Many of us are now becoming interested in Hijama or cupping therapy. Some are curious about what this cupping therapy is, where it came from, and what its history is. Today, we will try to shed some light on the history of cupping therapy.
Cupping therapy is currently quite popular in many developed countries around the world. It is prevalent in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Malaysia, and China, as well as in the USA, Australia, Germany, Norway, and Denmark. In Denmark and Norway, it has already been taken seriously as a complementary treatment alongside the conventional health system.
Not just cupping therapy, surveys indicate that the rate of patients in Australia opting for traditional treatments alongside conventional medicine is surprisingly high and continues to increase!
The recent buzz around cupping began after photos of Michael Phelps with cupping marks went viral during the last Olympics. Additionally, many athletes were seen on stage with cupping marks that year.
Prominent celebrities from various fields, such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, footballer Neymar, cricketer Virat Kohli, actress Jennifer Aniston, and singer Justin Bieber, have not hesitated to try cupping after witnessing its incredible results! Once they understood how scientific and beneficial it is, no one wanted to waste any time.
Thus, cupping continues to make waves in various research studies. A recent report from Harvard Medical School stated that cupping therapy and acupuncture are highly effective in most cases for severe pain and chronic conditions in children.
Cupping therapy is gaining widespread popularity around the world. Where did it all begin? Many believe that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) introduced this treatment method. This notion is not entirely correct. The Prophet (PBUH) endorsed this existing treatment method for his followers, stating that it is the best form of treatment.
Cupping therapy is an extraordinary discovery of human civilization. However, it is difficult to pinpoint who first invented this method. Evidence from ancient civilizations shows that it was practiced in various regions and among different peoples long ago.
The Assyrians, who lived on the banks of the Tigris River about 3,500 years before the birth of Jesus (AS), or roughly 5,500 years ago, are believed by Arab historians to have introduced cupping to the Arabs. The Arabs called it Al Hijama, meaning ‘to return something to its natural state.’ They used cupping therapy to treat high blood pressure, polycythemia, headaches, migraines, and various types of poisoning. Today, we know that polycythemia is treated in hospitals through venesection.
Egypt, a cradle of ancient civilization, also practiced cupping therapy around 1550 BC, as evidenced by papyrus leaves and various inscriptions indicating that the Egyptians had advanced in cupping therapy by that time.
In Chinese history, Ji Hong (281–341 AD) is considered a pioneer of cupping therapy. Since then, the Chinese have practiced cupping therapy, and it has been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for about 2,500 years. Since the 1950s, cupping therapy has been institutionalized in Chinese hospitals.
Cupping therapy was also prevalent in ancient Greece. Around 400 BC, the famous historian Herodotus documented that Egyptian doctors used dry and wet cupping to treat headaches, loss of appetite, indigestion, fainting, cleaning boils, and lethargy.
In ancient Macedonia, cupping therapy was practiced around 3300 BC and has been used since prehistoric times to address various ailments.
When the angels advised the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to instruct his followers to practice Hijama during the night of Ascension (Miraj), it began to be widely adopted among Muslims as a Sunnah practice.
Ibn Sina (980–1037 AD), a renowned Islamic philosopher, scholar, and poet, was also a celebrated physician. His book “The Canon of Medicine” was used as a textbook worldwide. He mentioned Hijama in this book, advocating both wet and dry cupping, especially emphasizing its benefits in disease prevention, blood purification, and deep tissue inflammation.
Another famous physician, Al Razi (865–925 AD), used Hijama and dry cupping as traditional treatment methods.
As cupping therapy was effective in the early stages of human civilization, it remains just as effective today as humanity reaches the pinnacle of progress. This great discovery of human civilization should not be underestimated. We hope that new dimensions of cupping therapy or Hijama will be revealed through further research.
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