dept of preventive and social medicine, 

AIU Medical College, Muzaffarnagar 

Emil: drizharnium@gmail.com

Cupping in Arabic is known as "Hijamah" it is a special technique of evacuation used in the treatment of certain lethal diseases. Treatment is done by producing a partial vacuum in the cup glasses placed on the body surface by heat or suction, in order to evacuate morbid material or to divert the material from the deeper tissues or diseased part.
History: The history of cupping can be dated back over 3000 years in countries such as China, Egypt and Greece. Originally, hollow animal horns were used in place of cups. Later on, bamboo and ceramic were used. Modern practitioners of fire-cupping now use glass with rounded smooth edges (to not cut into the patient's skin). In order for it to be effective, a vacuum inside the cup must be created. The practitioner takes a cotton-ball (held by a hemostat) and soaks the cotton-ball in 70% rubbing alcohol. The alcohol soaked cotton-ball is then lit on fire and held inside the glass cup for just a second. The fire burns the oxygen in the cup and the practitioner quickly places the cup on the patients back. This process is repeated with as many cups as necessary. The longer the fire is held within the cup, the more oxygen is burnt and the tighter the vacuum.
Cupping (hijama) is of three types:
Dry cupping (hijama) - This is the process of using a vacuum on different areas of the body in order to gather the blood in that area without incisions (small, light scratches using a razor).
Dry massage cupping (hijama) – This is similar to dry cupping (hijama) but olive oil is applied to the skin (before applying the cups) in order to allow easy movement of the cups.
70% of diseases, pains and ailments are due to the blood being unable to reach certain parts of the body. Dry cupping (hijama) and dry massaging cupping (hijama) allow the blood to reach these places.
Dry and massage cupping (hijama) may be self-administered in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Each cupping (hijama) box is accompanied by an instruction booklet. We have also provided further instructions on our 'How To Cup' page.
Dry and massage cupping (hijama) may be administered any time of the day, any day of the week or month. There are no restrictions.
Wet cupping (hijama) - This is the process of using a vacuum at different points on the body but with incisions in order to remove 'harmful' blood which lies just beneath the surface of the skin. (It is recommended that wet cupping (hijama) is only administered by a cupping therapist).
The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and all of the blood and lymphatic vessels in the body. The heart acts as a pump to drive the blood; a complex fluid made up of digested food materials, respiratory gasses (oxygen being carried in, carbon dioxide being carried out), and protective and regulatory chemicals through the approximately 60,000 miles of vessels in the body.
More than 90 per cent of Americans live in jeopardy of having a serious illness relating to the circulatory system. The human and financial cost of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. alone is astronomical. Every year, approximately 1.5 million Americans have a heart attack, 300,000 of whom die before receiving medical attention.
The above is a partial scientific explanation. Cupping (hijama) goes way beyond scientific understanding.
Cupping (hijama) does not heal your body or have a direct effect on individual medical problems; per se. Cupping cleans the bodies’ cardiovascular system so disease never has a chance to develop. Where disease already exists, cupping cleans the system to help the system better fight and recover from the disease. Noticeable benefits from cupping often come weeks, even months after a cupping (hijama) session. It is very foolish to wait till the point that your body is showing signs or problems.
Cupping is best utilized as a preventative maintenance procedure for your body. In short, it better enables your body to heal itself -- No drugs, no expensive treatment or therapy and above all, no operations.
Cupping removes dead blood cells from the cardiovascular system. It is a bit like getting your radiator flushed. It should be done before your car overheats and the damage to your engine block or hoses are done. Practitioners who emphasize cupping as a cure are like auto mechanics who claim flushing your radiator will cure your cracked engine block. Of course, your radiator should be flushed, but if it were properly maintained no damage would have resulted in your engine in the first place. Fortunately the body, unlike an engine block can often repair itself. In the case of some ailments and conditions cupping, most effectively if they are applied soon after the event, can have a very positive effect. Especially with problems directly related to the cardiovascular system such as stroke and heart failure.
Nonetheless, it is always better to use cupping as a maintenance and preventative procedure.
Cleanliness
Be clean for the cupping process; take a shower with the intention of physical and spiritual protection and cleanliness. Known as Wusil or Wudu in the Arabic Language. Use natural perfume oils that attract angelic beings and also have medicinal benefits. Place some on your wrist before starting the cupping procedure. These oils should always be warned for the spiritual benefits they offer. They also smell fantastic. Real perfume oils are chemical free and almost always non-allergenic. You can purchase these oils at Broken Earth Naturals
Who should be cupped?
Preventative cupping (hijama) is predominately prescribed for sexually active men thirty and older. Women are less susceptible to problems associated with cardiovascular illness until they reach the age of menopause. The monthly discharge of blood has a somewhat similar effect as does cupping (hijama). When a women's monthly course stops, preventative cupping (hijama) should be instituted as an annual or biannual preventative procedure for women. If special problems exist, cupping may be performed on women before menopause.
Cupping is an excellent remedy for persons with hypertension (high blood pressure). Those suffering from high blood pressure should be routinely cupped in the spring and fall until pressure normalizes. Proceed thereafter once a year as preventative maintenance. In cases where high blood pressure results from abnormal cell growth from lifelong exposure to a toxic chemical or directly related to Kidney dysfunction, cupping is less effective but still helps. Drastic lifestyle changes are normally required. Abnormal blood cells are not dead and cupping (hijama) will not remove abnormal cells until they die. Perform cupping to optimizing your system and combat the effects of abnormal cell growth caused by environmental exposures. Environmental illness normally requires a complete change in lifestyle to a natural organic diet with regular exercise. We offer group seminars on these and other important topics.
While cupping can be an effective treatment for many emergency care situations a discussion of the use of cupping in emergency medicine is beyond the scope of this current work. It has been reported by Prophet Muhammad (saw) as being a cure for all disease. We do not dispute this. Conditions such as modern environmental exposure, toxicity, etc. are more like a limb being cut off than an illness. Cupping (hijama) will not make you grow a new arm or attach a severed leg. If you surgically can reattach the limb, cupping (hijama) will certainly help it heal faster. Environmental illnesses require drastic lifestyle changes.
Cupping is ideally and most effectively used as a preventative procedure.
Once again, we remind you that this information is intended for educational purposes, not as a substitute for proper training by a qualified cupping master.
Persons should also contact their doctors and not rely upon cupping as a substitute for standard medical care. (Legal Disclaimer)
Indication: Cupping may be indicated in the following conditions-
· Amraz-e Ain (Eye diseases) - like Postural keratitis, staphyloma.
· Suda'a (Headache), tremor of the head
· Wajaul Mafasil (Arthritis)
· Sciatica
· Niqras (Gout)
· Bawaseer (Piles)
· Proctitis
· Hisat-e kuliya (Renal calculus)
· Ulcers of leg and foot
· Qabz (Constipation), Hepatic problems
· Ehtebas-e tams (Amenorrhea), Usr-e tams (Dysmenorrhea) Ruaaf (Epistaxis)
· Sahar (Insomnia)
· Laqwa (Facial parálisis)
· Sailan-ur-reham (Leukorrhea)
· Infertility
· Uterine cramps
· Soft tissue injury
· Chronic bronchitis
· Dama (Asthma)
· Wajaul Zahar (Back pain)
· Muscular pain,
· Auja-e Mafasil (Joint pain)
Cupping (Hijama) Is The Best Of Remedies
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)…" [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5371)].
Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "If there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is cupping (hijama)." [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3857), Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3476)].
The Angels Recommending Cupping (Hijama)
Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "I did not pass by an angel from the angels on the night journey except that they all said to me: Upon you is cupping (hijama), O Muhammad." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3477)].
In the narration reported by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allaah be pleased with him) the angels said, "Oh Muhammad, order your Ummah (nation) with cupping (hijama)." [Saheeh Sunan Tirmidhee (3479)].
Optimal Times For Cupping
Just as the moon affects the tide of the ocean, it affects the human body. Therefore, cupping should be performed on odd days of the lunar calendar when the forces of the moons pull to assist in removing the dead blood cells. It is important to note that most practitioners blindly adhere to the commonly accepted Islamic calendar dates established in Saudi Arabia. These calendar dates are based on moon sightings and can often time be in contradiction with the actual odd day. For example, if it is cloudy one day and the moon cannot be sighted it is Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) to wait till the moon can be sighted. If conditions continue to not permit sighting then the new month automatically starts after the 31st day of the previous months sighting. This is fine to keep the community fasting and praying on the same days, but it does nothing to accurately determine the odd day as it relates to tidal forces. It is the tidal forces pulling out the blood from the body like waster from the shore that is of paramount importance. The good news is if you get it wrong there will be no harm, but clients will not receive optimum results. Once practitioners establish an authentic ODD date, they should continue to calculate the odd dates from that confirmed date.
It should also be done in the second half of the lunar month. The 17th, 19th, and 21st days are the best for cupping. While less favourable, cupping (hijama) can also be performed on the 23rd and 25th days of the lunar month. You may utilize the full moon (15th) and tidal charts to help determine the lunar odd days.
Moderate climate is also important, not too hot and not too cold. When the flowers start to blossom and nature begins its magical renewal, it is time for Cupping. Cupping may also be performed in the early fall.