Hijama (Cupping Therapy)

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.

The cups may be made of:

• Glass
• Bamboo
• Earthenware
• Silicone

Cupping therapy might be trendy now, but it’s not new. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

Types

There are different methods of cupping, including:

• Dry
• Wet

Herbal Steam Bath

A steam room is a heated room that people use for relaxation and to relieve some medical conditions. They are often found in gyms or spas.

A steam room is created when a water-filled generator pumps steam into an enclosed space so there is moisture in the air when people are sitting in it.

The temperature inside a steam room is generally between 110°F and 114°F with a humidity level of 100 percent.

Benefits

There are several health benefits associated with a steam room, each of which is described here.

• Improves circulation
• Skin health
• Workout recovery
• Reduces stress

Leech Therapy

Since the time of ancient Egypt, leeches have been used in medicine to treat nervous system abnormalities, dental problems, skin diseases, and infections.

Today, they’re mostly used in plastic surgery and other microsurgery. This is because leeches secrete peptides and proteins that work to prevent blood clots. These secretions are also known as anticoagulants. This keeps blood flowing to wounds to help them heal.

Medical applications for leech therapy

• hypertension
• varicose veins
• hemorrhoids
• skin problems
• arthritis