Hijama Cupping Therapy is an alternate medical technique that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction.
The suction of the cups facilitates healing with blood flow, improves the natural immune system and may cure several health disorders. Hijama Cupping Therapy increases the blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. It may relieve muscular tension, promotes cell repair, form new tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissues.
It is very important to prepare yourself before the session of Hijama Cupping therapy. If the necessary preparations are made properly and according to the instructions then an individual can get 100% results from Hijama. To achieve maximum benefits from cupping, it is necessary to follow a few guidelines:
1- Empty stomach Hijama
It is very important to perform Hijama with an empty stomach.
According to the Islamic point of view, Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) preferred Hijama with an empty stomach.
Ibn Umar reports Our Prophet(P.B.U.H) saying,
“Hijama(cupping) is the best on an empty stomach. In it Is the cure and a blessing”.
“It improves the intellect and the memory”.
[Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah (3488)].
Abdullah Ibn Abbas said, “Rasool Allah(P.B.U.H) was cupped while he was fasting”. Saheeh al Bukhari(5694).
If you want to perform Hijama Cupping therapy that means you have some kind of health issue so to get rid of the health problem and to get maximum benefits of Hijama Cupping Therapy it is essential to have Hijama done with an empty stomach. “Alaa ar-reeq” is an Arabic word that means “ to fast until be treated with cupping”. The Hijama Cupping Therapy must be performed with an empty stomach before breakfast.
Our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, “Hijama before breakfast is optimal and it has cure and benediction”.
Eating before Hijama Cupping Therapy is prohibited because food activates the digestive system and the blood circulation to recompense the digestion. During the digestion process, the blood circulation speeds up which leads to an increase in heartbeat, blood flow and high blood pressure. Half of the body’s blood gets busy with the digestion process so the other important organs of the body especially the heart, lungs or brain do not get enough blood. The blood flow has a very important job to perform during the process of digestion and that is to distribute the digested nutrients to the tissues and organs of the body. Our body gets very busy during the process of digestion so such a situation is not fit to perform Hijama Cupping Therapy. If Hijama Cupping Therapy is performed with a full stomach, the effects of the suction could disrupt the blood circulation of the body and it could cause some side effects to our health.
Diabetic individuals, need to be able to fast for at least 2 hours before the Hijama therapy session. It is permissible to consume a small amount of food if needed.
2- Take Shower Before Hijama
A warm shower or Ghusal before the session of Hijama Cupping Therapy helps stimulate blood circulation. Showering before Hijama not only removes the filth or toxins, it also removes the salt on the skin and opens up the pores. Hijama cupping therapy is a sunnah so taking shower before the session is probably the best idea and good hygiene as well. It is not recommended to take shower right after the session of Hijama so it's better to do it before the session.
Skin is a very important and sensitive part of our body so it is necessary to give some time to the skin to recover by itself. If possible, shower after 12 to 24 hours to avoid the exposure of unnecessary chemicals onto the skin.
3- Hydrate yourself
Drink plenty of water all day before the session of Hijama Cupping Therapy. Water is essential not only for the skin but for overall health as well. The lymphatic system clears away all the cellular waste from our bodies. Cupping supports our lymphatic system. The lymphatic system needs plenty of water to flush the cellular waste that cupping helps release from our tissues.
4- Take Some Rest
Avoiding unnecessary physical activities before and after Hijama Cupping Therapy is preferable. Hence, it is preferable to work out 24 hours before the session of Hijama cupping to speed up the circulation of blood while still avoiding exhausting your body. After the session of Hijama, an individual may feel tired more than usual or may feel flu-like symptoms, headaches or body aches so better to rest before the session.
It is also recommended to avoid sunbath, sunburn or tanning at least 7 days before the session of Hijama.
5- Positive Mind Set
The physical and mental benefits of a positive mindset have been demonstrated by multiple scientific studies.
In traditional Islamic medicine, every disease is curable with a combination of a positive mindset, faith, prayer, Hijama cupping therapy, cleaning, oxygenation, hydration, alkalinity, nutrition, diet and exercise.
A positive mindset can give you more confidence, improve your mood, and may reduce developing conditions such as depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated:
“I was behind the prophet(PBUH) one day when he said: ‘o boy! I will teach you a statement: Be mindful of Allah(SWT) and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah’s aid…..” Hadith 2516, Book11, Vol.4
6- Sadqua, Two Rak’aat of Salat ul Hajaat
If possible, give some Sadqua before the session of Hijama. Giving out sadaqah guarantees protection from different calamities and a way to protect themselves from hellfire. Sadaqah opens the doors of Jannah. From different ahadith, it is evident Sadaqah serves as a protection from tragedies. It is the most virtuous action in all good actions.
Pray two rak’aat of Salat ul hajaat before the session of Hijama cupping therapy and make a special dua for the complete recovery from any health issue that you have by the means of this Sunnah e Rasool.
The most beneficial gift for the sick person is giving sadaqah in the name of Allah. Sadaqah helps to remove hardships and difficulties related to life and health. It is a cure and medicine in many ways.
The Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) said, “Give the Sadaqah without the delay, for it stands in the way of calamity”. (Tirmidhi)
“ Indeed, the men who practise charity and the women who practise charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan- it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.” (Al Hadeed 57:18)
It is highly recommended to recite Ayt ul Kursi at least seven times, Surah e Ikhlaas, Surah e Naas, Surah e Falaak 3 times, Masnoon Duas, Surah e Fatiha 7 times.
7- Consultation from your Doctor
If you are performing Hijama Cupping therapy for the sake of completing a Sunnah or just for the detoxification of the body or maybe for a minor muscular pain then you do not need to ask permission from your doctor. But a consultation should be taken from your doctor before the treatment of cupping therapy if you have a medical history, any specific medications and allergies must be disclosed to the practitioners.
If you are taking hypertension medication, ask your doctor’s permission to take the medication after the session. It is not recommended to take anything before Hijama, not even medications.
If blood thinners like aspirin are prescribed by your doctor, it is highly recommended to take your physician’s permission before you stop or adjust your medicine. Aspirin or blood thinners of any strength or quantity should not be taken a night before the session, of course, take your physician’s permission first. Omega-3 oil should also be avoided a few days before the session of Hijama.
Diabetic individuals should be very careful before the Hijama session and must take their doctor’s permission because their blood glucose must be managed and controlled before the session.
8- Share Medical History to the Practitioner
It is very important to share all your medical history, what medication is taken by you, any specific allergies you have, before the session. A piece of specific information regarding diabetes, blood pressure, diabetic neuropathy, history of vasovagal syncope, and hypoglycemia is necessary to share before the Hijama session. A practitioner should be aware of all the regular medications that you are taking.
9- Wear Casual Clothing
It is highly recommended to wear casual, loose, old clothes for the session of Hijama. Wearing dark colours is a good idea because you can get stains off your blood or maybe oil stains. For moving cupping lots of oil is being used on the skin. Sometimes you have a choice to change your clothes and wear a gown so loose clothes can help you change easily.
Avoid applying any lotions, creams or oils on your skin before going for the session of Hijama Cupping Therapy.
10- Cold or Hot Weather
It is very important to dress up according to the weather. If the weather is cold it is very important to keep your body warm because when your body is cold, the arteries and capillaries on the surface of the body shrink and get narrow. Your body temperature decreases and low temperature decreases blood flow to the skin to keep the warm blood deep inside the body. In contrast, warm weather dilutes the blood and widens the arteries and capillaries, increasing the flow of the blood on the surface of the skin.
11- Avoid Nicotine, Caffeine and Alcohol
A huge amount of caffeine, sugary foods or processed foods slows down your body’s ability to proceed with the treatment of Hijama Cupping therapy.
If you inhale nicotine like smoking then stop smoking a couple of days before the session of Hijama. Nicotine increases blood pressure and heart rate so, before Hijama, blood pressure and heart rate should be normal.
Consumption of alcohol is also prohibited before the session of Hijama.
12- Don’t Exfoliate your Skin before Hijama
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. It is beneficial for the removal of dead skin cells which makes your skin extra sensitive for Hijama cupping therapy. Exfoliation increases blood circulation and brightens the appearance of the skin. It is highly recommended to wait for a couple of days after the exfoliation treatment before receiving the treatment of cupping.
In the bottom line, it is highly recommended to prepare yourself properly before the session of Hijama Cupping Therapy to get 100% results.