Hijama or cupping therapy, you might have heard about this popular treatment and must be aware of many hijama benefits for your health.
People choose hijama may be as a solution for skin problems or high blood pressure. There are many popular uses of hijama therapy we get to hear about. My father went for a hijama in Islamabad after getting a recommendation from his friend. He decided to get a hijama to get rid of the frequent migraine attacks. After several sessions, hijama therapy benefited him in many aspects.
Hijama therapy is not new and is a centuries-old practice that remained quite popular. Based on the method used for hijama therapy, there are many different kinds of hijama therapy currently in practice. One may choose it based on their requirement for the therapy and the body area being targeted. With each passing day, hijama therapy is becoming more and more popular and people are choosing it over medicinal treatment approaches.
Hijama Therapy – Let’s Explore Some Facts
Hijama is generally a safe therapy but sometimes there are some facts of hijama. Despite being this popular the therapy is little understood. There are many misconceptions regarding hijama. Here are some common misconceptions about hijama therapy.
- Hijama is painful
- There are many side effects of hijama therapy
- Hijama can leave permanent scars on your body
- The therapy is quite expensive
- Recovery after hijama therapy is quite prolonged
- One may need hijama therapy for a lifetime and so on.
There are many other myths as well. A common concern about hijama therapy is that people don’t know how to prepare themselves for hijama. An effective preparation before hijama therapy makes hijama complications manageable Let’s talk about some hijama preps below
How to Prepare for Hijama Therapy
There are many proven benefits of hijama. Here is all you need to know about some basic hijama preparations:
1- Don’t eat anything 3-4 hours before therapy
This is probably one of the first things you need to do while going for a session. Your hijama specialist probably guides you about it. Before you go for the session, try not to eat anything at least 3-4 hours before the session begins. Though people who suffer from diabetes don’t need to fast for so long keeping the fear of sugar level dropping in mind so they can fast 1-2 hours.
2- Some hydration tips
Just like foods, you also need to focus on your hydration levels as well. Drink as much water as you can before you go for a hijama and keep your body well-hydrated. However, stop water consumption 1-2 hours before getting therapy done.
3- Have a shower
Before going for a hijama, make sure to keep up your hygiene level. A warm shower a few hours before the session can work well for you. Not only it removes the debris and dust from your body but clears the pile up of germs, and dead skin cells. This also makes you feel better and fresh just before the session. However, a shower immediately after the hijama session is not recommended because it may hinder your recovery progress after the session.
4- No high-intensity physical activity before hijama
Another thing you can do before getting hijama done is to avoid a high-intensity physical activity or strenuous activity just before the session. This is because intense physical activity can result in changed cardiac output as well as can change in the electrolyte balance in your body. So, yes make sure to avoid high-intensity physical activity just before the session. At least have a 24-hour gap between hijama sessions and your last workout session.
5- Discuss your medication
Next in the list of hijama preparation comes the role of medication. It is recommended to discuss your existing medications and health condition in detail with your physician.
This is because certain medications, especially the ones that affect the quality of blood, can result in determining your outcomes of hijama. So make sure to not consume any blood-thinning medicine before going for therapy. Talk to your doctor regarding the discussion on your medication changes.
6- Don’t apply skin lotions or creams before
Hijama cups are directly applied on your skin surface so it is recommended to not apply any ointment or greasy cream on your surface just before the session. The presence of these components will hinder the attachment of cups on your surface and thus will impact your hijama session progress.
7- Avoid exposure to extremely cold temperature
This is because exposure to cold temperatures will cause constriction of your blood vessels. This reduces the flow of blood through the vessels making the process of hijama difficult. So, make sure to retain a normal body temperature and not indulge in any such activities having a significant impact on your body temperature.
Are There Any Side Effects of Hijama?
Well, hijama is generally a safe therapy but sometimes there can be reported side effects of hijama. You might be curious to know about these as well. Let’s discuss about some of the side effects of hijama but be mindful that these side effects only occur when hijama is not done right or is done any unprofessional person:
- Hijama may cause excessive bleeding
- Sometimes people can develop injuries or bruises after getting hijama done
- Your existing medical conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can also get worse after hijama
- Some people can even develop infection after hijama.
These side effects are not common and only affect a few people. So, make sure to choose a hijama facility and professional carefully to minimize any side effects of the therapy. Also, some people are prohibited from getting hijama done. These exceptions are:
- Pregnant females
- People who are diabetic
- Females who are menstruating
- People suffering from anemia
- People undergoing any medical treatments should also discuss it with their hijama specialist.
Bottom Line!
The benefits of hijama are many and you can certainly go for it. All of these things can help you prepare well for the session. However, try to discuss all the aspects of your health with your doctor before going for a hijama.
