Ancient Asian Arcanum

A little how-to with voice.

Whenever it is my misfortune to fall ill, I suffer more not from the plaguing of microscopic nemeses but from ‘medicine.’ Gua sha, is what some may call traditional Asian medicine, used to release impurities from the body. My mom calls it scratching (my rough translation) and uses it to relieve pains and headache. On the most part it works: though I speculate that it works only due to it causing a different pain, a more pleasant pain.            

The process itself is rather interesting; allow me to explain it to you. First obtain a vial/flask/pithos (warning pithoi are for Ancient Greeks only) of medicated oil. My family prefers the Eagle Brand medicated oil. Second, obtain a coin of metallic make, preferably a loonie or a quarter, and expose the skin of the back or shoulder and clavicle area. Apply, upon the exposed area a thin layer of your choice oil. Upon doing so take your coin and apply pressure with it, the coin, and rub only in one direction (ex. �'�'�', �"�"�" , �-�-�-…etc.) Cease when a light bruising pattern appears, *if blood is drawn…* Wipe off excess oil and repeat a few inches below if desired or switch to one of the other designated areas. Once done appearance should mirror that of one who has received ‘forty lashes save one’ but no blood/open wounds/ infections. Vict…Patient should rest after treatment.   

Author's Note

I submitted it UBC New Shoots, but never got feed back. I'm just curious as to what other people -people who do not know me- think.