The Use of Hijama (Wet Cupping) in Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Efficacious or Perilous?

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2016 Source:Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Syed Mohammad Mazhar Uddin, Aatera Haq, Haris Sheikh The field of medicine has remained an extensive ground for major advancements over recent decades with the primary purpose of reducing the suffering of humanity and improving the course of life. However, despite these modern advancements, the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased. The use of CAM in many developed and developing countries is considerable. One such example of CAM is Hijama, which literally means sucking (cupping) and is one of the oldest medical techniques in the world. The various types of cupping include wet cupping, retained cupping, flash cupping, moving cupping, medicinal cupping, and needle cupping. In traditional Arabic culture, Hijama refers to wet cupping. Strong evidence suggests that Hijama can be highly effective in the treatment of pain, particularly tension headaches and musculoskeletal pain. Hijama is also known to be useful for a wide range of symptomatic conditions. However, apart from its effectiveness in relieving pain, evidence for other indications is clearly insufficient, and, as a result, clinicians are skeptical about its therapeutic usage. Furthermore, evidence suggests that Hijama carries a significant risk of certain blood-borne infections including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, further raising questions about its efficacy. O...
Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research