FAQ

Unani Tibb is an ancient indigenous healing system that stems from Greek, African, Asian, and Arab origins and is recognised in South Africa as a Complementary Medicine specialisation. 

Unani Tibb emphasises a philosophy called Temperament to assess and address six lifestyle factors: Food and Drink, Environment and Breathing, Movement and Rest, Sleep and Wakefulness, Emotions and Feelings, and Elimination process. 

Unani Tibb promotes a holistic practice of medicine through various therapeutic options. The most well-known are cupping therapies, such as Hijamah, although this is one of many therapies offered. Please see our service page for further information.

Cupping therapy is the use of suction on the body to lift up the skin, fascia (the layer between skin & muscles), muscles and nerve fibers. 

This suction process is known as a negative pressure (lifting up layers), which results in a reduction of pain sensation as the nerve fibers associated with these areas are desensitised. 

It also increases the blood flow to these areas, causing a rush of rich oxygenated blood and helps remove inflammation mediators via stimulation of the lymphatic system.

The type of cupping depends on the Patient, their presenting complaint/concerns and their current health status.

So NO, there isn't one cupping type more effective than the other; rather, one form of cupping might be best suited for the patient according to their health condition and body's ability to function.  For this reason, it is important to understand the human anatomy and its relation to illness conditions before applying cups to areas of the body. Cupping/ Hijamah works on the body’s nerve pathways, blood circulation, myofascial and internal organs. If the incorrect cupping therapy or cupping sites are used without considering the clinical implications, the patient might suffer further health issues. 

Patients have the right to request a practitioner's registration and qualifications before having cupping done as unqualified and illegal cupping services pose a risk to the patient's right to safe and effective cupping therapies. To check if someone is registered to do cupping therapy for healthcare, please check the Allied Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) website or send an email enquiry.   

In South Africa, registered Complementary Medicine Practitioners are required to register with The Allied Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), and a registration list for all practitioners is found on their website. AHPCSA regulates under the Allied Health Professions Act 63 of 1982

The South African Tibb Association (SATA), provides a list of Reg. Unani Tibb Practitioner & their practice details. The Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb is the education, research and training division of Unani Tibb in South Africa.   Keep an eye on their Social Media Pages for more information on Unani Tibb events 

Yes, Medical Aids do cover Registered Unani Tibb Practitioners, although it is dependent on your medical aid options. 

Medical Aids which currently provide coverage are Bonitas and Discovery. 

We do employ and encourage patients to submit their claims to other Medical Aids to increase awareness of patient usage of Unani Tibb services.