Please give us an introduction about yourself and in particular how you ended up becoming a Hijama Therapist?
Asalaam alaykum Warahmat Allah Wabarakatu,
My name is Sohada and as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to get into the health and wellness field which led me to Occupational Therapy, a profession that focuses on helping people become independent in all areas of life particularly while experiencing disabilities, injuries and/or illnesses.
Alhamdulillah I have been a registered OT with the national board since 2001. About 11 years ago though, my family and I moved to Madina Munawwara. This is where I founded Project Mercy of Madina in advocacy for people with special needs. It was during that time I was also able to learn from religious scholars and natural health practitioners about Hijama Cupping. With Allah’s guidance I also pursued my post-graduate certification in Islamic Chaplaincy under the Prophet’s College of Masjid AnNabawi with a focus on hospital patient counseling.
Before moving back to the United States in Ramadan 2017, I knew that having proper credentials in Hijama was needed in reviving this Sunnah in the United States so that I could offer it to others. I sought out professional courses certification, presented by Hijama Nation, Simply Hijama, and ACE International Medi-Cupping for Healthcare practitioners. Then, I followed up with the Pastoral Science and Medicine Association Board to be able to offer Hijama Cupping, Faith Based Counseling, Prophetic Medicine, Ruqyah Guidance under Islamic Chaplaincy services by religious freedoms as a licensed and insured practitioner. Currently I am also enrolled in professional courses in Aromatherapy Healing and Advanced Islamic Medicine Sciences.
Currently, I am grateful to be offering Hijama Cupping in my office suite, Madina Therapy LLC. Other services I provide there (and online) for women include Mental Health, Life Coaching and Special Needs Coaching. InshaaAllah, I will be offering workshops on Hijama as I have done in Madina.
DO YOU FIND THAT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, THE CONDITIONS/ILLNESSES THAT YOU HAVE COME ACROSS RESPOND WELL TO CUPPING(HIJAMA) THERAPY? AND IF SO, WHAT ARE THEY?
Although our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, emphasized its many benefits, not everyone responds to it in the same way. I strongly believe that Hijama is meant to be holistic as well. It’s not just about cups being placed and pulled. Purifying intentions is an essential pre-requisite to success, and all success is from Allah. It’s also all about being safe, upon the Sunnah and keeping it as a spiritual process, not just a biomechanical procedure. I always try to educate and remind my clients that “Hijama is from the heavens, literally,” as it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, during the journey of Isra & Miraj. There is no doubt that healing from Allah with my clients is related to their intentions, and mine as the Hijama Health practitioner. It is proof of the hadith in which our beloved mentions that healing is in three things, one of them being in the incision of the cupper (all by Allah’s mercy Who is the Only Healer).
Having said all that, I am grateful to have seen Hijama Cupping significantly help women who suffer from all sorts of conditions such as but not limited to:
Hijama Cupping is an amazing modality because it almost always relaxes my clients due to its sedative response upon the central nervous system, SubhanAllah. In addition, Quran is always being recited and/or listened to in the Hijama room and the Madina Therapy approach does not change when serving nonMuslim women.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTING CASE STUDIES THAT YOU CAN BRIEFLY SHARE WITH US FROM YOUR HIJAMA TREATMENTS?
Alhamdulilah I have quite a few. The first one that comes to mind is my 52 year old client who is a single mother raising two teen boys, one with Autism and another with Anxiety Disorder. She fled her country and sought refuge from domestic violence here in the US because she is struggling on so many levels, may Allah help her. When I first came back from Madina she was one of the first sisters who approached me for Hijama in hopes that Allah would remove pain from her legs, ease her migraines, regulate her thyroid problems and gain an emotional release. After our first Sunnah Hijama session together, she mentioned how much “lighter” she felt, as if burdens were removed from her path alhamdulilah. Allah has also brought her body back to a state of normalcy in that she was suffering from menopausal struggles but that has ceased completely to the extent that her menses resumed.
Another sister also in her mid-50’s who was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, and Autoimmune Disease has come in to see me for Hijama Cupping a few times. Alhamdulilah every time she comes in she feels better by Allah’s mercy. Since that session she has not taken any medication and her doctors who were advising surgery for her back are no longer recommending it. SubhanAllah. Alhamdulilah she continues to come in monthly for preventative reasons.
Alhamduliah I have seen many who have been healed by Allah. But it’s not just about the cups: it’s about intentions, the heart and a holistic approach in seeking Allah’s help.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT USING CUPPING AS A GENERAL PREVENTIVE THERAPY AND HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS?
There are different types of Cupping that is offered through Madina Therapy. I offer Sunnah Wet-Hijama, Dry Cupping modalities, Electro-Medicupping Care with glass, plastic and roller ball cups. There are also various techniques that can be performed to assure clients are getting what is best for them by Allah’s permission. So it’s very important that each woman discloses her health status before I begin any Hijama Cupping care so we can assure safety, type of cupping, how many cups, how often it should be done and avoid what may be contraindicated. Some benefit from it every month for 6 months, some benefit from it once every month, for a few months. So it all depends on the client’s situation and overall health and spiritual status. Someone who has excellent health, eats right, prays, exercises, doesn’t have any issues they might benefit by coming in every now and then versus someone who is ill or has injury. It’s difficult to make a general rule here because care plans are individualized. Allah Knows Best. What we can say in general though is that Hijama Cupping is not just a remedy, indeed it’s a preventative modality for many people. For example, in authentic hadith we can easily understand that Hijama is not just for seeking a cure from Allah but also for prevention:
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, “Whoever wants to perform cupping (hijama) then let him search for the 17th, 19th and 21st day (of the Islamic, lunar month) and let none of you allow his blood to rage (boil) such that it kills him.” [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3486)].
This can be understood as a means of maintaining our blood pressure for preventative purposes, SubhanAllah! Allah Knows Best.
AS A HIJAMA THEARAPIST, HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET HIJAMA DONE YOURSELF, AND WHAT FOR (IF ANY SPECIFIC CONDITION) AND WHO DO YOU GO TO TO GET IT DONE (SINCE IT IS NOT AN EASY THERAPY TO SELF-ADMINISTER)?
Since I’ve been back from Madina I haven’t been able to get it done on myself as much as I would prefer. My focus has to be on reviving the Sunnah in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island states where the vast majority of Muslims have never been exposed to Hijama and don’t know much about it beyond the hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad salAllahu alayhee wasallam. But they are very eager to learn and I’ve been invited to Masajid in both states to give halaqas on this special sunnah, alhamdulilah. I am planning a basic workshop for a small group of women inshaaAllah in hopes that this sunnah spreads so that others can also benefit from Hijama.
With Allah is all success.
WHAT IS THE STATUS AND OVERALL PREVALENCE OF HIJAMA In Massachusetts and Rhode Island. IS IT AVAILABLE IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AS A VALID ALTERNATIVE / SUNNAH THERAPY?
There is another practice I have heard of that offers Hijama but I am unfamiliar with the qualifications, practices, and approach. Allah Knows Best. I don’t believe there is anyone else though currently offering Hijama Cupping in Massachusetts or Rhode Island for the community as of now. If so, I would love to meet them so we can unite to help the community at large for the sake of Allah.
However, Dry Cupping Therapy is offered in some Chiropractic offices, by Chinese Practitioners and even in some Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy clinics. Cupping has been growing steadily since the Olympian Michael Phelps came out with his circles! However their services are very short in duration and often do not engage as a holistic based practice, nor a spiritual one based on Islamic principles.
WHEAREABOUTS IS YOUR CLINIC OR PRACTICE LOCATED AND WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
Madina Therapy LLC is located in southeastern Massachusetts in between Boston and Providence, right off the Mansfield train station.
Besides Hijama Cupping, women can find Occupational Therapy, Heartfelt Life Coaching, Islamic Counseling, and Special Education Advocacy with Disability Support for themselves, their children or elders. All services are offered online (with the exception of Hijama for obvious reasons ). I also offer free initial consults and screenings. With hardship comes ease.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Sohada M. Awad, OTR, CHP
Therapy and Wellness Director
Madina Therapy LLC
200 Chauncy Street, Suite 113
Mansfield
MA 02048
Massachusetts
support@madinatherapy.com
Office: 508-744-6687
Mobile/Whatsapp: +15087628617 (women only please)
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Although Madina Therapy, LLC is currently only offering Hijama Cupping to women due to maintaining modesty, we hope our services will inshaaAllah expand so that brothers can also benefit from Hijama in the near future.
FEATURED ORGANISATION:
Madina Therapy LLC
LOCATION
200 Chauncy Street, Suite 113
Mansfield
MA 02048
Massachusetts
CONTACT DETAILS:
Tel: 508-744-6687
Email: support@madinatherapy.com
Mobile/Whatsapp: +15087628617 (women only)
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Our thanks to Madina Therapy from Massachusetts for sharing the above post. If you have any questions or want to leave some feedback, then please do so via a comment* below.
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