Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Mohd NAYAB, Mohd ANWAR, A.M.K.SHERWANI
History of Hijamat
In another Arabic dictionary, Mukhtar-ul-Sehah it has
been mentioned as follows. 5
The noun is Hijāmat with Kserah.
According to Kabīruddēn when the word, Hijāmat is
merely used, it means Hijāmat-bil-Shurt. 6
Ihtijām: This is an infinitive of an Arabic verb ‘Ihtajama’.
It means to be cupped.
Muhtajim: this is active particle; derived from the infinitive
‘Ihtijām ‘which means person to be cupped.
Hajjām: This is an exaggerative noun of verb ‘Hajama’,
which means Cupping-performer or Cupping-operator.
Mihjamah and Mihjam (Pl. Mahājim): The instrument
which is used during Hijamat is called Mihjamah. 7
The instrument which is used for the scarification or
pricking the skin in case of Hijāmat-bil-Shart is also
called Mihjamah, as it is mentioned in Lisān-ul-Arab:
Al-Mihjam is the instrument in which blood of Hijāmat
is collected during suction and the scarificator of cupping
performer also is known as Mihjam. 1
o Mahjam (Pl. Mahaajim): This is adverb of Hajama,
denoting the site of Hijamat.
o Mishrat (Pl. Mashārit): This is the instrument,
which is used for the scarification or pricking the
skin (Blade, Scalpel). 8
Some New Arabic Terms relevant to Hijamat
‣ Al-Moālajāt bil-Kāsāt (Cupping Therapy): This word is
used to denote the Dry Cupping, in which no blood is
sucked out. 9
‣ Al-Moālajāt be-Massin wa-Tasrēb-il-Dam (Blood Letting):
this word is used to denote the wet cupping, in
which the morbid materials are sucked out from the site
of Hijāmat. 9
‣ Al-Moālajāt bil-Kāsāt-wa-Mass-il-Dam (Cupping and
Bloodletting): this word is used when we perform dry
cupping and wet cupping simultaneously. 9
‣ Al-Moālajāt bil-Kāsāt ma’ Amle Kudūsin au-Wakhzin
(Prick Cupping): this word also indicates the wet cupping.
9
‣ Al-Hijāmat-ul-Jāffah: It is used for dry cupping. 9
‣ Al-Hijāmat-ul-Ratabah: It is used for wet cupping. 9
154
Hijāmat in ancient period
In history the time span since prehistoric period to the
sixth century AD is known as ancient period. 10
A long duration of early human life and culture is almost
obscure and beyond the approach of history, so it is
very difficult to say anything exactly about that period. But
this fact also may not be denied that the human being, since
its existence on this terrestrial globe has been making efforts
to get relief from the pain and ailments and also has
been trying to develop various new methods of treatment,
which can help overcome the health problems. So Hijāmat
may also be the result of those efforts.
Whatever information is available in the record of history
in form of monuments and pictures shows that the
Hijāmat is an ancient method which was particularly used
among the Chinese, Babylonians, Egyptians and Greeks
etc. The pottery cups, hollowed out animal horns and bamboo
cups were used commonly for the purpose. 11
Regarding the earliest evidence of use of Hijāmat in
Egypt a noble writer says “the earliest recorded evidence
was discovered in Egypt in a document Eber’s Papyrus dating
from 1550 BC.
12, 13
In China also Hijāmat was used as a treatment for various
ailments. Its use among Chinese dates bake about 2000
BC. According to Dr. Ghassan Jafer,” the treatment by the
air cups in the internal diseases has been mentioned in the
book of Al - Ambratoor al - seeni about 4000 years’ ago. 11
But another writer Subooti Dhamanenda, Director, Institute
of Traditional Medicine, Portland, describing about
the Chinese cupping therapy, writes regarding in history in
China “ the earliest use of cupping is recorded, is from the
famous Taoist, alchemist and herbalist, Ge Kong (281-341
AD). The method was described in his book named ‘A hand
book of prescriptions for emergencies’ in which the cups
were actually animal horns used for draining pustules.” 3
In Greece (Unan) the use of Hijāmat dates back to that
period when most of the physicians were trapped in the
superstitious believes. They assumed that diseases were
caused by penetrating of devils in to the body of patients.
Therefore, they used to perform the Taqwēr (trephination)
to drive away the devils from the body. Some times Hijāmat
was also done to expel out the devils along with the blood.
But when Hippocrates (Buqrāt), Father of Medicine, appeared
in the medical world, he directed the medicine towards
the scientific bases and gave the concept of Akhlāt
(humors). He believed that the health is based on the correct
balance of four Akhlāt and any imbalance in its quantity
or quality may cause the diseases. Thereafter, in the
light of this concept, it was hypothesized by the physicians,
following Hippocrates, like Galen (Jālīnūs) that the blood
letting through this method might maintain that balance of
Akhlāt, mentioned by him 9 . A book also has been written
ISHIM 2011-2012