Cupping, which involves plastic cups on the skin, has changed considerably since the days when the main suction instrument was a hollowed-out bull's horn.
Cupping, which involves plastic cups on the skin, has changed considerably since the days when the main suction instrument was a hollowed-out bull's horn.

Getting rid of bad blood



One of the oldest medical treatments, the practice of hijama, which involves suctions that draw out stagnant or congested blood from a wound deliberately cut in the body, has its origins in the Middle East. The Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical books in history written in 1550 BCE - stated that the healing method cleansed the circulatory system by removing contaminated blood via a vacuum that sucked the fluid through tiny incisions on the skin.

The practice has persisted to the present day with many in the region still using it to treat ailments from headaches and eye problems to gout and heart disease."We know that when we do cupping therapy, making these suctions on the skin and clearing out the stagnated blood, it can decrease problems like chest diseases and blood pressure because we remove the bad blood," explained Dr Mohamed Tamimi, a physiotherapist who treats patients using hijama at the Al Rahma Medical Center.

In the same way that a tree log can impede a river's flow, the idea is that "bad" or dark clotted blood is to blame for circulation problems."When there is an area of water that becomes stagnant, when there is not running water, what happens?" Dr Tamimi said. "This water, after time, will bring diseases and flies, so it's the same with blood. We can say a section is more liable to be diseased and infected."

The theory behind hijama is that, unless the capillaries are able to carry oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the body's cells, tissues and organs may weaken or operate inefficiently.As the body is unable to naturally rid itself of the toxic stasis blocking blood vessels, a 30-minute hijama session can help rejuvenate patients and alleviate pain associated with 80 per cent of common diseases, Dr Tamimi said.

"Kidney problems, heart problems, stroke, gout - these can be treated with this procedure," he said, adding that he would prescribe the treatment for anyone feeling fatigued, restless, stressed or sluggish."It is in my view that it feels like 20 or 30 times more effective than a massage," he said.The procedure has changed over the centuries, with modern medicine and concerns about hygiene and infection.

Traditionally, the main instrument used to create a vacuum was a hollowed-out bull's horn. The hijama specialist would locate meridians on the patient's body - such as the back of the neck to treat headaches, or the inside shoulder for chest pains - and then place the bell of the horn on the site.With a sharp knife, the healer would slice very fine, superficial cuts into the targeted area and then re-cover the marked skin with the horn, while sucking the horn's mouthpiece to extract dead blood cells from the wound. A clot of dark blood would begin accumulating in the cup.

Modern medicine has all but eliminated the old ways of wet cupping, and today's hijama specialists in the UAE are licensed professionals.Plastic, individually wrapped cups with varying diameters have replaced bull's horns. Mr Tamimi demonstrated how a pump attaches to a nozzle at the dome of the cup, then seals in the air to create the negative energy needed to extract blood from slits in the skin.

"I choose which meridians to put this suction on. From experience, I can see if there is low circulation or high circulation in this area," he said, sticking one of the pressurised cups to his palm. The colour of the flesh seized in the vacuum indicates the health of the blood beneath, he explained.After locating the appropriate spot, he would cut "very small, fine incisions with a surgical razor." All of the blades are also individually wrapped. Like the hijama cups, they are immediately disposed of after every session.

From about seven cups, only about 300-400 ml of blood in all is extracted. The bad blood collected in the jars is easy to remove as it clots easier. "It looks like a dark, thick jelly because the blood is more liable to clot," Dr Tamimi said. As for whether the patient would feel any pain from the superficial cuts or the bleeding, he said some regarded the sensation of having their meridians stimulated as "amazing." Others only reported slight discomfort.

"The incisions themselves are very light," he added, laying out a Kleenex to demonstrate. "If I take this tissue and I made incisions, I would not penetrate it. I make maybe 15 cuts - just enough of an opening to allow blood to drain when I apply the suction."Red marks typically vanish within days while the shallow lacerations may take up to three weeks to heal completely.There is also an optimal time for hijama based on the lunar calendar, Dr Tamimi said.

Just as the moon affects the ocean's tide, the same principles can apply to the human body."When the full moon is out, in the 15th day of a month, we believe that the moon will have this affect to draw a good amount of blood," he said. The connection between circulation and the lunar cycle has a well-documented history in both Eastern and Western medical traditions. Certain feast days of saints were thought to be optimal times for bloodletting in Medieval Europe.

The Talmud also makes recommendations for particular times of the year where bloodletting is more effective. The direct link between circulatory function and general health fell out of favour in Western medicine in the 19th century.

But with so much emphasis in medical history on the circulatory system, the particular practice of cupping is a difficult to credit to one particular culture, as the Chinese have for centuries applied suctions to stimulate the body's meridians. This method is known as "dry cupping" because it does not involve drawing blood. Instead, a lit match is dropped into a small tumbler. The heated air of the jar, when pressed against the skin, creates a negative pressure that pulls the skin upwards and also extends the capillaries beneath.Cupping improves the circulation of blood and lymph and also regulates and improves the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, its practitioners contend.

Dr Tamimi said the three hijama specialists at the Al Rahma centre treat non-Muslims, as well as toddlers and elderly people. He advised healthy people to have at least an annual session, but cautioned that pregnant women as well as people with anaemia and haemophilia should avoid the treatment. He also said that more research needs to focus on the medical benefits of hijama, noting that Egyptian scholars have written about the procedure's ability to decrease cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

"I advise all countries to look to this traditional way because it can save money, it can save lives and save operations," he said. "To me, hijama is really a treasure but it needs more research."

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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

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Fixtures
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

Company%20Profile
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Five hymns the crowds can join in

Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Other key dates
  • Finals draw: December 2
  • Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
'Will%20of%20the%20People'
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.


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