Hijama, or wet cupping, is a practice many Muslims value as a Sunnah. Searches for “hijama near me” and “cupping therapy near me” run into the tens of thousands every month. Because hijama involves small cuts to the skin, choosing a clean, well-trained practitioner matters. This guide explains what to expect and what to check.
What is hijama?
Cupping uses cups placed on the skin with suction. In dry cupping the skin is not broken. In wet cupping (hijama), the practitioner makes small, shallow cuts and then reapplies the cups to draw out a small amount of blood. Sessions usually take 30 to 60 minutes and leave round marks that fade over several days.
What does the evidence say?
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says cupping may help reduce pain, but most research on it is of low quality, and there is not enough good evidence for other conditions. Hijama is best seen as a complementary practice, not a replacement for medical care.
Safety checks before you book
- Single-use, sterile equipment. Cups, blades and gloves that touch blood must be single-use or properly sterilised. Reused, unsterilised equipment can spread infections such as hepatitis B and C.
- Registration. In the UK, many councils require anyone offering skin-piercing treatments to register the practitioner and premises. Ask whether the clinic is registered with the local council, and check the certificate.
- Training and insurance. Ask where the practitioner trained and whether they hold professional insurance.
- A health questionnaire. A good practitioner will ask about your medical history before treating you.
- Female practitioners. Sisters can ask for a female practitioner; many clinics offer ladies-only sessions or home visits.
- Clean premises. The treatment room should be clean, with safe disposal of sharps and clinical waste.
Who should speak to a doctor first?
Check with your doctor before having hijama if you are pregnant, take blood-thinning medicines, have anaemia, a bleeding disorder, diabetes, a heart condition or a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis. Cupping can worsen some skin conditions, and bruising or scarring can occur.
Find a hijama clinic
Browse hijama and cupping clinics in our directory, including female practitioners. Every listing is reviewed before it is published.
Are you a hijama practitioner? Add your clinic for free and show patients your registration, training and practitioner gender.
This article is general information, not medical, financial or religious advice. Please speak to a qualified professional about your own situation, and to a qualified scholar about specific religious rulings.
Sources
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – Cupping
- UK local council guidance on skin-piercing registration (for example Sheffield City Council and East Herts District Council).