The Blade*
The blade recommended to perform hijama is a surgical blade (size 11).
The No.11 is a thin elongated triangular blade with a strong pointed tip making it ideal for incisions.
The therapist must hold the blade in a comfortable position without holding it too tightly. Before any attempt to make incisions on a real person, you can practice holding and perfecting your cutting technique on a paper of event fruits such as apples, oranges and peaches.
Incisions should only be made in a vertical position going from top to bottom (head to toe), swiftly and lightly. For diabetics, you can prick them with the blade. Remember you are only incising the superficial (top) layer of the skin. Incisions should not be painful when made correctly; they should feel like a fingernail gliding over the skin.
How to hold the Blade
The correct way to make incisions
Always start at the top; either from right to left or left to right. When a line in completed then move down and go across the same as the line above and carry on doing the same until you have completed making the incisions on the area. Note that you must no go over the same place even if you think you did not make an incision properly.
*NEVER use razor blades; they are unhygienic and unsafe.
Key points to remember when making incisions
- Incisions must be in vertical direction
- No longer than 2mm
- Be separate from one another.
- Incise the superficial (top) layer of the skin
- Not leave a scar once healed (if it does, it means the incision was too deep)
- The number of incisions will depend on the size of the cup, but no more than 30.
- Do not make incisions on diabetics nor people taking blood-thinning medication, pricks should be made instead.
How to removed the blood
Once you have made the incisions and replaced the cup onto the skin:
- Take 2 or 3 soft tissues (or more depending on the amount of blood) under the cup with one hand.
- With the other hand, lift gently the cup to release the vacuum and incline the cup back.
- Wipe and scoop the blood in an upward motion, at the same time moving the cup away from the skin. Never wipe horizontally against the incisions.
- Place the same tissue in the cup to soak up the remaining blood in the cup.
- Place the contaminated tissue in the waste bin
The amount a person bleeds is different from person to person. It will depend on the amount of stagnant blood present and the level of blood circulation.
