Hijama treatment needs government nod

Beauty saloons, health centres and other treatment facilities in the UAE need to get prior government approval for practicing Hijama, a traditional Arab medicine involving the use of cups to draw blood for therapeutic purposes.

The ministry of health also said it would not allow the use of the so-called aquarium massage technique at beauty saloons without authorization.

“The ministry of health is the only party which can authorize activities involving Hijama, medical massaging and laser at beauty saloons and other specialized centres,” said Dr Amin Al Amiri, the ministry’s assistant undersecretary for medical practices and licensing.

“We have also reached agreement with the municipalities’ council not to allow herbs shops of using such words as ‘health, treatment and research’…these shops will be inspected regularly to ensure they comply with the rules,” he told the Dubai-based Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum.

The paper said officials from the municipalities have met recently and decided to introduce curbs on licensing for saloons and other beauty and traditional treatment centres at the request of the ministry of health.

Hijama had been practiced randomly in the UAE before authorities decided to crack down on its use and regulate such activities to ensure public safety.

Known in English as cupping, Hijama is generally performed by Muslims<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim>.

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