Percutaneous excretion of iron and ferritin (through Al-hijamah) as a novel treatment for iron overload in beta-thalassemia major, hemochromatosis and sideroblastic anemia

Ameliorating Role Exerted by Al-Hijamah in Autoimmune Diseases : Effect on Serum Autoantibodies and Inflammatory Mediators

“…thalassemia. (44) Based on that, Al-hijamah can be regarded as an artificial excretory procedure that opens the skin barrier and enhances the natural excretory functions of the skin (11)(12) as evidenced by the report that WCT enhanced the patients' natural immunity via increasing the number of natural killer (NK) cells and inducing leukocytosis. (45) The pressure-dependent filtration and excretion through Al-hijamah is similar in scientific principle to that occurring in the renal glomeruli and to that occurring during the pressuredependent abscess evacuation where excretion of noxious CPS causes systemic blood clearance and restores physiological homeostasis according to the evidence-based Taibah mechanism.…”

“…(63) Moreover, increased serum iron and ferritin constitute the hallmark of iron overload conditions as thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia and hemochromatosis. (42,44) Furthermore, hyperferritinemia (≥2,500 µg/L) was reported to be associated with the relapsing-progressive type of multiple sclerosis, (64) adult-onset Still's disease, (65) primary and secondary hemophagocyticlymphohistiocytosis. (66)(67) Interestingly, low serum ferritin was reported to be associated with a good response to therapy in patients with autoimmune diseaseassociated hemophagocytic syndrome (66)(67) that usually presents with hyperferritinemia (> 500 µg/L), high fever, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, central nervous system involvement and disseminated intravascular coagulation.…”

“…Detailed differences between Al-hijamah and phlebotomy were previously reported. (44,71) Autoimmune diseases (including RA) exhibit a similar abnormality in blood chemistry as in RA i.e. they have high serum level of autoimmune antibodies and immune complexes (tables 3-4).…”

“…However, inevitable minor trauma may occur to the capillaries at some scarification points and cause the excretion to be bloody. (42,44,71) Superficial skin scarifications (shartatmihjam in Arabic) represent proper practice of Al-hijamah while deep skin scarifications may injure deeper blood vessels and represent a malpractice that may cause significant bleeding. Al-hijamah is a pressure-dependent filtration procedure that is done through the fenestrated skin capillaries using suction pressure created inside suction cups.…”

“…(42,(44)(45) This can be explained on the basis that WCT excretes CPS and facilitates the therapeutic roles exerted by the conventional pharmacological therapeutics. Interestingly, Al-hijamah is a highly recommended treatment in prophetic medicine where Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:" Cure is in three: in sharatamihjam, gulp of honey and cauterization.…”