Aeman Abo Shbeka, aged 41 (L), a resident of Rafah refugee camp in Gaza receives a Hijama operation, after suffering from severe headaches. Hijama is the name in Arab traditional medicine for wet cupping, where blood is drawn by vacuum from a small skin incision for therapeutic purposes. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

Using the old methods, Dr. Anuor Shekh El-eid, burns a small piece of paper or cotton inside the vessel, so that the mouth of the cup clings to the skin. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

Hijama, more commonly known as Bloodletting, is used to treat many serious diseases, such as Rheumatism, Cancer, infertility, Blood Pressure, Eczema, Hemophilia, Chronic Back Pain, Chronic U.T.I., Diabetic Mellitus. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

The Hijama operation, a sucking of the decayed blood from the human body, is generally performed by Muslims as it is a form of medicine specifically mentioned and encouraged by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

It is believed that six optimal points on the body are all that is required to clean the entire cardiovascular system. The back of the head, two shoulders corresponding to the acupuncture heart position, the tail or small of the back, and the two inner ankles. Dr. Anuor Shekh El-eid is pictured here creating small incisions on the patients body before beginning the procedure. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

The cup is left to cling onto the skin for a few minutes, then it is lifted off and very small incisions are made in the skin where the blood is extracted. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

Hijama is normally performed on the head, but can be performed anywhere on the body, often at the site of an ache or pain in order to ease or alleviate it. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

Doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid shows the decayed blood of Aeman Abo Shbeka. Doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid is one of several muslim doctors in the area who performs Hijama. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

Although the horns were traditionally used in the practice of Hijama, today cups can be made from metal, glass or plastic. Machines are also commonly used during the procedure to attach the cups to the patients body. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

The cups continue to be placed on the skin until is it filled with the decayed blood. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

The muslim palestinian doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid using the Hujama or the Bloodletting operation, as he treats the sick man Aeman Abo Shbeka, aged 41,(not see).in Rafah refugee camp southern Gaza on July 26, 2009. Doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid one of several muslim doctors who perform the Hujama operation to treat many serious diseases, such as Rheumatism, Cancer, infertility, Blood Pressure, Eczema, Hemophilia, Chronic Back Pain, Chronic U.T.I., Diabetic Mellitus. The Hujama operation is a suck of the decayed blood from the human body.(UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

Aeman Abo Shbeka, aged 41, who suffers from headaches having the Hujama or Bloodletting operation performed by the muslim palestinian doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid in Rafah refugee camp southern Gaza on July 26, 2009. Doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid one of several muslim doctors who perform the Hujama operation to treat many serious diseases, such as Rheumatism, Cancer, infertility, Blood Pressure, Eczema, Hemophilia, Chronic Back Pain, Chronic U.T.I., Diabetic Mellitus. The Hujama operation is a suck of the decayed blood from the human body.(UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo

The muslim palestinian doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid shows the decayed blood using the Hujama or the Bloodletting operation, as he treats the sick man Aeman Abo Shbeka, aged 41.in Rafah refugee camp southern Gaza on July 26, 2009. Doctor Anuor Shekh El-eid one of several muslim doctors who perform the Hujama operation to treat many serious diseases, such as Rheumatism, Cancer, infertility, Blood Pressure, Eczema, Hemophilia, Chronic Back Pain, Chronic U.T.I., Diabetic Mellitus. The Hujama operation is a suck of the decayed blood from the human body.(UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad) | License Photo