Tuesday, 17 April 2007: The Ministry of Health has ended the practice of blood cupping, also known as hijama in Arabic, until there is documented scientific evidence of its usefulness. So ends one of the oldest medical traditions in the Arab world - and puts a number of traditional healers out of work.
"[We] ask people to focus on modern medicine, based on the evidence," said Othman Al-Rabiah, coordinator of the Health Services Council.
Until the ruling, many specialist clinics still performed cupping, in which blood is extracted from the skin through a small incision using a cup which makes a tight seal on the skin."I have practiced this job for 20 years," said Ali Mejahed, a Yemeni cupping maker. "I have customers, and if they want me they can phone me."
Some of the clinic workers are startled and angered by the decision, saying that the Ministry wasn't forthcoming with cuppers about their intentions.
"The Ministry of Health ... promised to give us the green light to practice cupping again after they make new arrangements to organize it, but we were surprised when they prevented it entirely," said one cupper, who requested anonymity.
Some hospitals' cupping clinics remain open, in a show of defiance to the Ministry, because they don't believe in the ruling.
"This is not right ... most of the people received benefits from cupping," the owner of one Jeddah hospital, who requested anonymity, said. "We have opened the cupping clinic in our hospital because we know how beneficial it is. Also, the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, asked his nation to do it."
Some regular cuppers said the practice has become a habit from which they benefit, and will continue to do it.
"I had a headache, and I visited many hospitals and many doctors ... but I didn't feel better," a cupper known only as "Yousif" said. "One of my friends advised me to do cupping ... and for SR200, including materials I bought at the pharmacy, the man did cupping for me, and since then I've felt much better."
By Adel Al-Malki
© The Saudi Gazette 2007
