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1923

Abstract

rcise</a>, and therapeutic massage.This approach uses a simple smooth-edged tool made from various materials such as stone, jade, horn, etc., to scrape the lubricated skin. Visible reddening or even bruising-like spots may occur as a result.According to TCM, scraping promotes the body’s natural circulation and alleviates various ailments by helping release <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-my-stunning-and-accidental-encounter-with-qi-made-me-a-complete-believer-in-the-existence-of-7fbf3dee1af0">stagnant Qi</a> and blood, detoxify, and stimulate the immune system. 痧 is a natural reaction of the body.The color of the 痧 can vary from light red to dark purple, depending on the condition being treated and the individual’s <a href="https://readmedium.com/unveiling-harmony-within-exploring-body-constitution-for-balance-and-health-e9b49e04f761">body constitution</a>. Usually, darker-colored 痧 indicate a higher level of stagnation or accumulation of toxins.Gua Sha has been a popular preventative and healing technique, and it is widely practiced in some Asia countries. Effective scraping should be a comfortable experience for the individual.Knowing your body and having some <a href="https://readmedium.com/opposites-are-complementary-ancient-tcm-wisdom-for-modern-health-and-well-being-1fdd072e528d">basic knowledge of TCM</a> can help ensure scraping properly and safely to achieve the desired benefit. Otherwise, consult a qualified health professional to determine if scraping is appropriate for you, especially if there is a pre-existing health condition or concern.The scraping treatment may seem simple and primitive. But don’t be fooled. The once “best kept” secret of TCM practice is getting more buzz in the modern era to <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-gua-sha-might-be-good-for-you/"

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help symptoms such as pain, relieve muscle tension and reduce stress</a>. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8483130/">Modern research</a> hypothesized that the skin, nervous, and immune systems interact together to generate physiological responses and result in therapeutic benefits.<h2 id="c67a">The 刮痧 movie in Mandarin/English</h2>My minor “incident” at the health clinics reminded me of the movie “The Gua Sha Treatment”. It was released in 2001 and can be found on YouTube.In the movie, the grandpa coming from China gave a 刮痧 treatment to his grandson for a cold and stomach ache. But the bruised-like marks left on his back, severely exaggerated for movie effect in my view, were accidentally spotted by outsiders and mistaken for child abuse.This leads to a cascade of turmoil events including the kid being taken away by the child protection agency, a lawsuit, and husband-wife separation. Until the family’s lawyer experiences Gua Sha himself, he is convinced it is not something harmful, and there is a huge misunderstanding…More than 20 years later, cultural misunderstandings like this are less common. You may even have seen people rub Gua Sha stone on their faces on social media. Guess it’s still a good idea though to wait for the 痧 to disappear completely before visiting a doctor to avoid any potential drama or misinterpretation.This post is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered health advice. Please consult health professionals for medical questions and advice.Thank you for reading. I write about culture, work-life learning, and the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine for better living. <a href="https://medium.com/@Amy_Liu/subscribe">Click here</a> if you would like to be notified when I publish.</article></body>

Once I Was Mistaken for Physical Abuse: A Blessing in Disguise?!

A lesson of home remedy and a related movie

“Is everything all right at home?” The physician conducting my annual physical asked cautiously.

I immediately realized what happened: she must have mistaken the reddish spots along my shoulder and arms as evidence of physical abuse.

This occurred some time ago at our onsite health clinics.

A couple of days before the visit, I sensed tightness in some areas of my shoulder and arms. So I tried 刮痧 (Guā Shā) also known as scraping at home. Not surprisingly, 痧, the reddish spots showed up after scraping the targeted area. I wasn’t thinking about the upcoming annual physical appointment. It turned out the 痧 didn’t completely fade when the day came.

刮痧: an ancient practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

刮痧 is rooted in ancient TCM with over 2000 thousand years of history. It is one of the key TCM treatment methods, along with cupping, acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, food therapy, body-mind exercise, and therapeutic massage.

This approach uses a simple smooth-edged tool made from various materials such as stone, jade, horn, etc., to scrape the lubricated skin. Visible reddening or even bruising-like spots may occur as a result.

According to TCM, scraping promotes the body’s natural circulation and alleviates various ailments by helping release stagnant Qi and blood, detoxify, and stimulate the immune system. 痧 is a natural reaction of the body.

The color of the 痧 can vary from light red to dark purple, depending on the condition being treated and the individual’s body constitution. Usually, darker-colored 痧 indicate a higher level of stagnation or accumulation of toxins.

Gua Sha has been a popular preventative and healing technique, and it is widely practiced in some Asia countries. Effective scraping should be a comfortable experience for the individual.

Knowing your body and having some basic knowledge of TCM can help ensure scraping properly and safely to achieve the desired benefit. Otherwise, consult a qualified health professional to determine if scraping is appropriate for you, especially if there is a pre-existing health condition or concern.

The scraping treatment may seem simple and primitive. But don’t be fooled. The once “best kept” secret of TCM practice is getting more buzz in the modern era to help symptoms such as pain, relieve muscle tension and reduce stress. Modern research hypothesized that the skin, nervous, and immune systems interact together to generate physiological responses and result in therapeutic benefits.

The 刮痧 movie in Mandarin/English

My minor “incident” at the health clinics reminded me of the movie “The Gua Sha Treatment”. It was released in 2001 and can be found on YouTube.

In the movie, the grandpa coming from China gave a 刮痧 treatment to his grandson for a cold and stomach ache. But the bruised-like marks left on his back, severely exaggerated for movie effect in my view, were accidentally spotted by outsiders and mistaken for child abuse.

This leads to a cascade of turmoil events including the kid being taken away by the child protection agency, a lawsuit, and husband-wife separation. Until the family’s lawyer experiences Gua Sha himself, he is convinced it is not something harmful, and there is a huge misunderstanding…

More than 20 years later, cultural misunderstandings like this are less common. You may even have seen people rub Gua Sha stone on their faces on social media. Guess it’s still a good idea though to wait for the 痧 to disappear completely before visiting a doctor to avoid any potential drama or misinterpretation.

This post is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered health advice. Please consult health professionals for medical questions and advice.

Thank you for reading. I write about culture, work-life learning, and the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine for better living. Click here if you would like to be notified when I publish.