ROCHELLE JUNIOR

Sweida _ In Sweida, the profession of Arab bone-setting (Al-Tajbir Al-Arabi), Which has been linked for decades to folk expertise passed through families from generation to generation, is declining, until today it has become one of the professions threatened with extinction. With its practice mostly limited to men, the women who have chosen to enter this field appear to be rare cases, especially since the profession requires physical effort and accumulated experience in dealing with various injuries and fractures.

For Najah Jammoul, bone-setting is not merely a profession, but a family legacy linked to her late father, who was her first source of knowledge, while years of work became a space for developing her expertise and forming her own style of practice. As many folk professions decline before changing lifestyles and the development of modern treatment methods, Najah Jammoul holds on to what she inherited, hoping this legacy will pass to a new generation of her family before it disappears.

The Story Began in Childhood

Najah Jammoul's beginnings with the profession go back to her childhood years, when she was at the start of fifth grade. Her father used to take her with him and ask her to stay by his side and watch his method of work. She says her father constantly encouraged her, which helped her overcome shyness and fear, especially in dealing with patients of different ages.

With time, she began to gain confidence and experience, and became able to deal with cases arriving at the family home, whether they were children, young men, women, or the elderly. She recalls one case still stuck in her memory, when a child about her age arrived at her home, having been in an accident while riding a bicycle in the town of Anz, about ten kilometers from Salkhad.

The child was suffering from a severe injury, heavy bleeding, and multiple fractures, while the medical capabilities available at that time were limited, and there was no hospital in Salkhad, forcing patients to travel to Sweida for X‑rays.

Najah Jammoul says her mother encouraged her at the time to face the situation, so she decided to bear the responsibility, making that experience one of the stations that strengthened her self‑confidence and cemented her connection to the profession.

She did not receive academic education in the field of bone‑setting, and says that theoretical knowledge alone does not resemble practical application, and that every case was for her a new experience adding to her expertise.

With accumulating experiences, difficult cases became a challenge for her, and she points out that her success in dealing with them contributed to building people's trust in her—a trust that did not come easily but required years of work, results, and reputation.

A Profession at the Expense of Time and Family

Najah Jammoul's continuation in the profession was not an easy matter, especially after her marriage and move to her husband's home. Her work was no longer linked to specific hours; she began receiving patients at different times, in the late hours of the night or early morning.

She notes that she has dealt with cases from different areas, including Al‑Sahwa, Miyamas, and Arman, affirming that patients coming to her from outside her area is, for her, evidence of the trust she has gained during her years of work.

She adds that some people now travel long distances to reach her because, as she says, they are looking for someone whose expertise they trust.

"The Material Aspect Was Not the Primary Motive"

Najah Jammoul affirms that the material aspect was not the primary motive behind her continuation in the profession, saying her goal from the beginning was to help people and alleviate their pain, especially patients whose financial circumstances do not allow them to bear treatment costs.

She notes that she has helped many cases without significant compensation, considering that the true value of work lies in helping the patient and alleviating their suffering, and she views what she sometimes receives as a "symbol" in exchange for effort, not a material return equal to the responsibility she bears.

A Legacy She Wants to Remain

Najah Jammoul believes that the profession of Arab bone‑setting deserves to be passed from one generation to another, and fears that its discontinuation will lead to the loss of folk expertise accumulated over long years. She notes that her daughters have gained some experience, but they have not yet practiced the profession effectively. She hopes that one of her family members will carry this legacy in the future, considering that the transmission of knowledge between generations is the way to preserve it: "A person may live few or many years, but what matters to her is that the profession continues after their departure."

She affirms that bone‑setting is not an easy profession and that its nature requires great physical effort, which makes women's entry into it more challenging, as dealing with some cases requires muscle strength and endurance, and years of work have reflected on her body, joints, and muscles.

Alongside bone‑setting, Najah Jammoul has learned and practiced some methods of folk medicine, including cauterization (Al‑Kayy). She also says she has dealt with cases related to neck, back, and disc pain.

These practices, on the other hand, remain within the scope of folk medicine and do not substitute for medical diagnosis and follow‑up with doctors, especially in cases of fractures, dangerous injuries, and spinal problems that may require X‑rays or surgical intervention.

Between Folk Legacy and Modern Medicine

Najah Jammoul's experience places the profession of Arab bone‑setting before a larger question concerning the fate of folk professions that relied on inherited expertise, in light of the development of modern medicine and the expansion of health services.

For Najah Jammoul, preserving the profession does not mean abandoning modern medicine, but preserving folk knowledge that she believes has helped, in some cases, alleviate patients' suffering.