Cupping is a type of both ancient and modern traditional medicine used in the treatment is some diseases. It was used in the distant past with primitive methods and is still used today in various parts of the world. In Islamic Arab countries, it is practiced on the basis of a religious belief mentioned in the hadiths of the Prophet, PBUH. It is practiced by doctors and individuals who have experience and knowledge in this field.
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Dr. Abdullah Ali Al Tabour mentions in his book ‘Traditional medicine in the UAE medicine in the UAE - 3rd Edition – 2008’ (1) that:
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After a person undergoes the cupping procedure, they must refrain from bathing until 4 pm to avoid any risks that bathing may entail
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Cupping should not be done on a full stomach.
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The person undergoing the procedure should refrain from sleeping until nighttime.
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The person undergoing the procedure should refrain from eating "onions, green limes and radishes" as they may make the person bloated and lead to a stomachache.
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The person undergoing the procedure should remain indoors and avoid exposure to sunlight
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The person undergoing the procedure should avoid physical exertion, such as carrying heavy tools.
Cupping is considered one of the oldest types of treatment known to man. It is basically a surgical operation intended to reduce or cure inflammation that occurs in organs that are not deemed inoperable without this medium. It is done by stimulating the movement of a certain amount of blood to the exterior. This aims to stimulate the internal organs of the body through specific points located along energy lines, in order for the body to resume normal functions.
Cupping has certain prerequisites which the person wishing to undergo the procedure must adhere to, and some of the prerequisites as outlined by cupping specialists include:
Cupping has been known to have great benefits for adults at the prime of their life. It offers limited benefit as the person reaches forty years of age and has not previously undergone the procedure. Rather, it is preferable for those who have never done the cupping procedure by the time they reach the age of forty to avoid doing so altogether, because its harm at that time exceeds its benefit as proven by experience and practice.
It is said that: “Cupping for people above the age of forty who have never done so is neither harmful nor beneficial.” If a person had cupped prior to reaching this age and wishes to do so again, then the benefit of cupping persists so long as that person is alive.
The tools of cupping include:
The horn is the that of oxen, the awl, and the shishah, which is a tool used to suck blood from the human body.1
The preferred times for cupping:
In a field interview with the most famous heat therapy and cupping specialist, Mr. "Aqeedah Ali Juma Al Muhairi"2:
He mentions that there is a specific timing in which supping should be performed. In many cases, it is preferable to do so in the summer, while in winter, the weather tends to be cold, which may hinder the cupping procedure, because the severity of cold weather has its effect on the human body, thereby making cupping unhelpful and pointless. People in the United Arab Emirates used to perform cupping in the summer and the end of spring. Cupping was specifically more common on Tuesdays. They would undergo cupping on Tuesday and drink hulool on Wednesday. The procedure was done before sunrise, as people believed that this was a time of day with a moderate temperature, therefore the heat would not have much of an effect on the blood and its flow in the body. However, as the sun rose, its intense heat would lead to the further flow and mixing of blood and mixing, thereby hindering the objective of cupping which is to remove spoiled blood.
- The concept and treatment methods of cupping have been referenced in the book, ‘Cupping - The Key to Treatment using Alternative Medicine - Ahmad Nafe’.’3
Cupping is divided into two types:
A- Wet cupping: It is done by a leech that sucks blood.
B-By using cups: They are called “air cups”. The area to be cupped is sterilized well. The cup is placed on the skin and emptied of air and left for 3-5 minutes until congestion occurs. Then the cup is removed, and the site of cupping is sterilized once more. Afterwards, the site is punctured with a special needle or small scalpel, and the cup is placed once more and emptied of air again, so the skin retracts, and the blood reaches the cup.
Dry cupping: It is also done by cups of air, but without the release of blood. This type of cupping is very beneficial for joint pain if the site of cupping is carefully chosen.
