Hijama Through History: From Ancient Cupping to the Sunnah

Have you ever looked at the round cups used in hijama and wondered how far back this practice goes? The short answer is: a very long way, and through many different cultures. People in Egypt, Greece, China, the Arab world and Europe all used some form of cupping long before modern clinics existed.

In this post we walk through that history in plain language. We also explain what hijama means in Islamic tradition and why many of our clients ask about the 17th, 19th and 21st days of the Hijri month. Whether you come to hijama from faith, from curiosity, or from a family tradition, you are welcome here.

Cupping in the ancient world

Historians agree that cupping is old, but they do not fully agree on where it began. A 2017 review of the history of hijama, which looked at 83 published sources, says the exact origin is "a matter of controversy," while noting that its use "has been documented in early Egyptian and Chinese medical practices" (Source 1).

Ancient Egypt is often where the story starts. A 2021 review in the Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology describes the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical text from about 1550 B.C., as holding the earliest recorded references to cupping (Source 3). It is worth knowing that the same review mentions claims of even older Egyptian use, but dates this far back are hard to confirm, so we treat them with care.

In China, cupping is part of a traditional medical system that writers describe as about 2,000 years old (Source 2). Horn cupping and bamboo jars are among its traditional forms, and over the centuries cups were also made of glass and metal (Source 2).

Greek and Roman physicians

Cupping also had a strong place in ancient Greek and Roman medicine. A 2015 review in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine notes that Hippocrates recommended cupping for a range of complaints, and that the Roman writer Celsus and the physician Aretaeus also described its use (Source 2).

Galen, one of the most influential physicians of the ancient world, was "a great proponent of the method" and described cups made of glass, horn and brass (Source 2). These physicians worked within the medical ideas of their own time, which were very different from today's. Their writings tell us how highly they valued cupping, but they do not tell us what modern research would conclude.

Hijama in Islamic tradition

Hijama is the Arabic word for cupping (Source 1). Reviews of its history list "Prophetic medicine" and Arabic medicine alongside Egyptian, Chinese and Greek traditions as places where cupping was practised (Source 3). In Arabic-speaking countries the practice is still widely known as al-hijama (Source 2).

For many Muslims, hijama carries a meaning that goes beyond history. It is connected to the Sunnah, the example and practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as recorded in the hadith collections. That is why some clients see their appointment as an act of following the Sunnah, and why they may prepare for it with intention, prayer or reflection.

At the same time, hijama did not develop in isolation. Historians describe cupping as a practice that many civilizations, Eastern and Western, helped to develop and carry forward (Source 1). In Europe, for example, it was used by monastery practitioners and folk healers up to the 19th century (Source 2).

The Sunnah days: the 17th, 19th and 21st

Many clients ask us about booking hijama on the 17th, 19th or 21st of the Islamic (Hijri) month. These days come from hadith narrations. Here is one, quoted exactly as it appears in English on sunnah.com:

This is Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2051. On sunnah.com its grade is shown as Da'if (Darussalam) (Source 4). A second narration that also names these three days is Sunan Abi Dawud 3861, which sunnah.com shows with the grade Hasan (Al-Albani) (Source 5). Scholars have discussed the strength of these narrations in different ways, which is one reason people follow the Sunnah days with different levels of emphasis.

We share these narrations as part of religious tradition. They are not a medical promise, and we do not present them as one. For religious guidance, please consult a qualified scholar.

Because the Hijri calendar follows the moon, the 17th, 19th and 21st fall on different Gregorian dates each month. If these days matter to you, check an Islamic calendar before you book, and let us know when you call so we can try to find a time that fits.

From history to your visit today

History can explain why hijama matters to so many people, but your comfort and safety today come first. Historians note that cupping fell out of favour in the 17th and mid-18th centuries before regaining popularity in modern times (Source 1). Today it is offered in clinics around the world, including here in Etobicoke.

At M.K Holistic Clinic, every client fills out an intake form before their session. This helps us understand your health background and decide together whether hijama is a suitable choice for you right now. If you have a medical condition or take medication, please also speak with your doctor.

We welcome clients of every faith and background. If you come for the Sunnah, we will honour that. If you come out of curiosity about an ancient practice, we are happy to answer your questions. We are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To book, visit mkholisticclinic.schedulista.com or call 416-710-2033.

Sources

History of cupping (Hijama): a narrative review of literature — Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017
Cupping therapy: A prudent remedy for a plethora of medical ailments — Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2015
Cupping (Hijama) in Rheumatic Diseases: The Evidence — Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology, 2021
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2051 — Sunnah.com, accessed 2026
Sunan Abi Dawud 3861 — Sunnah.com, accessed 2026