Route to a healthy body

Dr. Mujeeb examining a patient. Photo: PV Siva Kumar

Why Hijama (cupping therapy) has become the go-to treatment for various disorders in the city

Bloodletting isn’t bad always. Sometimes it can be the important part of healing. More and more people are now turning to the ancient practice of shedding blood to regain health. Hijama or cupping therapy is becoming the preferred choice of Muslims in Hyderabad for treatment of various body disorders.

The Arabic word ‘Hijama’ means drawing out. It is also called cupping therapy because of the use of cups as therapeutic tools. The technique involves sucking out toxins from the body tissues. Part of the regimental therapy (Ilaj-bil-tadbeer), Unani scholars have been practicing leech therapy and Hijama in different countries. It is now recognised as an alternative medicine. This time tested holistic method is considered a vacuum cleaner for the body.

Walk into any Hijama camp and you find bare bodied men astride armless chairs. On their backs are placed small fibre cups where the toxic blood can be seen getting accumulated. Before that minor incisions are made on the surface of the skin with surgical blade and the blood that oozes out is collected in the cups.

“It is safe, non-invasive and economical way of curing and preventing diseases”, says Dr. M.A. Mujeeb who is practicing Hijama for the last nine years. He is a consultant at the Hannan Health Care Centre in Talab Katta.


The ultimate detox, people go for Hijama for both ‘cure and blessing’ since it is regarded as a Prophetic medicine. A range of ailments like blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint and muscle pain, digestive disorders, skin problems, Rheumatoid Arthritis, poor blood circulation, oedema are sought to be addressed through it. Women undergo the therapy for uterus disorders, menstrual problems, infertility and other such issues. “I feel much better after undergoing Hijama therapy”, says Mohd Khaleel, who is suffering from frozen shoulder.

A patient undergoing the Hijama treatment. Photo: PV Siva Kumar

Khwaja Siraj makes it a point to undergo Hijama therapy every three months to relieve his back pain. “It is very comforting and there are no side effects”, he says.

There are nearly 200 Hijama points in the body and the practitioners of the therapy decide where the cups have to be attached for drawing out the bad blood. “The pain is negligible and you can be active soon”, explains Dr. Mujeeb.

There are 15 Hijama centres in the city where separate camps are organised for men and women. Though it is performed round the week, the rush is more on certain days of the Islamic lunar month as these are considered ideal for Hijama.

As Hippocrates said healing is a matter of time, but sometimes it is also the matter of the right therapy.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated November 5,2017