Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Arshiya SULTANA, Khaleeq ur RAHMAN
Hijamat (Cupping therapy) and Gynaecological Diseases- a Review
humours lead to pathological changes in the tissues at the
affected site of the body and show signs of clinical manifestations.
2
In Unani system of medicine management of any disease
depends on the cause, aggravating factors, pathogenesis,
pathology, and clinical manifestations. The principle
of treatment is elimination of the cause, and normalization
of humours and of tissues/organs. The mode of treatment is
by Ilaj bil Ghiza (diet therapy), Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimental
therapy), Ilaj bil Advia (pharmacotherapy) and Ilaj bil Yad
(surgery). 3 Hijamat is one such therapy, which comes under
various regimental therapies used for local evacuation
or shunting of morbid humours. In this therapy, cups are
applied to the surface of the skin through negative pressure
created by the vacuum. 4
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Hijamat (Cupping):
Cupping in Arabic is known as “Hijamah” which literary
means “sucking”. 5 It is an ancient method of treatment
that has been used in the treatment and cure of a broad
range of diseases viz., hypertension, migraine, anxiety,
menorrhagia, dysmenorrhoea, rheumatic conditions ranging
from arthritis, sciatica, back pain etc. 4, 6 The aim of cupping
is to extract morbid matter that is believed to be harmful
for the body, which in turn rids the body of potential
harm from symptoms leading to a reduction in well being.
Cups can be applied to any part of the body where the
skin surface is level, smooth and fleshy enough to permit
a firm air seal. These parts include the neck, temples, forehead,
back, chest, abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees,
and calves. 7
Cupping therapy is a very ancient and practiced worldwide
that spanned from East to West. In the primitive
shamanistic societies there were certain shamans who specialized
in the sucking out of illness and infirmity from the
body. 8 Cupping practice dates from as early as 3000 B.C.
The earliest record of cupping is in Ebers Papyrus, one of the
oldest medical texts in the world. In Ebers Papyrus, it is described
that cupping was used to remove foreign matter from
the body. 9 The Chinese has been practicing the art of cupping
for at least three thousand years. The method was described
in the book “A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies”,
in which the cups were actually animal horns, used for draining
pustules. As a result of using horns, cupping has also been
10, 11
known as “jiaofa” or the horn technique.
In ancient Greece, Buqrat (Hippocrates) used cupping
for internal diseases and structural problems. It was used
to remove the excessive blood from organism; scarification
was thus often used in conjunction with cups. 9 He also advocated
application of cups below the breast in menorrhagia.
1
Both Buqrat and Jalinoos (Galen) were strong advocates
and users of cupping therapy. Samuel Bayfield (1839) wrote,
“Hippocrates was a minute observer, and has left us some
striking remarks on the shape and application of the cups.
He recommends that they should be small in diameter, conical
in shape and light in weight even when the disease for
which they are applied is deeply seated”. Hippocrates recommended
cupping for the treatment of angina, menstrual
and other disorders. 10, 12 This therapy in multiple forms extended
into medicine in Asian and European civilizations.
Cupping therapy was passed on to the Muslim Arabs
and Persians from the ancient Greeks and Romans, through
Alexandrians. As stated in many Hadith, the Prophet Mohammed
(PBUH) permitted and strongly recommended
the use of cupping. Anas Ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said, “Indeed
the best of remedies you have is cupping…” [Saheeh
al- Bukhaaree]. 10, 13 Ibn Abbaas reported that the Prophet
(PBUH) said: “Healing is to be found in three things:
drinking honey, the knife of the cupper, and cauterization
of fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 10/136). 14
How Cupping Therapy Works:
Unani physicians thought that the proper and timely
evacuation of wastes from the body forms an important aspect
of hygiene. Whether it is constipation, urinary retention,
or even suppressed menses, the undue retention of anything
is a major cause of morbidity and diseases and hence,
should be expelled. The functioning of the vital organs at the
body’s core can get obstructed by toxin, morbid humours
and other congested offending matter that can harm the
body and lead to the vast majority of diseases. Hence, the
body tries to peripheralise such morbid matter/humours by
sending them to the surface of the body in the form of cysts,
boils or eruptions. Cupping is one of the Unani regimental
therapies that activates this peripheralization and relieves
pathogenic congestion to the internal organs, thus averting
or preventing more serious disorders. The suction applied by
cupping sucks out and improves the eliminative functions.
It evacuates the waste from the organism by improving the
circulation of blood, lymph and other vital fluids. It leads to
the breaking up and dispersing of blockages and congestions
in the flow of the vital force, offending waste matter, toxins
and morbid humours. 8 In addition, cupping also disperses
pathogenic heat and inflammation by bringing them to the
surface for release. Pathogenic heat and toxins can fester and
eat away the organism when they’re submerged and under
ISHIM 2011-2012