Dry cupping and wet cupping (hijama) are supportive methods with a deep-rooted history under the umbrella of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM). Applied by placing cups of various sizes on selected regions of the body to prevent physical and mental illnesses, maintain health, and support existing treatments, the success of these methods depends not only on the quality of the procedure in the clinical environment, but also on patient compliance after the procedure.
Important Warning: Cupping therapy and hijama applications do not replace modern and standard diagnosis, treatment, or medical interventions. You must always consult a specialist physician to decide whether these applications are suitable for you and to receive a personal evaluation.
What is Dry Cupping and Wet Cupping (Hijama)?
Cupping therapy is basically applied in two different ways. In both of these methods, a regional effect is targeted using the vacuum principle.
Dry Cupping Application: This is the method performed without making any incision on the skin, solely through the vacuum effect created by the cups.
Wet Cupping (Hijama) Application: This is the application performed by creating superficial and micro-sized controlled incisions on the skin, in addition to the vacuum effect of the cups.
In both methods, the primary goal is to ensure the preservation of the body's healthy state and to support existing medical treatments. However, since skin integrity is breached in wet cupping, the process requires much more sensitive infection control.
Recovery Process and What to Do After Cupping Therapy
After the procedure is completed, allowing the body to rest and protecting the application area are the most critical stages of the recovery process. Following the wet cupping application, the main elements that need attention for a healthy and safe process are as follows:
Resting Period
It is not recommended to return to daily activities immediately after the procedure ends. Following wet cupping, the patient needs to rest in a clinical environment or a quiet area for approximately 20-30 minutes. This short rest break helps maintain the hemodynamic balance of the body.Water Contact and Hygiene
At the top of the list of things to pay attention to after cupping therapy is the water contact status of the area. After the procedure, the application area must not be allowed to contact water for a period of one day (24 hours). Due to the sensitivity formed on the skin surface (especially in wet cupping), keeping the area dry and clean minimizes the risk of infection.Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations
There are certain diet and lifestyle rules that patients must follow before and after wet cupping. The practicing physician explains the dietary recommendations appropriate for the person's general health status and metabolism in detail to the patient prior to the application. It is required to strictly follow these rules and recommendations advised by the physician in order to support the body's healing process.Who Must Definitely Inform the Physician Before the Procedure?
In order for cupping therapy to be applied safely, it is essential that the patient's medical history is evaluated transparently. Following infection control measures during the wet cupping application is one of the most important parts of the entire process.
In order to prevent harm from the application and complete the process safely, patients must definitely inform the physician of the following conditions:
Chronic Diseases: Major health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or the presence of a pacemaker.
Regularly Used Medications: All medical medications used regularly, primarily blood thinners.
Blood-Borne Diseases: Systemic infections transmitted through blood, such as Hepatitis or HIV.
Providing this information completely allows the physician to postpone, modify, or direct the application toward different supportive treatments.
Potential Side Effects That May Occur After the Procedure
As with every medical and complementary practice, cupping therapy has some side effects, albeit rarely. The side effects of wet cupping are generally infrequent; however, being aware of these symptoms is important for patients in terms of knowing when to seek support in unexpected situations.
Potential side effects that may be encountered may include:
Headache and dizziness,
Feeling of fatigue, muscle tension, or insomnia,
Itching, pain, or small-sized hematomas (blood pooling) in the cupping area,
Scars or burns in heat-applied cupping types,
In rare cases, nausea, anemia, blister (water collection) formation, abscess, or skin infection.
If any of these side effects are encountered, one should contact the physician who performed the procedure without panicking. The risk of developing such complications is quite low in applications performed under sterile conditions in a clinical environment.
In conclusion, what needs to be considered after dry and wet cupping (hijama) revolves around adhering to basic hygiene rules and following the physician's guidelines. Although traditional medicine methods provide support in many areas, for your safety, services must definitely be received under physician supervision in licensed and audited environments.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.