AHSA - The word “hijamah” is used by some in Islam to describe the traditional healing practice of blood cupping, where a small incision is made on the skin, the air inside a small cup is heated and applied over the cut, resulting in a vacuum and airtight seal which draws blood to that area. Muhammad Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim Al-Mohsen, a blood cupper from Al-Ahsa, said that he is not challenging modern medicine by continuing to practice the procedure. He said he can treat some illnesses that doctors cannot, and is simply following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was quoted Friday in an Arabic newspaper as saying that he has been practicing blood cupping for more than 75 years and learnt it from his father. He continues to use his father's primitive instruments including a cup made of copper and some old small razors. He said he is licensed by the municipality. Al-Mohsen indicated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) approved three kinds of treatment – drinking of honey, the incision of a cupper and cauterizing with fire. He said blood cupping can treat circulatory diseases such as hypertension, infection of the heart muscle, chest and trachea ailments, back, stomach and neck pain, and rheumatism pains in the muscles and joints. In addition, cupping offers a unique treatment for relieving various aches and does not have any side effects, he argued. Al-Mohsen said there are only three trained cuppers in Al-Ahsa including himself, who all inherited the trade from their grandfathers. He said some women practice the profession but only treat women. He performs the procedure by first cleaning the cup and the area on the skin. He then uses a small lancet to make an incision. After the extraction of the blood he discharges it in a small pot, disinfects the cut on the skin with Dettol and covers it with a plaster. He said most of his customers suffer from headaches, poor sleep and aches in the legs, joints and back. Some had suffered strokes, have vision problems and chronic chest allergies. Sometimes he advises his customers to see doctors. He said he can treat patients suffering from hemorrhoids if they are in the initial stage by extracting blood from the lower part of the back. “If they are in an advanced stage, this kind of treatment doesn't work, so I advise my customers to see a general surgeon.” He said most of his customers are old people. He charges SR100 for each person. According to Wikipedia, cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which blood suction is created on the skin. The treatment includes dry cupping, fire cupping and wet cupping (used by Al-Mohsen). Practitioners believe that this mobilizes the blood flow to promote healing and can treat many diseases including minor common ailments. It is practiced across the Muslim world and China and is seeing a resurgence in a number of Western European countries.
