Prophet (pbuh) said in a hadith that - "Cupping is among your best remedies."
Hijama comes from the root al-hajm, which means “sucking”, and is used of the action of draining the breast when an infant is suckled. Al-hajjaam is the name given to the cupper, and hijama is the name given to this profession. Al-mihjam is the name given to the tool in which blood is collected, or to the knife used by the cupper. Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "If there is any healing in your medicines, then it is in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don't like to be (cauterized) branded with fire."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْغَسِيلِ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنْ كَانَ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَدْوِيَتِكُمْ ـ أَوْ يَكُونُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَدْوِيَتِكُمْ ـ خَيْرٌ فَفِي شَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ، أَوْ شَرْبَةِ عَسَلٍ، أَوْ لَذْعَةٍ بِنَارٍ تُوَافِقُ الدَّاءَ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكْتَوِيَ "
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5683; Book 76, Hadith 6; Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 587
The benefits of cupping include -
cleansing the exterior parts of the body more than puncturing the veins.
venesection, or puncturing the veins, is better when used to extract blood from the internal parts of the body.
cupping entails removing blood from various areas of the skin.
The use of either cupping or puncturing the veins depends on the time of year, the location, the age and physical state of the ailing person. For instance, cupping is more beneficial than puncturing the veins in warm areas, warm weather and in hot tempered people, whose blood is near maturity (with respect to the septic substances in the blood). In this case, the septic, maturing blood will collect near the skin. Cupping extracts the septic blood more efficiently than puncturing veins. This is why using cupping for children and those who cannot bear puncturing the veins, since it is better and more beneficial.
Doctors affirm that cupping is preferred in the middle of the month or soon after, especially in the last quarter in the month.
In the beginning of the month, the blood will have already become irritated (thus carrying septic materials that need to be cupped).
At the end of the month, the blood is considered to be idle, unlike the middle and last quarter of the month when the blood is agitated and sufficiently produced.
The author of 'Al - Qanun' said, "Cupping is not preferred at the beginning of the month, because the body's various humors will not be agitated then, nor is it preferred at the end of the month, because by then the humors would has decreased. Cupping is preferred in the middle of the month when the substances (of the constitution, or condition) accumulate and become agitated."
Anas (r.a) narrated: "The Prophet (S.A.W) would get cupped in his jugular veins and his upper back. And he would get cupped on the seventeenth (of the month), (or) the nineteenth, and (or) the twenty first." (Grade: Da'if)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْقُدُّوسِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، وَجَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَحْتَجِمُ فِي الأَخْدَعَيْنِ وَالْكَاهِلِ وَكَانَ يَحْتَجِمُ لِسَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَتِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَإِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَمَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Reference : Vol. 4, Book 2, Hadith 2051; Book 28, Hadith 2189
This hadith confirm to the position taken by doctors that cupping is preferred in the latter half of the month and the third quarter, rather than the beginning or the end of the month. However, if cupping is necessary, it will be useful during any part of the month including the beginning and the end. It was reported that Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (may Allah has mercy upon him), used to practice cupping during any part of the month when the contaminated blood become agitated.
The author of Al-Qanun' also said, "Cupping is preferred during the day, the second or the third hour and after one takes a bath. When warranted, one should take a bath then rest for an hour or so and then use cupping." Cupping is not preferred when the stomach is full, for it might cause various ailments, especially after taking a heavy meal.
As narrated in a hadith that, Ibn ‘Umar said: “O Nafi’! The blood is boiling in me, find me a cupper, but let it be someone gentle if you can, not an old man or a young boy. For I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Cupping on an empty stomach is better, and in it there is healing and blessing, and it increases one’s intellect and memory. So have yourselves cupped for the blessing of Allah on Thursdays, and avoid cupping on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Have yourselves cupped on Mondays and Tuesdays, for that is the day on which Allah relieved Ayyub of Calamity, and He inflicted calamity upon him on a Wednesday, and leprosy and leucoderma only appear on Wednesdays, or on the night of Wednesday.” (Grade: Da’if)
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَطَرٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُحَادَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ يَا نَافِعُ قَدْ تَبَيَّغَ بِيَ الدَّمُ فَالْتَمِسْ لِي حَجَّامًا وَاجْعَلْهُ رَفِيقًا إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ وَلاَ تَجْعَلْهُ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا وَلاَ صَبِيًّا صَغِيرًا فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " الْحِجَامَةُ عَلَى الرِّيقِ أَمْثَلُ وَفِيهِ شِفَاءٌ وَبَرَكَةٌ وَتَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ وَفِي الْحِفْظِ فَاحْتَجِمُوا عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الْحِجَامَةَ يَوْمَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ وَالْجُمُعَةِ وَالسَّبْتِ وَيَوْمَ الأَحَدِ تَحَرِّيًا وَاحْتَجِمُوا يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالثُّلاَثَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي عَافَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ أَيُّوبَ مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ وَضَرَبَهُ بِالْبَلاَءِ يَوْمَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَبْدُو جُذَامٌ وَلاَ بَرَصٌ إِلاَّ يَوْمَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ أَوْ لَيْلَةَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ ".
Reference : Vol. 4, Book 31, Hadith 3487; Book 31, Hadith 3616
The Hadith reporting that the Prophet said: Cupping and puncturing the veins are your best remedies is directed at the people of Hijaz and warm areas in general, for their blood is delicate and circulates closer to the surface of the skin, while the pores on their skin are open wide and their strength weakens (i.e., during summer). Puncturing of the vein is harmful for them. Puncturing of each of the veins usually has a special benefit (Please read more about it from the HEALING WITH THE MEDICINE OF THE PROPHET [Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah]).
For instance, Ibn Abbas (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) was cupped on his head for an ailment he was suffering from while he was in a state of Ihram. at a water place called Lahl Jamal. Ibn Abbas further said: Allah's Apostle (pbuh) was cupped on his head for unilateral headache while he was in a state of Ihram.
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، احْتَجَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَأْسِهِ وَهْوَ مُحْرِمٌ مِنْ وَجَعٍ كَانَ بِهِ بِمَاءٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ لَحْىُ جَمَلٍ. وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَوَاءٍ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم احْتَجَمَ وَهْوَ مُحْرِمٌ فِي رَأْسِهِ مِنْ شَقِيقَةٍ كَانَتْ بِهِ.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5700, 5701; Book 76, Hadith 21; Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 602
It is narrated by Anas (r.a) that "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was cupped. Abu Talhah did the cupping. So he ordered that he be given two Sa' of food, and he spoke to his masters to reduce his taxes. He said: 'The most virtuous of what you treat with is cupping.' Or, he said: 'The best of your treatments is cupping.'" [He said:] There are narrations on this topic from 'Ali, Ibn 'Abbas, and Ibn 'Umar. [Abu 'Eisa said:] The Hadith of Anas is a Hasan Sahih. Some of the people of knowledge among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), and others permitted paying the cupper. This is the view of Ash-Shafi'i. (Grade: Sahih)
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ عَنْ كَسْبِ الْحَجَّامِ، فَقَالَ أَنَسٌ احْتَجَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَحَجَمَهُ أَبُو طَيْبَةَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِصَاعَيْنِ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَكَلَّمَ أَهْلَهُ فَوَضَعُوا عَنْهُ مِنْ خَرَاجِهِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَدَاوَيْتُمْ بِهِ الْحِجَامَةُ " . أَوْ " إِنَّ مِنْ أَمْثَلِ دَوَائِكُمُ الْحِجَامَةَ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَنَسٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رَخَّصَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ فِي كَسْبِ الْحَجَّامِ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ .
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1278; Book 14, Hadith 80; Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 1278
Another hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (r.a) states that, when the Prophet (ﷺ) was cupped, he paid the man who cupped him his wages.
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ احْتَجَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَأَعْطَى الْحَجَّامَ أَجْرَهُ.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2278; Book 37, Hadith 18; Vol. 3, Book 36, Hadith 478
The Hadith [that the Prophet (pbuh) paid the person who performed cupping for him] also indicates that some people are allowed to make cupping their profession. The Prophet (pbuh) gave the man who performed cupping some money and that person spent that money on his necessities.
Furthermore, research works published in 2015 in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, findings from a 2012 report published in PLoS One, and Australian and Chinese researchers reviewed 135 studies on cupping. All of the above research papers conclude as cupping to be beneficial. The British Cupping Society says that cupping therapy is used to treat -
Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia
Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
Fertility and gynecological disorders
Skin problems such as eczema and acne
Anxiety and depression
Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma
Cupping is fairly safe, as long as you go to a trained health professional. But you could have these side effects in the area where the cups touch your skin:
Mild discomfort
Burns
Skin infection
Talk with your doctor before you start cupping or any other type of alternative or complementary medicine. And talk extensively with your cupping therapist, too, before you try it. Ask:
What conditions do they use cupping for?
What is your training?
What is your experience in using it?
Am I already getting the standard treatments for my condition?
Are there reasons I should not get cupping?
Rest Allah (swt) alone knows the best.
Source: Sunnah, HEALING WITH THE MEDICINE OF THE PROPHET [Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah], WebMD, Al-Bedah, A. M., Elsubai, I. S., Qureshi, N. A., Aboushanab, T. S., Ali, G. I., El-Olemy, A. T., ... & Alqaed, M. S. (2019). The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 9(2), 90-97.