A Hijama Experience from Toronto, Canada

A Hijama Experience from Toronto, Canada by Sister Hira

This is a guest-post in the form of a written interview with Sister Hira about her experience of hijama therapy in Toronto, Canada.

What condition did you suffer from (if any)?

Migraine headaches, vertigo (chronic dizziness) tinnitus (ringing in the ears) vestibular disorder

- Where do you live and where did you go for the hijama therapy?

I live in Toronto, Canada and went to a sister who does it in her home. I have also had dry cupping done at a clinic in Toronto called- Chaudhry Clinic.

- What other treatment did you try before trying hijama therapy?

I have tried Pharmaceutical drugs, acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy, chiropractor, dentist (for TMJ)

- What did the treatment involve and how long did it take?

It was very short and only took 20 minutes. It involved applying the cups, making the cuts and removing the old blood.

- How did you feel immediately after the treatment?

To be honest, physically I felt okay. I felt nervous but was surprised that it was so easy and comfortable.

- What was the result of the treatment, did you notice anything different straight after or some days after the treatment?

I noticed a difference within 3 days or so. I really did notice a dramatic difference after the 3rd treatment- my symptoms had changed and calmed down so much.

- What was your overall impression of the therapist and her practice? Did you feel safe at all times and was her equipment and procedures all hygienic / disposable?

As expected I was nervous for the 1st session, but Alhumdulillah the therapist was constantly reassuring me and she was constantly reminding me to make dua for myself and that I would be okay. She was very sterile, she constantly changed her gloves after every cup, she also has covers for all the cups she used, she used alcohol to sanitize everything. She opened a new blade in front of me. I felt that it was extremely hygienic.

- How did the therapist get to learn hijama therapy (was it a course she attended or was it something handed down from generation to generation in their family)?

She had learned it from back home in Egypt.

- Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would really encourage everyone to consider trying Hijama. If you look at pictures on the internet or if you google it, you might scare yourself- but it really is not painful at all. If anything we should be grateful to have the knowledge and ability to revive this sunnah as it truly has shifa in it. I also think you should not pay attention to what others say about trying new things- or alternative medicines, western medication does not work for everyone and only the sick person knows what they have to go through. Say Bismillah, put your trust in Allah and try it out. Be consistent in it and realize that there is no quick fix or magic pill.


Our thanks to the Sr Hira from Canada for sharing the above post. If you have any further questions to ask about her experience, then please do so via 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 send me an email to: hijama.mail@gmail.com.

*Comments are moderated to prevent spamming so may take some time to appear

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A Hijama Experience with a Practitioner of Chinese Medicine in Toronto, Canada

This is a guest-post in the form of a written interview with a female hijama patient about her experience of hijama therapy in Toronto, Canada.

- What condition did you suffer from (if any)?

No serious medical condition, but mainly for the sunnah, general well-being

- Where do you live and where did you go for the hijama therapy?
I live in Toronto, Canada and I went to
The Best of Chinese Medicine www.bestofchinesemedicine.com

- What did the treatment involve and how long did it take?
I should mention that when I first called around it seemed like what was common was doing cupping as a form of massage. However, I also asked people if they would do blood-letting in addition to cupping, and the receptionist in this place called the doctor on the line, and she agreed to do it at my request.

As this was my first visit, she first did an assessment. Basically she made me fill out a questionnaire and then asked some questions about any medical concerns. I am sure this is pretty routine.

Then she assessed my "meridians". Basically she applied light pressure with her fingers to certain places, and I felt pain! She showed me on my hand how much pressure she was applying (not much), and explained that I had blockages in meridians which were causing this pain.

I had lots of questions, which I asked before and during the treatment. She was extremely pleasant and was happy to answer and explain.

She showed me the (disposable) needles that she would be using and then she explained each step of the way.

- How did you feel during and immediately after the treatment?
During the treatment, in one or two spots I could actually feel the blood draining (not painful, only sensation of draining). I also felt sore in a couple of places. I should mention that she said since this was my first visit and I was not used to it, she would be doing the cupping very lightly and not draining too much blood. She also told me that places with more blockage were drawing more blood. She must have done it very lightly because the next day I did not have the dark red marks that I had seen in pictures of hijamah.

- What was the result of the treatment, did you notice anything different straight after or some days after the treatment?
Immediately after the treatment and for the rest of the evening, I felt quite tired. The next day I felt really good, and it seemed noticeable.

- What was your overall impression of the therapist and her practice? Did you feel safe at all times and was her equipment and procedures all hygienic / disposable?
Yes. I like this doctor, she has a really good bedside manner, she was so receptive to my questions and did not mind providing explanations about all I asked.

The place is very clean and it is generally for Chinese Medicine, they had other things to offer but I did not pay too much attention as I was uninterested.

Of course, she practices Chinese medicine, so her assessment is based on meridians and I don't know how hijamah works otherwise, although being a non-Muslim she does not know the sunnah sites or days obviously http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/66144 (she may not know the sunnah days/ times, but if we do we can book appointments accordingly)

And she also does acupuncture although she did not do that for me. But she put in a plug for Acupuncture, showing me the needle and telling me the difference.

- How did the therapist get to learn hijama therapy (was it a course she attended or was it something handed down from generation to generation in their family)?
She completed her Chinese medical degree from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She also teaches Acupuncture and TCM in Toronto. Her info is on her website.

- What is the overall prevalence of hijama therapy in Canada? Is it available in hospitals and clinics as a valid alternative / sunnah therapy?
I don't think it is available in mainstream hospitals/ clinics. I understand there are a couple of male practitioners in Toronto, however I have not come across a female practitioner before and have still to hear of a Muslimah practitioner.

- Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have never done hijamah before as I was unable to find a female practitioner. However, I spoke to my teacher (who has taken hijamah treatment from a Muslim) and she explained that the Islaamic way of hijamah involves making small cuts with a blade rather than a needle and that much more blood is let.

However, you can see on this site http://kocabas2.tripod.com/id1.html that needles could also be used.

If there is any hijamah practitioner who also has some religious education perhaps they could throw some light on whether taking treatment from a non-Muslim (who is not aware of the days/ times nor the sites of placing cups according to the sunnah) whether that treatment would be considered sunnah.

As well, if anyone visiting this blog knows of a Muslimah practitioner in Toronto, I hope they will provide the contact info.

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Our thanks to the sister (who wishes to remain anonymous) from Toronto, Canada for sharing the above post. If you have any further questions to ask about her experience, then please do so via 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 send me an email to: hijama.mail@gmail.com.

*Comments are moderated to prevent spamming so may take some time to appear

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Abu Yaqoob, a Hijama (Cupping) Therapist in Toronto, Canada

This is a guest-post in the form of a written interview with Abu Yaqoob - a male cupping therapist based in Toronto, Canada.

- Please give us a short introduction about yourself:

As Salam Alaikum

Al Humdulillah I've learned Hijama(cupping) while I was in Egypt from a doctor of natural medicine, and have been helping people with this blessed practice for many years now.

I have my diploma in Natural health with horns, so if you are interested in Hijama please e-mail me abuyaqooob@yahoo.ca. I'm located in Toronto Canada.

- What particular illnesses/ conditions (if any), do you specialise / had the most experience in?

Praise be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His messenger Muhammad.

Cupping is a blessed medicinal cure for the one who has faith in it, and is especially effective when they have faith in it from the start, and not as a last resort when all else fails as is the case with most people.

I have performed Cupping for many different ailments, but also being a natural health consultant I've found that the ones who try living a healthier lifestyle with regular cupping treatment will get the best results.

- 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?

Well in my experience cupping is a very effective treatment for migraine headaches and high blood pressure, and a person can get cured with just one session, but can also be effective for one with knee or back injuries.

- Also what would you say about using cupping as a general preventative therapy (which by getting rid of bad blood/ toxins in the body may help prevent conditions like high cholesterol/ heart disease / cancer in the long term)? And how often would you recommend this (once a month? once/twice a year?)

The motto of most general natural health consultants is Health is wealth so don't waste yours.

We must know that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him) were not a people who regularly ate to satiety, but these days people have the least bit of control over their stomachs and as a result causes a great many diseases in their bodies, so a healthy diet with regular fasting and exercise along with cupping especially on the recommended day of the month of the lunar calender i.e. 17, 19 21 will do a body a lot of good.
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FEATURED HIJAMA THERAPIST:
Abu Yaqoob

LOCATION
Toronto
Canada

CONTACT DETAILS:
Email: abuyaqooob@yahoo.ca
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Our thanks to Abu Yaqoob from Toronto, Canada for sharing the above post. If you have any questions for Abu Yaqoob or indeed have been treated by him and want to leave him a testimonial(!), then please do so via 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 send me an email to: hijama.mail@gmail.com.

*Comments are moderated to prevent spamming so may take some time to appear