Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

History of Hijamat
Mohd NAYAB, Mohd ANWAR, A.M.K.SHERWANI
by Hippocrates on Hijāmat and Fasd which was later translated
by Yuhannā-bin-Māswaih into Arabic and named as
14, 15, 16, 17
Kitāb fil-Fasd wa’al-Hijāmat.
Among the Indians mostly horn cups were used for this
purpose. 89 Later, the horn was replaced with the bamboo,
pottery and glass cups but the previous method is still used
in rural areas.
The ancient Arabs although were living in desert, but
were much developed in culture, literature and various
fields of knowledge. They were much familiar with the
medical science also, but the medical science was confined
only up to the knowledge of Hijāmat, Kayy (cauterization)
and the properties of some herbs and plants. Hijāmat was
the most popular mode of treatment in comparison to others.
It has been reported that its largest use was in Āshūrī
tribe among the Arabs. 11
After the migration of Muslim Physicians with their
medical literature including Hijamat therapy, introduced
to the Europe through Spain. 11
Hijāmat during the Days of Holy Prophet (( )
More than sixty Ahādēth (traditions) related to cupping
are attributed to the Prophet ( ). According to
these Ahādēth the Prophet ( ) not only confirmed its
effectiveness but also advised people to cure themselves
through it, he determined its sites on the body and explained
the most favorable time for it, indicating the specific
day time, week’s days and dates of lunar month, and
precautions to be taken by the person to be cupped before
and after the treatment. Some sayings of the Prophet (
) are mentioned below:
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah “I heard the Prophet ( )
saying, “If there is any healing in your medicines, then it is
in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization)
that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be (cauterized)
branded with fire”. 18
Mālik told me that he was informed that the Prophet (
) said, “If any medicine can cure the disease, that is cupping
which is very effective”. 19
It is narrated by Anas that the Prophet ( ) said, “In
fact, the best of treatments, which you carry out, is the cupping
and marine Saussurea”.
20, 21, 22, 23
The Prophet ( ) said, “Indeed, the best of the treatments
which you carry out are the cupping and Venesection”. 9
It is narrated by Anas that the Prophet (PBUH.) got
cupped on Akhd’ain (both side of the neck) and Kāhil (Inter
scapular region), on the 17 th , 19 th and 21 st day (of a lunar
month). 24
It is narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (
) said, “If there is any beauty in the treatments, which you
25, 26
carry out, that is cupping”.
It is narrated Ibne Abbas “The Prophet ( ) was cupped
20, 27, 28, 29
while he was in a state of Ihram”.
It is reported by Ibne Abbās that the Prophet ( ) got
cupping, while he was Muhrim and also got cupping, when
20, 28, 29
he was Sāim (On fast).
Hijamat during middle era: -
The Muslim physicians during the middle ages used and
further developed the Ilāj bil-Hijāmat theoretically as well
as practically. The history and Unani medical books reveal
that it was among the most popular methods of treatment
in all communities of that period. Even a full-fledged book
kitāb fil-Hiājmat was written by Rabban Tabari, which is
available in the library of Bāsil Halab. 30
Nearly in all and every medical book of that time, containing
the chapter of Usūl-e-Ilāj Hijāmat has been mentioned
in detail.
In further development of this aspect, there are so
many valuable contribution of different physicians of that
time as Zakariya Razi, known as Razes in west (850-923
A.D), Ali Ibn Abbās Majūsī, known as Haly Abbās in West
(930-994 A.D), Abulqāsim Zahrāwi, known as Abacuses
in West (936-1036 A.D), Ibn Sina, known as Avicenna in
West (980-1037 A.D), Ismāil Jurjāni (1136 A.D), Ibn Hubal
(1213A.D) and Ibn-ul-Quf al-Masēhī (1233-1286 A.D).
Rāzi has described the cure of various diseases by
Hijāmat in his book Al Hāwi and Al Mansoori. He writes
under the treatment of Irq-ul-Nisā’ (Sciatica) in Al Hāwi “if
the thick and hard morbid materials are collected in hip,
Hijāmat becomes necessary and has a significant role also. 31
Ali Ibne Abbās Majusi has also described the types, sites,
indications, precautions and the most accurate time about
Hijāmat, in the second volume of Kamil-ul-Sana’a under
the chapter of Ilāj-bil-Yad which is done in muscles. 32
Abul Qasim Zahrāwi has described the Hijamat in his
book Al Tasreef. Apart from its types he has also mentioned
the following sites of Hijamat.
‣ Nuqrah (Nape)
‣ Kāhil (upper part of the back/inter scapular region)
‣ Akhd’ain (both lateral margins of the neck
‣ Zaqan/Ziqan (chin)
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