How Cupping (hijama) Works
How Cupping (Hijama) Works: Unblocking the Body’s Flow How Cupping (Hijama) Works: Unblocking the Body’s Flow Traditional healers have long recognized the link between pain and conditions of congestion, stagnation, and blockage in the body. An old Chinese medical maxim states: Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain. This principle applies beyond just pain. Most illnesses and diseases stem from stagnation, congestion, and blockage. This affects the flow of vital energy (Vital Force) and essential bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, or lymph). The Mechanism of Cupping Cupping therapy uses suction. This suction draws out and breaks up congestion, stagnation, or blockage. This action restores a free flow to the body’s vital energies and humors. Pain as a Sign of Imbalance Essentially, pain signals that something isn’t functioning correctly. We feel suffering or disease when the body’s natural flow and function are disrupted or obstructed. Galen described disease as a state contrary to Nature. How Cupping Addresses Imbalance Releasing Stagnation and Congestion Cupping not only disperses stagnation but also breaks it up. This helps the flow of Vital Forces, blood, and other humors. Eliminating Harmful Substances Furthermore, cupping disperses pathogenic heat, toxins, and inflammation. It brings them to the surface for release. Trapped heat and toxins can harm the body. Cupping allows them to escape. Reducing Fever Interestingly, cupping can help reduce fevers during acute crises. It also lessens the putrefaction of blood and other humors, a common cause of fevers. Derivation Therapy: Drawing Away Blockages By drawing congested energy, blood, or other humors to the surface, cupping acts as derivation therapy. Derivation means drawing vital energies or substances away from blockages. This relieves congestion and restores health. Facilitating Peripheralization Toxins and other harmful matter deep within can obstruct vital organs. The body tries to move this matter to the surface as cysts or eruptions. Cupping activates this peripheralization. It relieves internal congestion, preventing more serious disorders. Improving Elimination of Wastes Cupping improves the circulation of blood, lymph, and other fluids. It breaks up blockages of waste and toxins. This enhances the body’s ability to eliminate waste. Proper waste evacuation is crucial for hygiene in Greek Medicine. Retaining what should be expelled (like in constipation or urinary retention) causes disease. Mudasser Chaudhry – Certified Hijama Practitioner Mudasser Chaudhry is certified and registered to perform Hijama. He is also a registered homeopathy herbalist, acupuncturist, and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in Toronto and Mississauga. Call Chaudhry Clinic today at 416-778-1390 or book an appointment online.
