The following is a guest blog-post by Dr Tabish Ishaq Shaikh, a male Hijama & Ayurveda Practitioner in Mumbai, India
Hijama Therapy with Ayurveda in Mumbai, India by Dr. Tabish Ishaq Shaikh
Please give us a short introduction about yourself, and in particular how you ended up being a hijama therapist?
In The Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful
I am Dr Tabish Ishaq Shaikh from Mumbai India . I have graduated from Nashik University as
Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery,(B.A.M.S). I am currently working as a resident medical officer in multi-specialty hospital and cardiac institute since 3 years.
My study and attentiveness was always in applying modern technology to the ancient science of Ayurveda. It was difficult for me to understand how physiopathology of Ayurveda were related to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient In Ayurveda, how the moon was responsible for change in the herbal properties of herbs, why and how the moon was related to mental conditions of humans, why it is Sunnah to fast on 13, 14 and 15 of the lunar month, and why Sunnah Hijamah dates are after the full moon or after sunnah monthly fasting .
Blood-letting is known as Raktha Mokshana in Ayurveda which is no longer actively practiced. My grandmother underwent the bloodletting process around 35 years back for knee joint pains. From my family elders I came to know that bloodletting and hijamah are the same procedure.
By Allah’s grace I came across
Dr. Emad Ahmed Fathy (in Madina, Saudi Arabia). He is my tutor and my guide for hijamah, I was following his directive with all his modern research accomplishment and scientific study which he follows throughout his medical career , Masha Allah.he was able to compile all the knowledge in an atlas in which diseases and accordingly points are been mentioned which are clinically tested for more then a decade, he has a scientific and research based syllabus to study hijamah Alhamdulillah The doctor has given me the gift of knowledge to benefit mankind, I do hijamah for non-Muslims as a tool to introduce Islam Alhamdulillah.
Dr Emad Ahmed Fathy is teaching hijamah for free of cost MashaAllah, any medical graduate student who wants to learn should fulfill 3 conditions.
1) Maintain sterility
2) Always be faithful to his patients
3) Teach hijamah to other medical students for free.
Below is the link to contact Dr. Emad Ahmed Fathy:
My conviction got stronger on the relation of moon and human from the Hadith below, theory of moon effect and importance of moon dates and time in hijamah training, Sunnah dates for monthly fasting, moon phases, effect of moon on tides, and human behavior, position of sun, moon and earth.
The prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- said;
"Fasting three days of every month (13th, 14th&15th) is equal to Fasting the life time” [Declared Hasan by Al-Albani]
«صيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر صيام الدهر ،وأيام البيض صبيحة ثلاث عشرة ، وأربع عشرة ، وخمس عشرة
" Anas ibn Maalik (RAA) reported that the Messenger (s.a.w) said, "Whoever wants to perform cupping (hijama) then let him search for the 17th, 19th and 21st day (of the Islamic, lunar month) and let none of you allow his blood to rage (boil) such that it kills him." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3486)]
Important points as per Ayurveda (known as Marma Sharir) with reference of anatomical position, important points from meridian lines of acupuncture and acupressure along with Chinese cupping therapy have something common with the Sunnah points of hijama.
I had a good reason to believe on this therapy firstly as a Sunnah of Rasullallah (S.A.W)..
"Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)…"
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5371)],
Secondly application of Ayurveda, hence hijamah is truly a applied science to be applied Alhamdulillah
- What particular illnesses/ conditions (if any), do you specialise / had the most experience in?
Mumbai is densely populated city where work pressure and bad lifestyle serves as a fertile ground for health issues. My area of interest is psychological and cardiovascular diseases as wet cupping gave better results in these patients.
I believe in counselling the patient to correct their lifestyles according to their body type as Vath, Pith and Kapha.
As a Ayurveda doctor I prefer giving herbs prepared by me to my patients for obesity, asthma, liver diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, infertility, aphrodisiacs, anti-aging treatment, older age patients with joint pain.
- And do you find that in your experience, the conditions/illnesses that you have come across respond well to cupping (hijama) therapy? And if so, what are they
Patient with psychological problems were more benefited from hijamah. After any hijamah treatment, the patients always mention positive comments for their psychological issues and feeling energetic in their day to day work.
I believe results of hijamah therapy are good on the cardiovascular system.
Patient with problems of respiratory system and central nervous system should go for hijamah
We all know how hijamah benefits for all other illness, Alhamdulillah it is the best relief.
Patients with joint pains, migraine, musculoskeletal injury, infertility etc.
I found patients above age 50 years were feeling more fresh and active 2 weeks after hijamah their skin tone also got better.
To attain good results I have to understand the disease and design the treatment as per patient requirement by usually advice lifestyle changes, use of herbs and hijamah, with daily workouts.
Results of hijamah differ from patient to patient. Before hijamah I consider patient to have all the required investigation, before starting the treatment
For better results I always discuss cases with my teacher Dr. Emad Ahmed Fathy, to update my knowledge regularly.
- Do you have any interesting case-studies that you can briefly share with us from your hijama treatments?
Patient history is difficult to share, but I have come across drug addicts, alcoholics, people involved in adultery, non-Muslim patients, patient with high temper, I saw them to be more relaxed and more conscious about their life after having Hijamah. They started to practice religion and stay away from evil things. This was more important for my type of patients. Many of them were business man, after more than a year treatment I saw them doubling their business.
One of my patients was a drug addict. He was willing to quit drugs but needed support and help. I started doing hijamah, Alhamdulillah, he was able to go through withdrawal syndrome easily with the help of hijamah and counselling. He was becoming a practicing Muslim Alhamdulillah, Allah guided him to the right path, Masha Allah
- Also what would you say about using cupping as a general preventative therapy and how often would you recommend this (once amonth? once/twice a year?)
Hijamah therapy is a Sunnah, it is be expected to be beneficial for human body, as far no side effects or complications have been reported, my patient list not always do hijamah for specific element but for good health as well, I have seen better health in my patients who are performing regular hijamah under my supervision, as I maintain documented records of every patient. I recommend to have hijamah done at least once in 3 months for a healthy person.
- As a hijama therapist, how often do you get hijama done yourself, and what for (if any specific condition) and who do you go to to get it done (since it is not an easy therapy to self-administer)?
I usually get hijamah done after 3 months, as per season changes just for Sunnah, as I also look for the sea tide before hijamah.
I prefer to be cupped by my elder brother under my own supervision as he is a bachelor in science and chemistry. I cannot compromise hygiene and sterility of instruments in wet cupping therapy, as I have worked with a surgeon for 1 year I understand sterility and the importance of it.
I and my elder brother get HIV/HbsAg and HCV tested every 4 months.
One mistake in hijamah will cost many life, this is the possible adverse side effect of hijamah if sterility standards are not maintained.
My surgeon Dr. Amit Jain (M.S) never took a patient in his operation theater without the Serological investigation.
Since I see many therapist do more than one patient in a sitting, I fear error in hijamah will cost an innocent life
Disposal of the waste should be as per hospital standards,,
I would recommend every therapist to have basic HIV/HBsAG and HCV test of the patients before hijamah.
- What is the status and overall prevalance of hijama therapy in Mumbai and in India? Is it available in hospitals and clinics as a valid alternative / Sunnah therapy?
Hijamah is not yet practiced in hospitals. Hijamah is a religious practice which is still operated in private clinics and home visits. There is no local awareness about hijamah in common society.
I wish to see hijamah practiced in hospital setup rather then clinics, as sterility standards are maintained at its best.and patients are treated under a physician,
More evidence based based studies are required in the field of wet cupping, clinical trials and research based date should be maintained,
- Whereabouts is your clinic or practice located and what services do you offer?
I work as a resident medical officer in a hospital I usually visit my patients at their own location in my free time. Hijamah is my hobby. I practice modern medicine as well as Ayurveda with massage therapy. I prefer to attend male patients only for hijamah therapy, Patients can contact me on my mobile number
+91-9172329200
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
My advice for therapists is: strictly follow sterility standards, if possible patients should have HIV/HBsAg and HCV reports before Hijamah.
Hijamah should be accessible to all the classes of the population. There should be an easy access for non-Muslims to understand Islamic treatment such as Hijamah. I introduce Islam to non-Muslims through Hijamah.
{وَإِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ وَإِنْ يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ يُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ}
"And if Allah tests you with affliction, there is none who can remove it but He…"
[The Noble Qur'an, 10:107]
Dr Tabish Ishaq Shaikh
FEATURED HIJAMA THERAPISTS:
Dr. Tabish Ishaq Shaikh
PRACTICE LOCATION:
Mumbai
India
CONTACT DETAILS:
+91-9172329200
Our thanks to Dr. Tabish Ishaq Shaikh for sharing the above post. If you have any questions or comments, then please leave a comment* below.
If you are a hijama therapist or patient and are happy to share your knowledge or experience via a guest blog-post like the one above, please contact us via the form on the top right corner of the blog .
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