The Hejama: The ancient practice of cupping on display at the Watani Family Camp
The ancient tradition of the Hejama was the major theme of this weekend’s Watani Family Camp, a culture filled desert getaway which is a major highlight of the fourteenth edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Camp guests were given the opportunity to learn about this centuries old tradition, which is still widely practiced in the Arab world and in China. Willing guests were given the opportunity to experience the Hejama for themselves.
The principle behind the Hejama is that the heated cups draw out the bad blood and toxins from the body, whilst allowing the good blood to circulate, encouraging healing and stimulating the body’s immune system. According to Hejama practitioners, men above the age of 20 are particularly susceptible to a build up of bad blood as the body stops producing red blood cells and the hejama is needed to draw the blood from the lower back.
In the desert, without access to modern day surgical equipment and medications, the hejama was standard medical practice for the people of the United Arab Emirates. It has proven to be an effective and cost effective treatment for a variety of ailments including lumbago, muscle aches, vomiting, insomnia and migraine.
“The hejama was an essential part of life in the UAE for hundreds of years,†stated Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director General of the Watani Programme.
“The aim of the Watani Family Camp is to give modern day families the opportunity to experience life in the desert as it was before the arrival of modern amenities,†he added.
The Hejama is one of several Emirati traditions celebrated at the Watani Family Camp through interactive seminars, reenactments or hands on expert tutorials. The Camp will take place at the University Campus Street in Dubai, in front of the Al Warqaa area until 14 March. The campsite is a traditional desert setting with modern amenities including a souq, Arabic coffee shop, traditional bakery, quad biking station and sand football fields and volleyball courts. It is open to visitors of all ages and nationalities and nominal entry fees make the camp accessible to families of all incomes. Those interested in finding out further information about the camp and reserving tents should contact Watani on 04 557 0111, 04 557 0222 or 04 557 0333 or email info@watani.ae.
About Watani Program
Watani Program was launched on December 2, 2005 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote the UAE’s national identity and practices of good citizenship within the UAE’s diverse and multicultural society. The program organizes and implements various educational, entertainment, and media activities that are directed to the youth, women and children. The activities and campaigns organized by Watani are carried out by a number of volunteers and public interest advocates in the UAE. For further information please visit www.watani.ae, or phone: 043295518 and fax: 04-043295519.
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