While Hijama or Cupping (Cupping Therapy) is most commonly associated with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), it has been a staple of folk medicine in many regions of the world, including Egypt, the Middle East, India, ancient Greece, and parts of Africa. It continued to be a popular treatment in Europe until the early 20th century, until it fell out of favor to conventional medicine. However, Hijama or Cupping is still widely used to this day in many parts of the world where conventional medicine is not as accessible.

It is thought that Hijama or Cupping was developed by prehistoric humans who used simple techniques, such as using the mouth to suck blood out from a wound. This was a natural instinct, just as you would suck your finger if you were pricked by a needle or a splinter. Later, instead of using their mouths, Experts used cups.

The first cups were most likely made of animal horn, which is why Hijama or Cupping therapy was first known as “horn therapy.” To create the suction, the practitioner would suck the air out from the tip of the horn with their mouth. Some people even used the shells of pumpkins and other gourds as cups, again sucking the air from the pumpkin from a hole at the top to create suction. Later on, they used other materials, such as bamboo, clay, or earthenware cups.

One of the oldest mentions of Hijama or Cupping is from the Egyptian book Ebers Papyrus, which is the oldest medical book, written in 1550 BC. It mentions that Hijama or Cupping was used for treating almost every disorder, including fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual imbalances, and weakened appetite, and that it helped to accelerate healing. From Egypt, Hijama or Cupping was likely passed on to the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates, sometimes referred to as the father of modern medicine, used Hijama or Cupping for many internal and structural diseases. He was one of the first physicians to believe that disease is not due to supernatural causes, but to things of natural origin, such as poor weather, geography, poor diet, overworking, and emotions. Since the Greeks were in the Bronze Age at this time, the cups were made of bronze. At this time in history, Hijama or Cupping was more prominent in Greece than it was in China.

In the Middle East, many different nations use Hijama or Cupping for treating inflammation. Hijama or Cupping is known as hejama or Hijama or Cupping in Arabic, which translates as “to restore to basic size” or “to diminish in volume.” The founder of Islam, Muhammad, was known to be an advocate of Hijama or Cupping and even mentioned it throughout his writings. Muhammad wrote about Hijama or Cupping locations for the treatment of different pain-related diseases. Other Islamic medical texts also describe the best time to do Hijama or Cupping, what to eat or avoid eating before or after Hijama or Cupping, and how to diagnose based on Hijama or Cupping marks. Iranian traditional medicine uses Hijama or Cupping to eliminate scar tissue and holds the belief that it cleanses the internal organs.

The earliest texts of Hijama or Cupping in China include the following:

•        The earliest record of Hijama or Cupping in China was found in a Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) tomb, in a book called Bo Shu.

•        The first record of Hijama or Cupping methods was found in a book called Zouhou Fang, written in 28 AD.

•        The first descriptions of treatment of a specific disease were recorded in a book called Weitaimiyao in 755 AD, which discusses treating tuberculosis with Hijama or Cupping.

•        Animal horns used for Hijama or Cupping and draining pustules from the skin were first mentioned by Ge Hong (281 to 341 AD) in A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies.

•        During the Qing dynasty (1644 to 1911 AD), Zhao Xueming wrote the Supplement to Outline of Herbal Pharmacopoeia, which talks about “Fire-Jar Qi,” or the use of fire to create the suction for Hijama or Cupping, and replacing the animal horn with bamboo, ceramic, or glass cups. He also wrote about the history and origin of different kinds of Hijama or Cupping, different cup shapes, and their functions and applications.

In the 1950s, Chinese and Russian practitioners put a lot of research into Hijama or Cupping, and Hijama or Cupping was integrated into treatment in hospitals all over China. 

Hijama or Cupping was also common practice in Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Royal Marsden Hospital in London had full-time cuppers, who were often doctors or surgeons.

By the 1880s, Hijama or Cupping had begun to fall out of practice in the Western world due to a lack of understanding as to how the mechanism worked, rather than the lack of therapeutic results. However, over the past few decades, Hijama or Cupping has shown a resurgence, and Hijama or Cupping therapy is practiced by a wide range of practitioners, including Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, acupuncturists, massage therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and some medical doctors.

There is no regulatory body for Hijama or Cupping therapy, but it may fall within the scope of practice of many different healthcare professions as an optional add-on if they get additional training.

Hijama or Cupping is said to increase blood circulation, relieve pain, remove toxins from the body, and activate the immune system. So, how does it do this? The suction creates a negative pressure in the cup, which causes the soft tissue within the border of the cup to get sucked into the cup. To balance equilibrium, blood will also rush in to the area underneath the cup, which will have a lower concentration of blood than the surrounding area.

Increasing Blood Circulation

When blood gets sucked into the area underneath the cup, local blood circulation increases. This increased blood circulation extends down to the muscle layer, helping cells that are in the area to repair faster. This also increases granulation and angiogenesis, the formation of new connective tissue and blood vessels, during wound recovery. This can help heal soft tissue injury, relieve muscle tension, and stop pain. Hijama or Cupping can draw so much blood to the area, in fact, that it can cause the capillaries in the area to severely dilate and eventually rupture, resulting in the distinctive bruising marks. The rupture of the capillaries causes bleeding, and therefore, makes it similar to autohemotherapy, which is a therapy where your own blood is drawn and re-injected into the body. It is believed to simulate the immune system, fight disease, and have healing properties. 

Relieving Pain

Hijama or Cupping is well-known for helping to relieve pain. This could be because Hijama or Cupping can increase the pain threshold in the area. Another theory as to why Hijama or Cupping can reduce pain is the counter-irritation theory, which holds that discomfort and pain from the Hijama or Cupping site reduces the pain from original site. Hijama or Cupping has also been shown to activate acupuncture points, and acupuncture is well-known in helping to relieve pain in a few different ways. First, it can activate small diameter nerves in the muscles, which send impulses to the spinal cord, where neurotransmitters are released to block the pain messages from reaching brain. Acupuncture can also activate the release of morphine-like endorphins, serotonin, and cortisol, which can all help to relive pain. 

Hijama or Cupping, much like acupuncture, can also stimulate specific nerve fibers, such as mechanosensitive A-beta fibers, which reduce pain input, and C and A-delta fibers, which inhibit pain. Hijama or Cupping can also relieve pain by loosening adhesions in the muscles or fascia, the connective tissue between the skin and the muscles. Hijama or Cupping lifts the fascia from the muscle, which can help reduce muscle tightness and relax the muscles. Another way Hijama or Cupping helps relieve pain is by bringing blood to stagnant skin and muscles, at the same time draining waste such as lactic acid from the muscles. A buildup of lactic acid can cause muscle pain and aches. 

Removing Toxins

Hijama or Cupping has been shown to remove impure blood from the affected area. The impure blood can contain inflammatory chemicals, broken-down cells, clotted blood, scar tissue, or other substances that can cause pain and prevent healing. The increase in blood circulation in the area allows the toxins trapped in the soft tissue layers to rise to the body surface, right underneath the skin. White blood cells tend to congregate and patrol the body surface so when the toxins rise to the surface, they can quickly mop up the toxins. 

Hijama or Cupping has been shown to improve the immune system, as well, by causing local inflammation. Inflammatory chemicals attract white blood cells to the area and activate the complement system, a part of the immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and white blood cells to kill off microbes and damaged cells. Hijama or Cupping can also increase the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon, which are signaling proteins to help combat pathogens and abnormal cells in the body.

Finally, Hijama or Cupping can increase lymph flow. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system that helps the body get rid of toxins, waste, and other unwanted materials, and helps to circulate white blood cells throughout the body.

According to TCM, Hijama or Cupping is said to improve Qi and Blood flow. Qi or Chi in Chinese literally means “breath,” “air,” or “gas.” However, it can also mean “energy” or “life force.”

In the  human  body,  Qi  is  needed  for  all  metabolic  functions. In modern medicine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the molecule responsible for providing the energy for all metabolic functions in the body. In TCM, if Qi and Blood are unobstructed and allowed to flow freely, then there will be no disease or pain. However, if Qi and Blood flow are slowed or obstructed, this creates disease, most notably pain.

According to modern medicine, the effects of blocked Qi and Blood are analogous to what happens when someone injures themselves. Oftentimes, injuries cause bleeding. To stop the bleeding, we have platelets and blood- clotting factors that make the blood clot, preventing further bleeding and patching up the injury by making scar tissue. This blood clot and scar tissue prevent blood movement and often cause pain. Hijama is very good for treating pain because it is able to move Qi and Blood. The suction draws Qi and Blood from the surrounding areas to the affected area, and if Moving Cupping, a technique of moving the cup around the area, is used, it can move more Qi and Blood, and in larger areas.

In TCM, Hijama is said to be able to remove pathogenic factors. There are six external pathogens in TCM: Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Summer-Heat. These pathogens invade the body from the outside environment. The primary pathogen is Wind, because it can penetrate the pores of the skin and bring all the other pathogens into the body. When the pathogens attack, they produce symptoms that are similar to viral or bacterial infections in modern medicine.

We can use Cupping to suck the Wind out of the body through the skin and pores, and to draw out the other pathogens along with it. The suction created by Hijama or Cupping can draw the lymphatic fluids, fresh blood, and white blood cells to the area, which can help kill off the virus or bacteria. Moving Hijama can stimulate the lymphatic system by pushing the lymphatic fluid through the lymph, flushing the virus or bacteria out of the body.

The external pathogens can also be caused by the weather, climate, and geographical locations we live in. One common example is damp weather causing joint pain in people with arthritis. In cold weather, muscles seize and cramp up, resulting in pain. Hijama can help remove the Dampness or Cold pathogens to help relieve pain.

Hijama or Cupping is said to bring Defensive Energy (Qi) to the affected area. Defensive Energy is a special type of Power in the body that defends it against pathogens. It is similar to white blood cells in modern medicine. Defensive Energy stays near the skin surface to protect the body against the pathogens that try to invade from the outside. In modern medicine, is has been found that white blood cells often circulate just underneath the skin to patrol for invading viruses and bacteria. So, by sucking the pathogens up toward the skin, Hijama or Cupping draws the virus or bacteria to where the white blood cells are, waiting to attack. White blood cells are also responsible for breaking down scar tissue or adhesions that often result after an injury and cause pain. Hijama can also help regulate organ function. If an organ is weak, gentle Cupping around the organ area can help bring fresh blood supply, and with it, nutrients to nourish the organ, helping it perform more optimally. Sometimes, the internal organ function may be hindered by pathogens attacking the organ. Hijama can remove pathogens from the body to help restore the organ’s function.

Disclaimer 

This writings has been written and published strictly for informational purposes, and in no way should be used as a substitute for consultation with health care professionals. You should not consider educational material herein to be the practice of medicine or to replace consultation with a physician or other medical practitioner. The owner and publisher are providing you with information in this subject so that you can have the knowledge and can choose, at your own risk, to act on that knowledge. The owner and publisher also urge all readers to be aware of their health status and to consult health care professionals before beginning any health program.