Swimming is strictly prohibited after Hijama/wet cupping therapy.
Nowadays cupping therapy is becoming very popular around the world. Hijama cupping therapy is a traditional alternative medical treatment practiced in the ancient Egyptians, Chinese culture, Arabic medicine, Greek medicine, and Prophetic medicine. Cupping alleviates the pain by increasing blood circulation and eliminating toxins from the body.
When the suction is applied to the skin through cups, it reduces inflammation and pain. The vacuum-like suction causes the body to release various chemicals, fibroblasts, and white blood cells to the targetted area. The negative pressure of cups draws stagnated blood out from deep tissues and organs through incisions. The incisions allow the release of stagnated blood.
Superficial Incisions During Hijama
During Hijama cupping therapy, superficial incisions are drawn on the upper layer of the skin, Epidermis, to take the toxins out of the body. The incisions are supposed to be mild and superficial.
These incisions tear the skin as they draw the blood and other bodily fluids out. A body needs time to heal, depending upon the depth of the wounds. Generally, wounds heal in 2 to 6 weeks, depending on an individual’s healing process. Incisions from Hijama heal way quicker than wounds because firstly, these are superficial incisions and secondly, within a few minutes blood starts forming clots, sealing the blood vessel walls. Collagen makes thicker blood, like a gel. An individual may experience redness, swelling or itching as it disappears in a few hours.
Swimming After Hijama
Swimming should not be done after the Hijama session. Not until the incisions are healed, healing of incisions depends on an individual’s healing process. Swimming should be prohibited for the next 48 hours after cupping.
- Exposing the torn skin through swimming may slow down the healing process.
- It may also expose the incisions to bacteria, leading to infections.
- Damaged skin needs time to heal, when it doesn’t get enough time, permanent damage may occur, leading to lean the upper layer of the skin.
- The skin is the first barrier of defense and as the first barrier is compromised, the skin gets exposed to bacteria and viruses.
- Swimming water has a lot of chemicals and microorganisms like chlorine, bromine, and cyanuric acid. All these chemicals are harmful to wounded skin. Chemicals in the swimming water may kill the infection-causing germs, but they only damage the upper layer of oil on the skin called sebum, which prevents the scalp and skin from drying out. The chlorine in the pool water can cause flaky and itchy skin and rashes to the wounded area.
Skin becomes very sensitive after cupping. The cupping exposes the skin’s pores to drain the toxins and stagnated materials from the body. The exposure of the pores makes the skin very vulnerable to infections. 48 hours after Hijama is imperative to take care of the cupped areas. Avoid excessive exertion like swimming, steam baths or saunas instantly after Hijama cupping therapy.
