Hijama an overview
Hijama [Cupping]
An overview
§ What is Hijama (Cupping)?
§ How does this therapy work?
§ Are there benefits to it?
§ Will there be pain?
§ Will there be scars and marks?
§ Why should I get Hijama done?
§ Is this therapy new?
§ What ailments are treated by Hijama?
What is Hijama [Cupping] and how long has it been
around?
Hijama (cupping) is a noninvasive medical (procedure
or) therapy using glass cups and a flame or air suction to create a vacuum or
suction on the skin.
This vacuum causes a negative
pressure and pulls the muscles into the cup and therefore, draws the blood to
the cupped area. This is known as “dry cupping”. Then you remove the cup in
order to make small, shallow incisions in that same area, before putting the
cup back on. This pulls out the toxic blood, acids and excess fluids from the
body. This is known as wet, or blood cupping.
Hijama or Cupping is a safe, non-invasive way of curing and preventing
many diseases, that is backed and supported by the Sunnah of Nabiyu Muhammad
(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).
In Arabic the word ‘Hijama’ means to ‘drawing out’.
It is a non-surgical procedure in which, toxic or ‘bad’ blood is
drawn out from the body from specified Hijama points on the body.
At selected points, blood is encouraged to accumulate on the surface of
the skin where minute incisions are introduced on the skin and then sucked out
from the incisions.
Hijama is now recognized as an alternative medicine and Islamic medicine
in most parts of the world. It is also a fast-growing alternative in ways of
treating different diseases and bodily disorders, it is worthy to note that modern
medical science now endorses the various benefits of Hijama and even encourages
its practice in treating certain diseases.
Hijama (Cupping) therapy has been practiced for centuries globally, discovered
to have been in China for over 5,000 years and is still in practice to this day, with
documented medical texts dated as far as1550 BC also in Egypt and before that
in China.It started with the
use of animal horns, then bamboo cups and finally to glass cups and Plastic
cups.
Nabiyu Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Cupping is the
most helpful procedure for human beings to cure themselves.” (Sahih al-Bukhari
5357)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best treatment
is Hijama cupping; it removes blood, lightens the back and sharpens the
eyesight.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3053)
The importance of Hijama cannot overemphasized nor can the need to
incorporate it into treatment plans. “There is a remedy for every disease
and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission
of Allah the Exalted.” (Muslim.)
During the Night Journey & Ascension (Laylatu’l-Isra’ wa’l-Mir’aj),
our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) experienced many
profoundly significant events, with the significance of hijama emphasized, as
seen from hadith.
“I did not pass by an Angel from the Angels on the Night Journey except
that they all said to me; ‘Upon y Hijama cupping is both a preventative and curative remedy.
It is recommended that you should have a hijama detox, and then use
hijama as a form of maintenance 2-4 times a year if you are healthy. If you
have serious medical conditions, it can be performed more often. It is best to
have hijama performed on the “Sunnah Days” according to hadith:
“Whoever performs Hijama cupping in the 17th, 19th and 21st day (of the
Islamic Lunar month), then it is a cure for every disease”. (Sahih; Sunan Ibn
Majah 3861).ou is cupping (hijama), O Muhammad’”(Sahih; Sunan Ibn Majah 3477)
Types and Styles of Hijama [Cupping] application techniques
Vacuuming can be caused by fire or air suction, with
fire cupping [Hijama] glass, bamboo or animal horns are mostly used and a flame
is applied to the inside of the cup very briefly and the cup applied to the
skin, the cooling effect of the heated air causes a vacuum in the cup, thus causing
it to hold on to the applied point. With air hijama plastic cups or animal
horns are mostly used, here air is sucked out and cup plugged causing it to
hold.
Stationary cup: The cup is
vacuumed to a specific acupressure point or muscle knots and left on for 5-10 minutes.
Walking cup: The cup is
vacuumed to certain acupressure points or muscle knots and is then moved up and
down a meridian or across a muscle fiber, all while still attached to the skin.
Flying cup: The cup is
vacuumed to certain point or knots and is then quickly removed and replaced
several times on the same area in order to relieve muscle tension and release
body toxins.
Difference between Cupping
Therapy and Hijama
Cupping therapy is the name
of the actual procedure itself. A vacuum is created in a cup and placed
on the body.
But what differentiates
hijama is the religious and spiritual aspect of the practice. “Hijama” is the
Islamic version of cupping therapy. Muslims practice hijama cupping
therapy, in accordance to the way of the Prophet ﷺ.
It means that the patient and hijama practitioner should have done their
ablutions (wudu) and should recite Quran during the hijama procedure.
There are traditional sunnah
points for hijama therapy on the upper back, these essentially target the
heart, lungs, brain and spine, which are all major foundations for optimal
health.
“Hijama cupping on the back
of the neck treat seventy-two illnesses” (Collected by al-Tabarani)
Hijama serves to cleanse and
unblock the major arteries and veins.
Anas narrated that the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to have hijama cupping done on
the veins on the side of the neck and the upper back. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
How will it benefit me?
Hijama Returns the Body
to A Normal State
“Hijama” in Arabic literally
means “to suck” and to “return to a normal state” of internal balance. It
ultimately helps the body to create a balance, healthy alkaline environment by
removing acidity. This fixes any problem that the body has, by bringing it to
its normal state. Hijama cupping therapy is a holistic, super powerful detox
which removes toxic and stagnant blood from your body. It expels negative,
unhealthy elements from the body, and allows it to replenish itself.
The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said: “The best
treatment is hijama cupping;
it removes blood, lightens the back and sharpens the eyesight.” (Sunan
al-Tirmidhi 3053)
It’s a way of ‘clearing the drain’. Massage can release and move toxins but if
there is significant build up massage is not enough.
Traditional Chinese Medicine states it will warm the
meridians, dispels stagnation and it increases as well as promotes the flow of
Qi and blood.
ü Pain relief – Back,
shoulder, knee, elbow pain, soft tissue injury, etc.
ü Reduces swelling
Boosts
the circulatory and immune systems
ü Cleanses
and detoxifies the body
ü Treats
illness and relaxes the patient
ü Fertility
ü Hijama
is also useful for treating many muscular, skeletal, neurological, immune,
cardio-vascular, respiratory, digestive and urinary issues.
ü Headaches
ü Asthma, flu, cough and
cold symptoms
ü GI problems
ü Post-surgery recovery
ü Hypertension
ü Hives or skin rash
ü Cellulite and stretch
marks
ü Hijama
cupping is an excellent form of preventative and curative therapy.
Some of its benefits
highlighted by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him);
Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger
of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Hijama cupping on an empty
stomach is best. It increases the intellect and improves the memory. It
improves the memory of the one memorizing….” (Sahih; Sunan Ibn Majah 3488).
Hijama also works on an Emotional
Level,
Remember Islamic medicine is
holistic and works on the levels of mind, body and soul. Hijama cupping therapy
has immediate physical effects.
It also serves to alleviate,
mental, emotional, spiritual and metaphysical issues.
It is very relaxing and
dispels anxiety and depression.
According ibn Al Qaiyum,
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had Hijama performed upon
his head to remove black magic which had been cast upon him;
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have
mercy on him) mentions that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was
cupped on his head when he was afflicted with magic and that it is from the
best of cures for this if performed correctly. [Zad al-Ma’ad (4/125-126)]
Ibn Umar reported that the
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Hijama cupping on
an empty stomach is best. It increases the intellect and improves the memory.
It improves the memory of the one memorizing….” (Sahih; Sunan Ibn Majah 3488).
Will there be any pain felt?
Yes, there most likely will be.
Whether pain is felt during the process and how much
can depend on several factors including the amount of toxins and metabolic
waste built up, how tight the fascia and muscles are, your level of tolerance
and more.
Would it leave any mark?
Yes, most of the time cupping will leave a mark or
bruised appearance.
The greater the buildup of toxins, metabolic waste, or
blood stagnation, the greater the chance is of marks being left and the darker
the coloring may be.
The length of time the discoloration lasts depends on
your body-how quickly it can cleanse itself and how much it has to cleanse..
Normally 2 to 4 days, if
still there after 5 to 6 days then see your Hijama practitioner or Traditional
Medicine Practitioner
Why should I get cupping done?
Hijama cupping is both a preventative and curative
remedy. It is recommended that you should have a hijama detox, and then use
hijama as a form of maintenance 2-4 times a year if you are healthy. If you
have serious medical conditions, it can be performed more often.
It is best to have hijama performed on the “Sunnah
Days” according to hadith:
“Whoever performs Hijama cupping in the 17th, 19th and
21st day (of the Islamic Lunar month), then it is a cure for every disease”.
(Sahih; Sunan Ibn Majah 3861).
ü Cupping is an
excellent way to gain release and cleanse your body from excessive buildup.
ü Gain relief from pain.
ü Assists in post-surgery
recovery.
ü Reduce cellulite and
stretch marks.
ü Relief from many
ailments and health issues.
ü Headache relief and
prevention.
The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said: “If there is anything good in the medicines with
which you treat yourselves, it is in the incision of the Hijama therapist, or a
drink of honey….” (Muslim 2205)
Walid Shawkey Moukarim
TMP, IPHM2305
on twitter @ShifahHolisticC
on Facebook page @walidsmoukarim
Shifah Holistic Heaalth Care
+2348099331855
Comments
Post a Comment