Regulations on hijama (cupping therapy) profession in UAE

Certain conditions to be set for medical massaging and laser technicians

Jan 1, 2011 - 07:08 - Dubai, 1 Jan. 2010 (WAM) - The alternative medicine committee in the Ministry of Health held its third meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licenses and members in the ministry's premises in Dubai.

The committee discussed the profession conditions of cupping "known as hijamah-a famous Islamic treatment" where these terms are of major importance to obtain the ministry's licensing.

Dr. Al Amiri said: "Since there are no accredited educational institutes or professional training specialists in this field therefore it is not a primary prerequisite to enter the evaluation exam in the ministry of health".

The committee decided that all the rules and regulations pertaining to the hijamah profession must be written in Arabic language. Al Amiri stated that all applicants wishing to obtain an evaluation certificate from the ministry must be academically qualified not only in the field of alternative medicine or hijamah but other scientific qualification degrees too in addition to their proficiency in Arabic and English reading and writing as well as a qualification degree that is equivalent to a practical training certificate in first aids.

Al Amiri added that all applicants who obtained the evaluation certificate and license from the ministry of health must work in a medical center that is supervised by medical staff only. Al hijama practitioners must be of the same patient's sex to maintain his/her privacy.

The committee also discussed the conditions of medical massaging and medical relaxation techniques. The members stressed the importance of separating both types due to their different job description and scope. There is no relation between massaging and relaxation.

Dr. Al Amiri said: "These categories can work in fitness centers or beauty saloons but not in medical institutes or rehabilitation centers".

The members also stipulated the application conditions for evaluation certificates in medical massaging from the ministry of health. Every applicant must have a scientific qualification in the field of medical massaging and a degree equivalent to a training certificate in first aid. The applicant must pass the evaluation exam from the ministry of health. After achieving all these steps, the applicant can work in a medical institute that is fully supervised by a medical team. The medical massaging practitioner must be also of the same patient's sex to maintain his/her privacy.
Source ;
http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1293604562076&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews

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Traditional Chinese Medicine Cures All Diseases-Cupping Therapy Overview
Professional Guide To Cupping Therapy
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Professional Cupping Set (17 Cups) from Hansol **Brand New**

Cupping for hypertension: a systematic review.

Lee MS, Choi TY, Shin BC, Kim JI, Nam SS.

Division of Standard Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea. drmslee@gmail.com

Abstract

The objective of this review is to assess the clinical evidence for or against cupping as a treatment for hypertension. We searched the literature using 15 databases from their inception to 30 June 2009, without language restrictions. We included all clinical trials (CTs) of cupping to treat hypertension in human patients. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane criteria. Two CTs met all inclusion criteria. One RCT (randomized CT) assessed the effectiveness of dry cupping on changes in cerebral vascular function compared with drug therapy. Their results suggested significant effect in favor of cupping on vascular compliance and degree of vascular filling. One uncontrolled observational study (UOS) tested wet cupping for acute hypertension and found that a one-time treatment reduced blood pressure. In conclusion, the evidence is not significantly convincing to suggest cupping is effective for treating hypertension. Further research is required to investigate whether it generates any specific effects for that condition.

PMID: 20828224 [PubMed - in process

source:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20828224

At Windham Hospital: Free workshop on Massage Cupping Bodywork Therapy

At Windham Hospital: Free workshop on Massage Cupping Bodywork Therapy

October 15th, 2010
Each month, the Integrative Health Steering Committee at Windham Hospital hosts a Wednesday evening free lecture series called “For the Health of It.”

The next event, slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 27, is Massage CuppingTM Bodywork Therapy, presented by Anne Buchalski, LMT, CST, in the Windham Hospital Education Center.

Massage CuppingTM Bodywork Therapy is based on an ancient Chinese massage practice that creates suction and negative pressure to soften tight muscles, tone attachments, loosen adhesions, lift connective tissues, bring hydration and blood flow and drain excess fluids and toxins by opening lymphatic pathways.

Please join us to experience this therapy and learn how you can improve your health and healing with this simple technique.

Anne Buchalski, LMT, CST is one of 11 trained practitioners in Massage CuppingTM Bodywork Therapy in Connecticut and has been a licensed massage therapist for 20 years with her own practice, Healing Island Wellness Center in Mansfield and Glastonbury. She uses holistic integrative therapies to help people relax, reduce stress, calm the mind and restore the spirit.

She is one of only 10 certified craniosacral therapists (CST) in Connecticut with additional training in pediatric and obstetric craniosacral therapy, and is the developer of the G.R.A.C.E. Healing Method. She serves on the Integrative Health Steering Committee at Windham Hospital and provides services there (CST, Massage, Reiki, Yoga).

The Lecture Series is a service of the Integrative Health Service at Windham Hospital. Future topics will include An Overview of Holistic Psychotherapy, and Life Force Yoga for Mental Health.

In addition to the Lecture Series, Integrative Health Services offers therapeutic massage, Reiki, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, nutritional counseling, at the Hospital and at the Hospital’s Center for Women’s Health at Mansfield.

Integrative Health also maintains the free Community Health Resource Room at Windham Hospital.

Additional information is available on the Hospital website at www.windhamhospital.org.

The educational programs presented by Integrative Health Services are provided as a community service, and are not necessarily endorsements of a particular health regimen or practitioner by Windham Hospital.

For more information please call 456-6002. In case of inclement weather, tune into WILI radio for cancellations

source: http://www.windhamhospital.org/wh.nsf/View/MassageCupping

Some Sources Related To Cupping Therapy

Professional Guide To Cupping Therapy
The Art of Cupping (Complementary Medicine (Thieme Paperback))A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth: How to Treat Your Injuries with Powerful Healing Secrets of the Great Chinese Warrior (Fireside Books (Fireside))MOXIBUSTION AND CUPPING TECHNIQUES DVD
Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy

Effect of cupping therapy in treating chronic headache and chronic back pain

Effect of cupping therapy in treating chronic headache and chronic back pain at "Al heijamah" clinic HMC
Reslan Hssanien MM et al. – The total number of the participants was eighty six, slightly more than half of them were male (51.2%). The majority were non Qatari (72.1%); thirty seven of them had headache and forty nine of them had back pain. Most of the participants were treated with wet cup therapy (98.8%) and only one of them was treated with dry cup. Fifty two of the participants had only one session of cupping while only five of them completed the four sessions. The pain score for patients with headache was decreased from eight to four after cupping therapy followed by intermittent periods of fluctuation of pain, scored from four to five for around five weeks, then it maintained constant at four score till the end of the follow up period. Meanwhile the pain scale for patients with low back pain decreased from seven to three after two weeks and stayed constant till the end of the twelve weeks. The effect of cupping therapy (Al heijamah) for chronic headache and back pain has been studied and the results revealed significant improvements in participants as a result of cupping therapy. Further studies with larger samples, for longer duration of follow up and use of a comparison group are recommended.
Read the full article

PERSONAL CUPPING EXPERIMENT: USING DU 14

PERSONAL CUPPING EXPERIMENT: USING DU 14

Yesterday morning I woke up early with only 4 hours of sleep. I had been on the computer most of the day doing research and working on Dr. Tamer’s lesson assignments steadily for the last several days. My neck was extremely sore and tender on both sides with the left a bit more tense. I also had some upper back tension and pain in my upper shoulder area near my neck with an acute headache as well. I have been studying various points and I have noticed the strong use of point DU 14. I referred to my various charts and I knew Du 14 can be used for: headaches, back aches, neck aches, and many more problems so I was confident that cupping DU14 on myself most likely would be a good idea. Although, I could have cupped other various points for my symptoms I thought I would just try cupping DU 14 and see what happens.

I went to my cupping kit and grabbed the largest size cup in my set. I placed the cup directly over the bone on the DU 14 point. I applied medium pressure suction and waited to see what would happen. I felt slight discomfort and a few weird sensations down my neck through my back. After about a minute the discomfort still persisted and I began to wonder if I should take it off. I decided to time it for a minimum of 3 minutes and watched the clock patiently with some discomfort. After the 3 minutes I released the pressure and went to a mirror to see the coloring. Because of the discomfort and pain I had, I was assuming the circle would be dark and full of bad blood. To my surprise there was next to nothing, but, my body began feeling strange. I felt thirsty so I proceeded down the hall to go downstairs to get water. While walking I felt a tingling slightly cloudy feeling and my body did not feel normal. I immediately sat down near the stairs just in case fainting might occur. I sat there for a moment and took several deep breathes repeating, “Bismillah” which in my faith means in the name of God. I still felt strange and did not want to stand up so I scooted, sitting, slowly down the stairs. When I reached the downstairs to get water I drank 3 to 4 small glasses of water which felt a bit relieving. I noticed from my education in Psychology that my body was in, “Flight Response.” I touched the top of my head and it was wet. I felt my neck and it was wet also, as if I put water on it. My arms were also perspiring and I knew I was going through cold sweats. I took a towel wiped my head, neck, and arms. I was feeling a bit normal again so I stood up went upstairs. Once upstairs I decided it was best to rest for a bit so I laid flat on my back resting for about 15 minutes.

Once I got up I noticed an immediate change in my neck pain and my overall body in general. I had a boost of natural energy and I felt absolutely great. My overall pain in my neck had resided to probably 10% or less. I also, felt less overall back tension. For the rest of the day my body and neck felt good. I was still full of energy despite the lack of sleep the night before and when my wife returned home she said, “why are you in such a good mood?”

Finally there were a few things I feel I did wrong that I would do differently next time. The first mistake I feel I made was my lack of sleep from the night before. Because cupping does involved healing of the body it is probably best to be well rested before a cupping therapy session. Second, slightly after Fajr (sunrise,) I drank coffee with breakfast. Only 2 hours after this I placed the cup on DU 14. Caffeine should not be consumed before cupping. Next time I will think a bit more and plan before cupping myself. Third, it was a big mistake for me to get up right away and walk around. I really did not think cupping one point for 3 minutes would affect me the way it did. Next time I will sit or lay resting for 15-20 minutes with water available needed. These were a few mistakes I feel I made with my experimentation in this cupping session on myself.

In conclusion, from this experiment I really learned the power of DU 14. Just dry cupping this point for only 3 minutes totally changed my tension and neck pain. I really was excited to find it worked so well on me. I have definitely gained a valuable experience to how Du 14 works and why it is used so often for many problems.

Mr A. Ibrahim

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Thanks Mr A. Ibrahim for Sharing this article with us