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Residents urged to be cautious of ‘roadside cuppers’
Hijama should be practised only at authorised medical centres
Dubai: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has urged residents to stay cautious of ‘roadside’ practioners who offer treatments for unconventional medicine such as Hijama (cupping therapy).
A senior health official said in a statement that offering such services at homes or herbal shops was illegal.
“To give treatment for unconventional medicine such as Hijama, practioners must follow conditions approved by the ministry,” said Dr Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing who is also Head of the Licensing of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) committee.
“Hijama should only be practiced at authorised medical centres under direct medical supervision. It must not be practiced at homes or herbal shops, or by so-called ‘road cuppers’ who move from one place to another,” said Dr Amiri.
“Whoever practices without the ministry’s approval is scientifically, technically and legally considered an unqualified person,” he stressed.
Wet cupping or Hijama was a common practice of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions for the treatment of a range of ailments. Blood is drawn by vacuum from a small skin incision for therapeutic purposes into cups that helps detoxify and stimulate formation of new blood cells.
Hijama, an ever popular form of treatment in the Arab world, is considered to give successful results for ailments such as constipation, diarrhea, headache, backache, injuries, depression, skin problems, arthritis, weight loss and much more.
At a glance
Wet cupping or Hijama was a common practice of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions for the treatment of a range of ailments.
Blood is drawn by vacuum from a small skin incision for therapeutic purposes into cups that helps detoxify and stimulate formation of new blood cells.
Hijama is considered to give successful results for ailments such as constipation, diarrhea, headache, backache, injuries, depression, skin problems, arthritis, weight loss, blood pressure and many more
Hijama does not treat serious diseases like cancer, AIDS or Hepatitis or any other deadly viral diseases
Hijama should be practiced only at authorised medical centres under direct medical supervision. It must not be practiced at homes or herbal shops
Hijama has a spiritual context as well for Muslims. For spiritual treatment, it is considered best to seek treatment on the dates 17, 19 and 21 or days Monday, Tuesday and Thursday under the Islamic/Hijri calendar
Dr Syed Asaddudin Ahmed, who practices the Unani (Greek) form of alternative medicine as well as Hijama at the Al Hijama Alternative Medical Centre in Sharjah said the treatment is affordable and has no side effects.
“We treat patients for a range of ailments such as migraines, high blood pressure and lowering of cholesterol,” said the doctor who was among the first batch of CAM doctors to been licensed by the ministry in 2006.
For treatment of cholesterol, the centre charges Dh50 per cup while 5 to 7 cups could be needed in one session. The patient may require two to three sessions depending on the patient’s condition and a follow-up treatment in six months to one year.
Dr Asaduddin agreed that giving such services at home could lead to spread of disease. “The municipality collects the blood we gather from this treatment unlike those who work from homes ... they may be throwing blood into the garbage which could lead to spread of disease,” he said.
The UAE is the first country in the region that licences the profession of Hijama as part of CAM.
“People should know the difference between sterilisation and disinfection, and both should be performed by specialist practitioners with advanced medical equipment,” explained Dr Amiri.
The traces left behind by Hijama on the human body cannot fade within two of three days, he noted.
Hijama does not treat serious diseases like cancer, AIDS or Hepatitis or any other deadly viral diseases, clarified the official.
According to Dr Asadduddin, Hijama has a spiritual context as well for Muslims. For spiritual treatment, it is considered best to seek Hijama on the dates 17, 19 and 21 or on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday under the Islamic/Hijri calendar.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
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