Why Hijāmah Removes “Bad Blood” and Why the Body Doesn’t Always Remove It on Its Own

One of the most common questions people ask about hijāmah is why blood is removed at all, especially when Allah ﷻ has already created the body with its own systems of purification and balance. If the liver filters the blood, the kidneys remove waste, and the body is constantly renewing itself, what role does hijāmah truly play?

To understand this, we must first understand the difference between healthy circulating blood and stagnant blood.

The term “bad blood” is a traditional expression used in hijāmah. It does not refer to diseased or impure blood in a medical sense. Rather, it describes blood that has become stagnant in the superficial tissues, particularly within small capillaries beneath the skin. This blood is no longer flowing efficiently back into the veins.

Over time, it can become low in oxygen, thicker in consistency, and mixed with inflammatory substances and metabolic waste. This is why the blood released during hijāmah often appears darker, heavier, and clots more quickly than blood drawn through a vein.

Allah ﷻ has designed the body with remarkable detoxification systems. The liver filters circulating blood, the kidneys remove waste through urine, the lymphatic system clears cellular debris, and the spleen breaks down old red blood cells. However, all of these systems depend on movement. They work best on blood that is actively circulating.

When blood becomes trapped in areas of chronic tension, old injury, inflammation, poor posture, or stress, it does not return easily to the central circulation. In these areas, blood settles into the tissues and becomes congested. Because it is no longer moving efficiently, it cannot be filtered or renewed in the same way as circulating blood.

The body also has no natural mechanism to open the skin and drain this localized congestion. Instead, it often adapts to the stagnation. Over time, this can contribute to pain, pressure, headaches, heaviness, restricted movement, or a feeling of discomfort that lingers without a clear cause.

Hijāmah does not replace the body’s natural detoxification. It assists it where assistance is needed. Through gentle suction and precise superficial scratches, hijāmah creates a temporary pathway for stagnant blood to exit the body. The suction draws congested blood from the small capillaries toward the surface, relieving pressure in the tissues and encouraging fresh blood flow to return to the area. This supports the body’s own healing response and helps restore balance where circulation has slowed.

The Prophet ﷺ highlighted the benefit of hijāmah clearly when he said:

“Indeed, the best of remedies you have are hijāmah.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari (5696) & Sahih Muslim (1577)

When practiced correctly, hijāmah is not about claiming that all blood removed is “toxic,” nor is it a substitute for medical care. It is a supportive, preventative Sunnah that works with the body’s natural systems, restoring movement, circulation, and ease where stagnation has settled.