Therapeutic Benefits of Al-hijamah: in Light of Modern Medicine and Prophetic Medicine

Abstract

Excretory treatment modalities that excrete pathological substances outside human body deserve more research attention as this may potentiate the therapeutic effects of pharmacological treatments. Overcoming language barrier through translating the national medical literature to medical English to be introduced to the international medical literature is vital. Wet cupping therapy (WCT) of prophetic medicine (Al-hijamah) is practiced in the Arabic medical literature where it is reported to treat many diseases differing in etiology and pathogenesis. Al-hijamah may be referred to as bloodletting cupping therapy or blood cupping therapy in medical studies and reports from Arabic countries. Both Chinese dry cupping therapy and WCT are partial steps of Al-hijamah. In this article, we review scientific principles, methodology, indications and therapeutic benefits of Al-hijamah in comparison with acupuncture and other types of cupping therapy. Scientific and medical bases of Al-hijamah were recently reported in the evidence-based Taibah mechanism (Taibah theory) where Al-hijamah is the only excretory treatment that clears blood, lymph and intercellular fluids from causative pathological substances (CPS). Al-hijamah benefits from the histological structure of the skin in performing a percutaneous pressure-dependent and size-dependent nonspecific blood filtration and excretion of CPS through the fenestrated skin capillaries upon application of negative pressure suction using sucking cups. Al-hijamah benefits also from the production of endogenous nitric oxide (vasodilator, antineoplastic and antimicrobial agent). Al-hijamah exerts many other health benefits e.g. enhancement of immunity and pharmacological potentiation. Al-hijamah was reported to clear blood significantly from serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, ferritin (circulating iron stores), uric acid, autoantibodies, cytokine receptors and others. Those therapeutic benefits may treat some diseases e.g. hyperlipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, gout, musculoskeletal pain conditions, hepatitis and iron overload conditions e.g. thalassemia. Importance of Al-hijamah may increase more in modern societies due to western diets and western life style. Therapeutic benefits of Al-hijamah are mainly related to the amount of excreted CPS not the amount of letted blood. Al-hijamah may carry some advantages better than acupuncture and other types of cupping therapy in treating a large number of diseases differing in etiology and pathogenesis.

Management of Early Menopause Using Traditional Persian Medicine: A Case Report

“…Many studies confirmed the effect of oil massage on the GI system, especially regarding the effect of Chamomile on improving the bowel movement (35). Moreover, cupping on belly and areas around the uterus was performed to achieve in this regard since cupping causes more absorption of blood flow in the area and warms the organ and drains the aggregated harmful excretions from the uterus to the skin in order to remove them (36,37). Additionally, improving the function of the GI system resulted in resolving the uterus problems to some extent.…”

The effect of wet-cupping therapy (hijama) in modulating autoimmune activity of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

“…In autoimmune diseases, it was suggested that hijama improved symptoms of the disease by clearing blood and interstitial fluid from the noxious substances such as auto-antibodies, immune complexes, pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokines, oxidants, and soluble cytokine receptors. [13][14][15][16] This immune-modulatory effect was described in rheumatoid arthritis, where hijama induced significant reduction in rheumatoid factor and soluble interleukin-2 receptors along with clinical improvement including pain and arthritis. 17 Several authors have studied the efficacy of hijama in various inflammatory, autoimmune or infectious conditions such as asthma, psoriasis, facial paralysis, herpes zoster, cervical spondylitis, and acne.…”

“…30 Other data from literature suggested that hijama helps restoring humoral immunity and tissue homeostasis by clearing up serum and interstitial fluid from noxious substances that sustain inflammation. [13][14][15][16] Some studies suggested that toxic metals can increase the risk of developing thyroid diseases. 31,32 Moreover, mercury can play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis by triggering autoimmune reactions and oxidative damage.…”

Effectiveness of Blood Pressure Reduction Reviewed from Amount of Kop, Duration And Location of Point of Bekam Therapy

“…Durasi terapi bekam secara keseluruhan dari tahapan bekam kering hingga pembersihan darah dari bekam basah di antara 25-30 menit. Adapun durasi bekam basah sekitar 5-10 menit, dan tidak disarankan lebih dari 10 menit (S. M. El Sayed et al, 2014). Beberapa efek samping dari bekam basah pada jaringan kulit adalah munculnya eritema, bengkak dan bula jika dilakukan tidak dengan hati-hati (Al-rubaye, 2012).…”