Origins and History
The application of cupping in therapy goes back thousands of years to the Egyptians, the Chinese, and the Middle Eastern. Records of Egyptians used cupping before 1550 BC. They used hollowed animal horns for the procedure. Cupping as a therapy used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years is to balance the body's vital energy known as qi. In addition, Hijama is an ancient Islamic practice which is also found in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). The word "Hijama" is the Arabic word for "sucking", referring to the suction created by cups during the therapy. It carries a great cultural and religious meaning for many Muslims, usually as a medical practice introduced by a prophet to improve overall health.