- Full medical assessment
- This is done prior to booking an appointment for Hijamah.
- Detail assessment is done on patients to assess state of health, disease/illnesses present as well as presence of any contraindications to having Hijamah.
- Some patients may also be required to have blood tests done.
- Make a note of any treatments / surgical procedures that you have had performed.
- Please bring all previous medical investigations done (blood test results, x-rays, scans, sonars)
- Have a list of all medication, including vitamin supplements and herbal, hakim or other alternative medical treatments being taken.
Before Cupping appointment
- Refrain from eating rich and greasy foods on the day of Hijamah. Light, warm meals in winter and salads in the summer are preferred.
- The fluid intake should also be increased at least 20% during this period which will help with the metabolism and the detoxification process.
- Avoid eating for 3-4 hours prior to Hijamah so that the body is not occupied with digesting food. It is best to eat healthy foods 24 hours before and after treatment
- It is preferable not to be fasting for longer than 4 hours.
- Abstain from sexual intercourse before the treatment.
- Take a brief warm / hot body bath with the niyyah of ghusl, before the session to stimulate blood circulation and promote release of blood stasis.
- Wear something loose and comfortable preferably with buttons or a zip. In most cases exposure to the back of your neck and full back will be needed. Don’t wear your favorite party wear. Even though, it doesn’t happen often but there is a slight chance of getting blood stain during or after session.
- Hijamah is a spiritual process as well as a treatment; so have firm belief that there is success in adapting the way of our Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) without any shadow of doubt.
- Recommended to Perform two rakaat ‘Salaat-ul-Hajaa’ and make dua for shifa through this Sunnah remedy.
Cupping Procedure
- Bloodletting is a minor surgical procedure that is carried out under sterile conditions.
- Disposable cups are utilized to prevent spread of serious blood transmitted disease.
- Suction cups are applied to selected areas on the back of the neck and along the back and left in position for a few minutes to allow toxins and diseased/abnormal blood to accumulate in the skin.
- The cups are removed and small, light incisions are made on the skin with a sterile blade, creating artificial small pores from which the extracted blood and toxins will be removed. This is usually painless or there may be a mild poking sensation on sensitive skins.
- Suction cups are re-applied and left in position for a few minutes, allowing the diseased blood and toxins to accumulate in the cups.
- The cups are removed and Hijamah areas cleaned. Kulunji (Black seed oil) is applied to relieve itching and assist with healing.
- Patients are advised to bury the blood and swabs.
After Cupping
- After your first session of treatment, it is not uncommon to feel fresh, revitalized and light in the body. A warm feeling throughout the body, some perspiration and a sense of relaxation normally follows the treatment due to improved circulation and muscle relaxation.
- Occasionally you can feel light headed especially after getting up from laying on the treatment couch – it is advisable to drink plenty of fluids.
- Should you feel cold, shivery or extremely tired after the treatment, a warm drink and up to 30 minutes of rest are highly recommended.
- To receive optimal health benefits, patients should take a walk for 20-30 minutes or more to keep the circulation moving. If you feel dizzy or light headed, lie down right away and slowly stand up after 15 minutes if you feel better.
- It is recommended that you be accompanied by a driver.
- Resume eating in moderation one hour after the Hijamah. Drink plenty of fluids. Refrain from caffeine and sugar.
- Try to avoid consuming high fat food – particularly meat and dairy products for 24-hours after your treatment. These items take up 40% of your body’s energy to digest and this energy is needed to rejuvenate your body after having the treatment. You will need the energy for new blood cells to grow and certain food/drinks disturb this process.
- Allow yourself adequate time to rest after your appointment but do not sleep for at least four hours (newly dislodged living and dead blood cells could result in clotting). Low level activity allows your body to eliminate them.
- Keep warm and do not allow the areas of the body involved in the treatment to become exposed to cold temperatures, wind or water.
- Drink a glass of warm honey water with a few drops of black seed oil first thing in the morning. This has many benefits such as feeling alert, fresher, and stimulates excellent blood circulation.
- For a day or two it is not uncommon to feel itchy over the areas where the small cuts were made but it is important to avoid scratching the area. It may take a few days to heal. In some cases faded tiny lines of scarring may persist
- It is best to avoid soaking the cupping sites with water for at least 24 hours after the treatment. However, washing the site to maintain hygiene or to make ablution is permissible..
- Red marks from the cupping normally fade within a few days up to 2 weeks, depending on skin type. These are from the stagnant blood, toxins and cellular debris drawn out during Hijamah. Do not scratch the cupped areas. Applying black seed (kulunji) oil can speed up the healing process.
- Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم) advised the ummah to treat their sick with sadaqah, therefore it is advisable to give sadaqah with the intention of asking Allah Ta’ala for shifa and thanking Him for the tawfeeq of acting on a Sunnah.
How often should Cupping be performed?
- For a normal, healthy person it is good to do Hijamah once or twice a year during the spring or summer months.
- Sometimes the benefits are noticed immediately but short lived, in particular when dealing with long-standing or multiple problems.
- If a person is not cured by one Hijamah, then Hijamah may be repeated from three to seven times with a gap of at least 2 weeks to a month between sessions.