What is Hijama Cupping Therapy
Hijama or Cupping Therapy is a type of alternative medicine. Basically hijama is a traditional Arabic therapy to treat illness. The word, ‘Hijama’ is derived from the Arabic word, ‘Hajm’ which means, ‘sucking’. Hijama is also known as Chinese Cupping Therapy. Earlier, it was popularly practiced in countries like China, the Middle East, and Egypt, but nowadays it is practiced almost all over the world. It was used to be performed by using animal horns, but later on, cups made of bamboo, clay, glass, or plastic were introduced.
There is a reason why Hijama is also known as cupping therapy because cups are used as a remedial tool. In the process of hijama or cupping, cups are applied to the body on certain points. Cups are also applied as per your need or what you want to cure, so cups can be placed on hands, chest, back, knees, head. Once cups are positioned stagnant blood is drawn into cups by a small cut that was made prior to applying cups. People refer to hijama or cupping therapy for treating their illnesses like pain, inflammation, migraine, hypertension, infertility, etc. It enhances blood flow, boosts immunity and gives relaxation and well-being.
Types Of Hijama Cupping:-
1) Dry Cupping Hijama Therapy
Dry Cupping Therapy is non-bleeding therapy, and it is a method that generally applied. In the Dry Cupping Therapy, the therapist dips any flammable material in alcohol, burns it, and then places it in the cups, to remove the oxygen. The cups are then placed over several areas on the patient’s body. As soon as the oxygen is remove, a vacuum is created inside the cup that helps cups to attaches to the skin. With the help of the vacuum, the skin gets lifted upward and creates a stretch in the muscles. Hence, it helps in enhancing the blood flow, reduction in muscle stiffness, and pain.
In the process of Dry Cupping Therapy, cups are either placed in a fixed position or are glide to give massage effect. Drying Cupping Therapy also works well along with sports massage and deep tissue massage because of the lifting effect granted by the cups. Dry Cupping reduce pain and inflammation, clams down the nervous system, increases blood circulation, reduces the stiffness of muscles.
Many cups can be applied at one time on the affected area for about 5-20 minutes. As the cups are removed, red circular patches occur on the treated part of the body. These red circular patches are of the size of cups’ diameter and are nothing but the effect of treatment. These patches are temporary and get disappear within a week. In spite that the Dry Cupping Therapy is safe, it should always be performed by professional therapists only.
2) Wet Cupping Hijama Therapy
Wet Cupping Therapy is also known as Hijama. The word hijama is derived from the Arabic word, ‘hajm’ which means, ‘sucking’. Wet Cupping Therapy is a bleeding therapy. In the process of Hijama, firstly the cups are placed on the desired place on the body for suctioning purposes for around 3 to 5 minutes. Secondly, the therapist will make a very small cut on the cupped area with a sterilized surgical blade to cause bleeding. Then once again cups are applied to the affected area to collect the stagnant blood. Once the cupping procedure is completed, the therapist may apply an ointment and bandage on the cupped area to prevent any infection. The marks and scars caused due to cupping or hijama will disappear within 10 days and your skin will look normal once again.
Though Wet Cupping is also known as hijama, there is a slight difference between both as far as their procedure is concerned. In the process of Wet Cupping, there are two steps via- 1) Scarification of the skin 2) Suction of blood through cups. Whereas in the process of hijama, there are three steps via- 1) Suction through cups 2) Scarification of the skin. 3) Suction of blood through cups. Traditional Wet Cupping is commonly practiced in countries like China, Korea, and Germany. Hijama is commonly practiced in the Middle East and North Africa.
Wet Cupping Therapy or Hijama does the same work that is they stimulate tissue relaxation and enhance better functioning of cells, removes toxins from the body, reduce inflammation and pain, and enhance the circulation of blood. Wet Cupping Therapy or Hijama should be get done by a well-trained professional therapist only.
Benefits Of Hijama Or Cupping Therapy
As far as the worldly perspective is concerned, Hijama or Cupping has many benefits. Few of them are here
- One can get relief from pains that occur due to arthritis, lower back pain, headache, migraine, dental pain, sciatica, stiff neck, and shoulders, etc. through hijama or cupping, as it increases blood circulation.
- Due to frequent use of smartphones, laptops, etc. mind remains always distracted. It can cause fatigue syndrome, hijama or cupping can help a lot to get rid of fatigue syndrome.
- It also helps in treating many diseases related to lungs like bronchial congestion, asthma, chronic cough, and pleurisy, etc.
- Hijama or Cupping helps in getting rid of digestive problems that occur due to stress, malnutrition, or low immune system.
- Cupping helps in treating urinary diseases like kidney stones, urine retention, and abscess.
- Hijama or Cupping creates a good flow of energy and blood in the body, which gives relaxation to muscles and the whole body.
- Hijama or Cupping is also beneficial in treating various skin diseases. It is helpful in reducing the occurrence of acne, eczema, cellulite, etc. It also helps in brightening skin, slow down aging, reduce scars, tones chin, neckline, and jawline area, remove toxins from the skin, etc.
- It regulates and increases the production of insulin which helps in treating diabetes.
- Hijama or Cupping removes stagnant or clogged blood that contains toxins and cholesterol. Hence it is beneficial in treating heart disease.
- There are many more benefits of hijama or cupping, above are just a few.
Side Effects Of Hijama Or Cupping Therapy
Hijama or Cupping is a safe treatment if gets done by a trained professional therapist only. There aren’t many side effects related to hijama or cupping. A patient can experience side effects during the treatment or immediately after the treatment.
Cupping may cause side effects like swelling, burns, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, skin pigmentation, and nausea.
After the treatment is done, the skin around the rim of the cup may become irritated. Hijama or cupping also leaves circular purple bruises on the skin. These marks will disappear within 10 days and skin becomes normal once again. These scars or marks are the most visible effect of hijama or cupping.
Infection is another side effect of hijama or cupping that may occur after the treatment due to the scarification of skin. But it is not a major risk and hence can be ignored if the practitioner follows the proper procedure of cleaning the skin before and after the treatment.
Cupping should not be done on the areas of broken, irritated, or inflamed skin. The process of hijama also shouldn’t be carried over arteries, veins, lymph nodes, eyes, or any fractures.
People such as pregnant women, children, elderly persons, and people suffering from illness like cancer, organ failure, hemophilia, edema, a blood disorder, etc. should not prefer hijama or cupping therapy.
0 Comment