Basic knowledge of cupping therapy

Hijama and Wet Cupping are centuries-old traditions of curing ailments. Most of the world’s civilizations, including Romans, Egyptians, Greece, Muslims, and Europeans, utilized this technique to detox the body and get rid of harmful illnesses.

Cupping therapy pulls the blood from muscles through a suction process.

Two major types of cupping procedures are widely used worldwide: Dry and wet cupping.

How does wet cupping work?

A cupping therapist utilizes specially designed glass cups. He first burns some liquid, like alcohol, in the cup. As soon as it extinguishes, it puts cups on a patient’s bare skin upside down. A hot cup makes the cold air inside create suction. In this way, blood is sucked from the muscles collecting in the form of swelling under the cup.

How dry cupping differs from wet cupping and Hijama?

Dry cupping ends at the blood suction phase. Wet cupping is known in the Middle East as Hijama goes a step ahead. After 3 to 5 minutes of dry cupping, the healer makes an incision(s) on a cupped area to let the blood ooze out. The medical practitioner that performs the wet cupping procedure places another cup(s) on the top of the incision to suck that toxic blood out. The sterile needles (lancet) or specially designed tools (surgical blades) are used to make an incision. The exact technique of applying incision differs in many cultures.

What is the advantage of wet cupping and Hijama?

Many cultures have strongly encouraged this technique of curing ailments. The human body is likely to fall victim to many diseases due to toxins accumulation and presence in the blood. Many harmful acids, microorganisms, and other substances that can impact the body’s normal functioning are sucked out using this technique. In other words, cupping is more like a precautionary measure to purge the body of diseases through blood purification. However, cupping is used successfully not only as a preventive procedure but also as a treatment method.

Pre-Treatment for cupping

Before this therapy, a healer can use a specific procedure to comfort the body. He uses many herbal oils and ointments to massage the area before cupping. Well, pre-treatment requires more care in the case of wet cupping. This is because incisions can pose threats to causing the infection through microbial invasion. Here therapist sterilizes the skin to prevent any such infection.

How wet upping and Hijama affect a body

Dry cupping leaves red patches on the body because blood collects under the skin. Apart from red patches, skin also gets swelled up. In many cases, blisters are formed. Usually, such formations are considered a sign that treatment is beneficial.  Wet cupping can be slightly painful due to incision, but it is often not a show-stopper. Usually, the healing process after Hijama and wet cupping is relatively fast, and no scars appear. If the patient fears pain due to cuts, he can ask for anesthesia to be more comfortable.

After wet cupping, Hijama Therapist uses the bandage to prevent extra blood loss. If there are any injuries, then they heal up within a few days following the treatment.

Frequency of wet cupping procedures

The frequency of wet cupping varies. A healthy individual can undergo it 2-5 times a year. A patient can carry out this practice at least once, followed by recommendations of his physicians. Cupping can be performed by a medical professional and also by an acupuncturist. All it requires is sterile tools, knowledge, and experience.

It is highly recommended that patients who are suffering from diseases related to blood deficiency or any such ailment should consult their doctor before using wet cupping therapy.

How wet cupping helps the body?

There are many ways through which both dry and wet cupping promote the functioning of the various body systems.

Its principal and directly affected part of the body is blood – the primary organ/tissue of an organism and supplies food and oxygen to all cells. Wet cupping so boosts almost every system of the body.

The dry cupping in the first step of the procedure relaxes the person and ensures blood circulation. Apart from this, it is a natural detox method that doesn’t require using any artificial products. In other words, the technique can be called cleaning the blood from harmful chemicals that the body receives from food, pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetic stuff, smoking, alcohol, etc.

Patients, who suffer from different kinds of body pains like muscle pull, ligament sprain, bursitis, and such, also use cupping to relieve the symptoms.

Whether the cupping treatment is helpful or not

Cupping therapy has been used in ancient China since 2000 BCE, in Arabian countries since the beginning of the new era, and in Europe since Roman Empire and ancient Greece.  Surprisingly it is gaining more acceptance in modern times, and many people write testimonies about this technique’s effectiveness in the media and online. There are no side effects from using wet cupping and Hijama as long as the procedure is performed by a medical professional experienced in wet cupping and the treatment is done in a sterile environment, using sterile blades. Further, the need to take suggestions and recommendations from a professional physician always remains there to avoid any hazards that may occur otherwise.

At the Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic, our practitioners under Dr. Tsan’s supervision perform professional wet cupping and traditional ancient Hijama.

Use the widget below to schedule an appointment for Hijama.