The Chinese system — tapping your energy

The Chinese system — tapping your energy

The Chinese system relies on the theory of energy, which states that the human body is made up of a meridian that passes energy to the whole body. Cupping focuses on releasing stagnant blood, energy called ‘qi’ and body fluids such as lymph, thus promoting healing. Many patients who have tried it experience almost instant pain relief and decongestion in bad colds and flu.

“Cupping is one of the ancient ‘barefoot doctor’ techniques used in China, Eastern Europe and Africa and in many other traditional cultures. It treats many health conditions by suction of the skin surface and the resulting stimulation of the area concerned. By creating a vacuum with small jars attached to congested areas of the body, the practitioner is able to restore the flow of blood and ‘qi’ (energy),” informs Oumayma Nadar, Managing Director at Dubai’s House of Chi.

Dr Nieyong Mei of Dr Kamkar Medical & Physiotherapy Centre has been practising cupping since 1990 in Dubai. “Cupping is especially effective in case of lower back, neck and shoulder pain. We offer two types: fixed and moving. In fixed cupping, the therapist heats glass cups on a flame. The cup is then quickly applied to the skin. This creates a vacuum suction so that the skin covered is drawn up a little into the cup. The cups are then left on the body whilst the area beneath is treated,” says Dr Mei.

This is what caused Paltrow’s scars, but Dr Mei assures the marks will only last a couple of days. “In moving cupping, oil is applied and the cups are massaged around the affected area. We also practise a form of hijamah, as it is done in Chinese medicine — this method also involves bloodletting, but in smaller amount.”

Nadar believes cupping is extremely useful in treating menstrual discomfort, lower back pain, joint pain, cold, flu, respiratory problems and digestive disorders. At House of Chi, Cupping Therapy is offered with Tuina Treatment as a combination for 50 minutes at Dh220. They advise patients to undergo at least two sessions per month.

Dr Zheng Nan of King China Acupuncture Centre believes the number of sessions can only be prescribed after examining a patient and depending on the severity of the symptoms. “Again it is not a totally painless procedure. Depending on the patient’s condition, it may be painful for some,” she cautions. “Though unlike hijamah, in Chinese cupping no cuts are made and there is no scarring.”

While Paltrow must be thanked for turning the spotlight on this ancient therapy, followers and practitioners continue to swear by it, as they have done for over 3,000 years now.

Hijamah / Bekam is the greates medicine

What is hijaamah (cupping) and how do you perform it?.
Answer :
Praise be to Allaah.

The word hijaamah (cupping) comes for the word hajm which means sucking, as in the phrase hajama al-sabiy thadya ummihi (the infant suckled his mother’s breast). Al-Hajjaam means the cupper, hijaamah is the profession of cupping, and the word mihjam is used to describe the vessel in which the blood is collected and the lancet used by the cupper. (See Lisaan al-‘Arab).

In fiqh terminology the word hijaamah is applied by some scholars to the extraction of blood from the nape of the neck by means of cupping after making an incision with the lancet. Al-Zarqaani stated that cupping is not limited to the nape of the neck, rather it may be done on any part of the body. This was also the view of al-Khattaabi.

In conclusion, hijaam refers to the extraction of blood from the body by means of cupping using a suitable vessel or whatever modern equipment serves the same purpose.

Cupping was known since ancient times. It was known to the Chinese, the Babylonians and the Pharaohs. Their relics and carved images indicate that they used cupping to treat some diseases. At first they used metal cups or bulls’ horns, from which they would remove the air by sucking it out after placing the cup on the skin. Then they used glass cups from which they would remove the air by burning a piece of cotton or wool inside the cup.

Virtues of cupping:

Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh (5269) from Sa’eed ibn Jubayr from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Healing is in three things: drinking honey, the incision of a cupper, and cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my ummah to use cauterizing.”

Al-Bukhaari (5263) and Muslim (2952) narrated that Anas ibn Maalik was asked about the earnings of the cupper, and he said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated with cupping by Abu Taybah. He ordered that he should be given two saa’ of food, and he spoke with his masters so that they reduced what they used to take from his earnings. And he said: “The best medicine with which you treat yourselves is cupping, or it is one of the best of your medicines.”

It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “If there is anything good in the medicines with which you treat yourselves, it is in the incision of the cupper, or a drink of honey or cauterization with fire, but I do not like to be cauterized.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6583; Muslim, 2205).

Benefits of cupping:

Cupping has real benefits in treating many diseases, past and present. The diseases which have been treated by cupping and for which it has been of benefit by Allaah’s Leave include the following:

1- Circulatory diseases

2- Treating blood pressure and infection of the heart muscle

3- Diseases of the chest and trachea

4- Headache and pains in the eyes

5- Pain in the neck and stomach, and rheumatic pain in the muscles

6- Some diseases of the heart and chest, and pain in the joints

In addition, cupping may offer a unique treatment which may reduce pain, and it does not have any side-effects. For more information on the benefits of cupping see Zaad al-Ma’aad by Ibn al-Qayyim, 4/52, and al-Hijaamah: Ahkaamuha wa Fawaa’iduha by Ibraaheem al-Haazimi.

How cupping is done:

The mouth of the cupping vessel (nowadays they use glass vessels) is placed on the skin at the site chosen for cupping. Then the cupper rarefies the air inside the vessel by burning a small piece of paper or cotton inside the vessel, so that the mouth of the vessel will cling to the skin. Sometimes a machine is used instead of the method described above. The vessel clings to the skin and is left for a period of three to ten minutes. Then it is lifted off and a very small incision is made in the skin using a clean sharp instrument such as a razor blade or the like. Then the cup is put back in the same manner as described above, until it is filled with the bad blood that comes out of the veins. Then it is taken off, and may be put back once more if needed. When it is finished and the cup is taken away, a dry dressing is placed over the site of the incision. (See Mabaahith fi’l-Jaraahah al-Sughra wa’l-Takhdeer by Prof. Dr. Nazmi al-Qabbaani).

Before ending we should point out that no one should undertake cupping except one who can do it well, because of the harm that may result if it is done by one who is incompetent. And Allaah knows best.

Bekam / Hijamah is the way for health

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What is Cupping

Cupping is a method of treatment in which a jar is attached to the skin surface to caurse local congestion through the negative pressure created by introducting heat in the form of an ignited material. This type of treatment has been practise by the chinese and the Arab for thousand of years.

In Malay this practice is known as 'BEKAM' and in Arabic the called 'AL-HIJAMAH' while in China 'gua-sha'. In Arabic this method of therapy was popularised by our propet Muhammad S.A.W ( 570-635 )A.D as state in many Hadith.

The Saying of Prophet Muhammad saw

Rasullullah saw said," Jibrail alaisalam repeatedly emphasised upon me to resort to cupping to the extent that I feared that cupping will be made compulsary." - Jamul' Warsaii p.179.

Rasulullah saw praised a person who performs cupping, saying it removes blood, lightens the back and sharpens the eyesight (Jamul Warsaai p. 179. The above quoted al-Hadith are clear that cupping was practised by rasullulah saw himself and strongly recommended by him.



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Indication and Diseases responded by Cupping

The cupping method has the function of awrming and promoting the flow of energy in the blood thus dispelling cold dampness, toxic and winds. It is also diminishing swellings and pains.

Cupping responded very well with the following problems:-

Disease caused by dampness, such as low back pain, lumbago, scitica, pain in arms and shoulders, pain in the legs and muscular part of the body, stomachache, voting, headance, migraine, sprains, insomania, etc.