Hijamat in Traditional Persian Medicine

Abstract

Traditional Persian medicine is based on humoral medical concepts. In the case of abundant blood in the body, tabi'at (body nature) deals with this imbalance by elimination of the morbid substances via some controlling mechanisms. If tabi'at could not react properly, the physician should prescribe an intervention to let the extra blood out. This can be done through phlebotomy, wet cupping, and the use of leech or scarification of the ears. Cupping with scarification may eliminate the morbid substance through the scarified skin, and cupping without scarification evacuates the morbid materials from the compromised organs. Wet cupping in health state is meant to be applied for preventing the blood humor dominance in susceptible individuals. In disease condition, wet cupping is defined as a treatment in which the patients confront the abundance of blood. Wet cupping may have harmful complications in extremely thin or obese patients. Wet cupping should be postponed in patients compromised by diseases especially in the thick phlegm abundance. In Asia, Iranian people, because of religious beliefs, are very interested in cupping therapy. Many unsupervised cupping procedures are performed in Iran, whereas benefits and risks of these procedures are undetermined by providers and clients. In this study, the most important indications and contraindications of wet cupping have been reviewed based on the traditional Persian medicine resources.

Comparison Biochemistries of Obtained Blood Products between The Hijama and Phlebotomy Techniques of Traditional Islamic Remedy;Healthy Young Adults at Fasting State

“…It applied as a remedy for the ancient ailments , suchlike liverish and blood diseases. It was practiced by the famous medical traditionalist physicians as Avicenna, Al-Jurjani, and Al-races in the past [32][33][34]. The antiqued therapeutic is known as the immemorial art and include enema, cupping, leech and counter-irritation [35].…”

Lésions cutanées secondaires à la médecine des ventouses ( hijama )

“…La hijama (de l'arabe, Hajm ou Hajam, « expansion » ou « succion » [1] ; wet cupping pour les anglo-saxons) est une médecine traditionnelle pratiquée dans les pays orientaux, aussi bien au Moyen-Orient qu'en Asie [2,3]. Fondée sur la théorie des humeurs (le phlegme, la bile jaune, la bile noire et le sang), elle vise à rétablir l'équilibre entre les humeurs par l'évacuation de sang et des « toxines » qu'il contient.…”

“…Fondée sur la théorie des humeurs (le phlegme, la bile jaune, la bile noire et le sang), elle vise à rétablir l'équilibre entre les humeurs par l'évacuation de sang et des « toxines » qu'il contient. L'extraction du sang est réalisée par l'application des ventouses de verre associées à des scarifications évacuatrices [2]. Elle s'oppose au dry cupping où seules des ventouses sont appliquées.…”

“…La hijama se déroule en 3 phases distinctes : les ventouses sont appliquées pour attirer le sang vers la peau, des piqûres à l'aiguille ou des scarifications au scalpel sont ensuite réalisées et les ventouses sont appliquées de nouveau pour aspirer le sang [2]. Un massage des zones peut être réalisé au préalable et/ou des huiles appliquées avant https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annder.2017.08.007 0151-9638/© 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS.…”

Health Recommendations for the Elderly in the Viewpoint of Traditional Persian Medicine

“…However, Avicenna in the Canon of Medicine permits bloodletting through creating a small incision in basilic or median cubital vein, fasd, up to 75 years of age for the elderly who are accustomed to fasd and have good stamina and the signs of sanguine (blood) predominance, ghalabe-i-dam (29). According to Urjuze Fi-alTeb, wet-cupping and leech therapy are banned in the individuals older than 60 years, but the elderly suffering from sanguine predominance and those who are used to phlebotomy with knife could do fasd annually up to the age of 75 years (25).…”