Hijama Wet Cupping

Hijama is wet cupping. It’s derived from the word “Hajm”, which means sucking. Hijama involves performing small incisions on specific points on the body (depending on the condition and location of pain) and placing suction cups on these areas to draw out toxic blood. It is the oldest, most frequently used and often the most effective method of cupping.

“Indeed, the best of remedies you have is cupping.” (Anas Bin Malik, sahih Bukhara 5371).

Hijama therapy is a very beneficial treatment and can assist with a wide range of health conditions. Some of these conditions include:

  • Chronic or acute pain
  • Headaches
  • Detoxification
  • Arthritis
  • Inflammation
  • Digestive health
  • Menstrual health
  • Infertility
  • Prostate problems and hormonal dysfunction
  • Insomnia
  • Chronic fatigue

If you are taking blood-thinning medications such as aspirin or warfarin etc, then you cannot perform Hijama as the incision site will not close properly, hence increasing your risk of infection. Please see your doctor and they will advise if you are allowed to stop taking your blood-thinning medications for a short period in order to perform Hijama or if you cannot. We will need a referral from your doctor under this circumstance.

It is also not recommended for someone with a terminal illness.

If the two scenarios mentioned relate to you, please inform the clinic when making a booking.

  • It is recommended to be fasting from food 3 hours before your treatment
  • Drink 1-2 cups of water before your treatment to assist with detoxification
  • Before your treatment, take a bath or shower. This will increase your blood circulation and relax your muscles before treatment
  • Shave or clip the hairs around the areas you want to perform hijama before your appointment (if necessary)
  • Wear something comfortable to change easily, as our Hijama period is very busy

After your Hijama treatment, we advise you to allow your body to rest for a few days so the incisions heal properly and the cupping marks reduce. Our therapists will assess your posture and lifestyle before your treatment. Your therapist will treat you holistically and may suggest other therapies to help bring you back to your optimal health, such as our in-house:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Exercise therapy
  • Dietician
  • Chinese medicine practitioner
  • Prophetic medicine consultations
  • Massage therapists

There are Hadith that recommend performing Hijama on the 17th, 19th and 21st days of the lunar month. However, there is Hadith that suggests otherwise also.

Our recommendation: If you’re doing Hijama for a general detox, because it’s a sunnah and you’re not in a rush to do it, then make your appointment on the 17th, 19th and 21st days of the lunar month. However, if you’re doing Hijama for a specific purpose, e.g. to treat an injury, then feel free to do Hijama anytime.

Yes, you can! If you are performing hijama to treat a specific condition, e.g. low back pain or arthritic pain, etc, ,then you can perform Hijama anytime. However, if you are performing Hijama because Prophet Muhammad (SAW) highly recommended it and you want a general detox for your body, then we suggest you book in on the recommended dates for the month.

Our hijama consultations are 30 minutes. Please arrive 10 minutes early to fill out our ‘health check’ form before your treatment.

The application of the suction cups feels like placing a vacuum cleaner on your skin, and the incisions feel like a light scratch. Don’t worry; we have never had anyone unable to complete their hijama treatment due to pain. We do advise patients to perform slow, relaxed breathing during treatment as this will help ease tension in your muscles and encourage better blood flow.

The cupping marks will become very light in colour within the first week, depending on your skin type. Generally, the cupping marks will disappear within 10-14 days. Please avoid sun tanning while the cupping marks still show.

We suggest you perform hijama 2-3 times a year. It’s an excellent detox for your body.

If your therapist finds high levels of toxins coming out, they may suggest placing you on a detox program of performing Hijama once a month for 3 months consecutively. The therapist will aim to determine the root cause of the excess toxins. If it is diet-related, then they will refer you to see a Dietitian. If it is posture related, then they may refer you to visit our Physiotherapist or Chiropractor.

Your therapist will first assess and determine the purpose of the cupping treatment (e.g. for a general detox or knee or low back pain, etc.). The number of cups will depend on the size of your body and the location. We generally apply 9-11 cups for men and 5-9 cups for women.

Donating blood is often confused with Hijama yet the two are very different in their method and their effect on the body. When you donate blood, the blood is removed directly from your veins. However, Hijama is removing blood that is underneath your skin and within your muscles. 

Hijama is not allowed during pregnancy and can result in a miscarriage or premature labour, depending on which stage of pregnancy a woman is in. If you are experiencing aches or pains during pregnancy, it is best to seek other natural cures such as Physiotherapy or Chiropractic treatment.

We recommend waiting at least 2 months after giving birth before performing hijama to allow the body to settle and regain strength.

As a note, Hijama is an excellent detox after childbirth, especially for women who have taken the epidural injection during labour and are left with long term back pain.

Yes, it is safe for women to have Hijama done while on their menses. There is no Islamic or Medical prohibition unless a woman is experiencing a heavy menstrual period and is not feeling well.

Yes, you can.

Just a side note, Hijama can help prevent cases of mastitis, which is a condition whereby the milk ducts get blocked, causing the breasts to become very hard and painful, inducing fever and a risk of infection. We will never cup directly on the area of the breasts.

Islamically, there is a difference of opinion on this matter, and one should take the opinion they follow. 

However, we advise our clients NOT to perform Hijama while fasting because if they were to feel like they’re going to faint, we would immediately provide them with water and honey, which will break their fast.

For those struggling to conceive, it is important to consult your GP to check for any underlying issues before seeking Hijama. It is recommended to avoid performing Hijama when a female is on her fertile days and when ovulating, also known as the ‘fertile window’. This window will vary depending on the individual’s cycle.

After ovulation has occurred, there is a chance that conception has taken place but may not show up on a home pregnancy test until 10-14 days later. Wait until the regular menstrual cycle has started before performing Hijama but always ask the patient to take a home pregnancy test before the Hijama.

The optimal time to perform Hijama for fertility is from the first day of the menstrual cycle until the fertile days start (allow time for recovery from Hijama, before the fertile window). Along with a Hijama treatment plan, advise the client to monitor general diet and lifestyle choices and make necessary changes.

‘Ruqyah’ is a method used by Muslims to treat cases of black magic.

Our team are health professionals who perform Hijama to optimise your general health and to treat specific injuries only. We do not provide any Ruyah services at our clinic

At Masnad clinic, each patient is provided with brand new single-use disposable cups as this is safer and more hygienic. We take full precautions during our treatment and follow health and safety regulations to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable treatment.

When you come in for treatment, feel free to check out our Prophetic Medicine range of products or order online!

We strongly recommend that Hijama is not performed on a child unless there is a very strong need and a lack of alternative options. For children under the age of 16, they must be accompanied by a parent, and we need a referral from their doctor.