Frequently Asked Questions About Hijama Cupping

Hijama with the removal of blood through the suction is not painful, however to give you and idea it is probably similar to having a blood test. Hijama is not as intrusive as a blood test though as it does not penetrate the veins. When the cups are compressed on the skin you may feel a little uneasy at first, but eventually this settles down after a minute or two. Once the cups are released it’s very relaxing. Many patients don’t feel any pain whatsoever when the scratches are made, but some depending on their pain threshold may feel some sort of sensation similar to a ‘subtle paper cut’ . The scratches are very light and only there to pierce the top layer of the skin.

Yes, Hijama Cupping is safe. We only use single use cups for each client and a sterile surgical blade. Surfaces are cleaned thoroughly using disinfectants and all clinical waste and sharps are disposed of in accordance with UK Laws and Regulations.

After Hijama is completed, the cupped points are usually wiped with non-stinging antiseptic. Because the scratches are so light, they close up by themselves very quickly, therefore there is no need to apply a wound dressing or plaster. We will provide aftercare advice on how best to take care of the skin whilst is it healing.

An average appointment may take anything from 30 minutes to around an hour. It depends on the number of cups that are applied and if there is the need to re-apply in certain areas. We like to ensure our clients gain maximum benefit from the session, so it’s more about the quality of the treatment. 

The redness from the cups being applied should start to fade in around 48 hours, depending on your body type they may remain for a while longer, but will cause you no harm. Scratches from the wet cupping take around 10-14 days to heal for most clients. The healing can be assisted by massaging the area with oil or moisturiser.

Yes, absolutely! Many non Muslims are treated with Hijama regularly and have reported that no other treatment they have tried has been able to provide them with as much relief as Hijama has done. Please get in touch if you would like further information about it.

Many patients, when they come to a Hijama session, may expect to see lots of blood removed from their body. Because they believe that their ailments are related to the congestion of blood or ‘dirty blood’ in their bodies. This perception is fuelled by online and social media videos which exaggerate this concept. However, this will not always be the case. The amount of blood removed can vary from patient to patient, for various reasons. Therefore, to prevent patients from feeling unsatisfied with their Hijama session, it is important that you understand this.

In general, there are 3 outcomes of a Hijama session.

1 – A normal amount of blood removed – This amount can vary from person to person but is generally between a quarter to half a cup.

2 – An excessive amount of blood removed – This is likely what most patients wish to see in a Hijama session.

3 – Lack of blood removed – This can be disappointing for patients if the reasons are not explained correctly.

In the UK, during a blood donation with the NHS, up to 470ml of intravenous blood can be take safely. So in Hijama, we take this as a guide (however, in Hijama note that we are taking non-intravenous blood). Once we reach that limit we stop irrespective of the number of points of cups applied.

Generally most patients usually have between 200-300ml of blood taken in a single session.

There are no side effects per se, but some patients may feel sore due to the incisions and slightly fatigued for around 12-24 hours after treatment. All patients are encouraged to rest, drinks lots of water, have something light to eat and not do anything strenuous for the rest of the day. We will discuss and share full aftercare details with you after the treatment so you are fully prepped.

It depends on the details of your individual issues and each case will be assessed on that basis. Please reach out to us to further discuss your requirements and we would be happy to advise further.

Some points to consider is that if you have a Major life threatening illness, heart conditions, on special medications that may thin your blood or have a pacemaker fitted.

Hijama can be performed on any day at any time, particularly if you are unwell and need it as an immediate treatment. There are some discussions around Sunnah Days (days recommended by the Prophet PBUH), but this is an area of dispute so it’s down to the individual to follow what they are comfortable with.

Generally healthy people who don’t have any medical issues can have it performed a few times a year to ‘detox’ their bodies (every 3-4 months). For all other patients, the frequency will depend on what they are being treated for, their general health and how well their skin heals.

There is also the option to perform dry cupping regularly which can help relieve some pain and tension on certain areas of the body too.

That will depend on your health condition, age and how well your body responds to the treatment. We will try to resolve your issue within one session is possible, but it you have an ongoing issue, then it may require a few sessions and then some maintenance ones in the long run to give you maximum benefit.

That also depends on your health condition. Points are chosen based on where there is pain or toxicity and the path of pain trail is followed or around it . The cupping points from the Sunnah are a common treatment point too (on the back (between the shoulder blades) and sometimes at either side of the neck).

It is preferable for healthy people to have Hijama performed too in order to fulfil a sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) and have a general detox of the body, but infrequently.

Yes, it is safe for women to have Hijama done during their menses, there is no Islamic or medical prohibition

No. This involves the risk of either miscarriage or premature labour, depending on with stage of the pregnancy the woman is in. For any aches, pains and symptoms during pregnancy, female clients are advised to see other natural cures which are safe during pregnancy.

This depends upon the type of pregnancy and childbirth she has had. It is best to wait a minimum of 40 days, to allow the body to settle and regain strength and the forty-day bleed to finish

Caesareans and other intervened childbirth will take longer to heal. It is always best to allow a plenty of time to help post child-birth before Hijama is performed 

Yes. Whilst a woman is breast feeding, the body has not returned to normal due to hormonal changes required for breast feeding. So extra precaution is taken during the procedure.

In the UK, children under the age of 18 should not undergo Hijama Cupping treatment as it may be reported as child abuse.