The First Thesis about Cupping submitted for M.SC. Degree in Medical Microbiology & Immunology The Great Missing Therapy By Dr. Sahbaa M. Bondok Dar Al-Salam For Printing, Publishing, Distribution, and Translation Cupping The Great Missing Therapy © All rights reserved for Dar Al-Salam for Printing, Publishing, Dis­ tribution and Translation. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability as­ sumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Second Edition: 1431 A.H. / 2010 C.E. Deposit No.: 15412/2006 ISBN: 977-342-394-8 Head Office: 19 Omar Lotfy St., from ‘Abbas Al-Akkad next to In­ ternational Garden, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. Tel: [+202] 22704280, 22741578, Fax: [+202] 22741750. Bookshop [1]: 120 Al-Azhar St., Cairo. Tel: [+202] 25932820. Bookshop [2]: 1 Hasan Ibn Ali St., from Ali Ameen St., Mustafa An- Nahhas extension, Nasr City, Cairo. Tel: [+202] 24054642. Bookshop [3]: 127 Al-Iskandar Al-Akbar St., Ash-Shatbi, Alexandria Tel: [+203] 5932205 Fax: [+203] 5932204. P.O. Box: 161 Al-Ghoriyyah. Website: www.dar-alsalam.com E-mail: [email protected] Bondok, Sahbaa M. Cupping; The Great Missing Therapy- By Sahbaa M. Bondok 1st ed., Cairo: Dar Al-Salam, 2006 240 p.; 24 cm I.S.B.N 977 342 394 8 1-Cupping 2- Folk Medicine A. Title 615.882 Cupping The Great Missing Therapy The First Thesis about Cupping Submitted for M.SC. Degree in Medical Microbiology & Immunology By Dr. Sahbaa M. Bondok Dar Al-Salam For Printing, Publishing, Distribution, and Translation In the Name ofAllah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 4 iit jl c>jilJ llr Lj IJu^J c^ojl 4! jJJ-t “/!// 7//e praises and thanks are Allah’s, Who has guided us to this, and never could we havefoundguidance, were it notthatAllah hadguidedus!”[Ai-A‘raf7:43] Dedication To the moon who lighted up my life, my beloved teacher Muhammad \ who inspired me to search and study “Cupping”, the project I had been working on for approximately four years. To my dear parents, my most devoted teachers, who had unfail­ ingly supported me at all times, and had never lost their patience with me. My words stand short of my supreme gratitude and thanks to both of you. To my beloved husband, who has added many new dimensions to my life and suffered a lot during the preparation of this work, your precious time and effort, your continuous support and encouragement made it possible for me to fulfill this work. To all the brothers and sisters who are proud of being part of the eternal message of Muhammad. The seal of the prophets, and Allah’s(2) Messenger to all mankind. Dr. Sahbaa M. Bondok Cairo, 2006 Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. In Arabic “Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam”. (:)Allah: The name of the One and only God, the Creator, Who is perfect in all Character­ istics, worthy of worship and Who has sent the prophets. Contents - Acknowledgments............................................................... 19 - Preface.................................................................................. 21 Chapter 1: Meanings & Definitions.............................. 25 I. What Is Cupping?.......................................................... 27 1. Wet or Dry?......................................................... 28 2. Virtues of Cupping.............................................. 28 3. Other Names for Cupping................................... 29 II. What Is Bloodletting?.................................................. 30 1. Types of Bloodletting.......................................... 31 2. General Bloodletting........................................... 31 3. Local Bloodletting............................................... 32 III. The Old Philosophical System of Cupping & Letting 35 Chapter 2: Cupping According To Sunnah................ 37 I. Sayings of the Great Prophet Muhammad M............... 39 II. Deeds of the Great Prophet Muhammad .................. 40 Chapter 3: Cupping over the Centuries....................... 43 I. Early History & Ancient Practice.................................. 45 1. Among Ancient Egyptian.................................... 45 2. As a Part of East Asian Medicine....................... 46 3. In Early Greeks.................................................... 48 4. In Greco-Roman Medicine.................................. 50 II. Medieval Practice......................................................... 51 III. Modem Times............................................................. 54 1. Cupping in Public Baths...................................... 54 2. Barber- Surgeon Guild Develop.......................... 55 IV. In European and American Medicine......................... 57 V. Cupping in Islamic Society.......................................... 58 8 VI. Women & their Practice of Cupping........................... 59 Chapter 4: Islamic Contribution.................................... 61 I. East Meets West............................................................ : 63 II. Islamic Medicine Influences........................................ 64 1. Ibn Sina [Avicenna 980-1037]............................. 64 2. Al-Zahrawi [936-1013]....................................... 66 3. Al-Razi [865-925 AH]......................................... 67 4. Ibn- A1 Quff [7-1286 AD] = [-685 AH].............. 67 5. Ibnul- Qayyim [1291-1350 AD] = [691-751 AH] 68 III. Islamic Medical Manuscripts..................................... 68 Chapter 5: Prosperity & Decline.................................... 71 I. Prosperity of Cupping.................................................... 73 II. Beginning of Decline................................................... 74 III. Causes of Decline........................................................ 74 IV. Cupping Death............................................................ 75 Chapter 6: Renaissance of the Age- old Technique .... 77 I. Old Treatment, New Trend.......................................... 79 II. New Public Interest in Cupping.................................. 79 III. Scientific Community Reacts to Cupping.................. 79 IV. Cupping Today........................................................... 80 1. In china............................................................... 80 2. In Germany......................................................... 80 3. In United States.................................................. 81 4. In Ethiopia.......................................................... 81 5. In Canada ............................................................ 81 6. In Finland............................................................ 81 7. In Mongolia........................................................ 82 8. In Vietnam.......................................................... 82 Chapter 7: Equipments Used for Cupping................. S3 9 I. Early Cupping Tools........................................ 85 II. The Horn Method............................................. 85 III. Types of Cups................................................. 88 1. Bamboo Cup.......................................... 89 2. Pottery “Ceramic” Cup.......................... 90 3. Metallic Cup.......................................... 90 4. Glass Cup............................................... 90 5. Cup with Squeeze Rubber Top............. 90 6. Rubber Cup............................................ 91 7. Screw-top Cup....................................... 91 8. Valve Cup.............................................. 92 9. Cup with Magnetic Head....................... 92 10. Electric Cup.......................................... 92 IV. Sucking Methods........................................... 93 1. Fire Cupping [Traditional Cupping]..... 93 2. Air- Extracted “Valved Pump” Cupping 94 V. Cupping Sets................................................... 95 VI. Modem Cupping Tools.................................. 96 Chapter 8: Equipments used for Bloodletting 99 I. The Lancet........................................................ 101 II. The Scarificator.............................................. 102 Chapter 9: Cupping Techniques...................... 105 I. Simple [Dry] Cupping Techniques.................. 107 1. Momentary [Flash or Quick] Cupping .... 108 2. Retained [Sustained] Cupping................ 108 3. Sliding [moving] Cupping..................... 110 II. Combined Cupping Techniques..................... 111 1. Bloodletting Cupping [BLC].................. 111 2. Needle Cupping...................................... 112