RIYADH — The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported there are over 1,000 independent practitioners of hijama therapy, or cupping, in the Kingdom.
CEO Dr. Abdullah Al-Badah said the center offers training courses and issues licenses to practitioners of the therapy who wish to work independently.
He said: “To earn the license, they are taught the ethics and moral of the job and on the equipment of hijama therapy and to use them.
“They are also trained to maintain a sanitized environment before, during and after the therapy session.” He added the center runs regular inspection campaigns to ensure the practitioners are adhering to these standards and following the center's instructions.
“Be wary of unlicensed practitioners who advertise about their alternative or complementary medicine on social media.
“We offered courses for those who wish to become hijama therapy practitioners.”
He also added licensing was carried out by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs but this will now be the Ministry of Health's responsibility.
“Hijama therapy was an unpopular cultural practice. But now it has caught international attention and is considered a separate field under alternative and complementary medicine.
“Hijama therapy is an ancient practice used in 2,200 BC by the Pharaohs and by the Assyrians 1,100 years later.”
He also said ancient medical scholars such as Al-Razi and Ibn Sina have studied the practice extensively. “Hijama therapy is also known as cupping therapy in Western cultures. There are two types of hijama therapy: there is dry hijama therapy and wet hijama therapy depending on the organs the patient needs blood to be sucked out of.”
He also added Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) considered hijama the best medicine as it can cure any disease when performed correctly.
