Sick? Find yourself a needle and thread.

Like many Asians, I have major digestive issues probably stemming from my love of all things extra spicy and extra salty. Normally, my M.O. is to take two Tums with an Alka-seltzer chaser because there is no way I would give up the spice.

At a young age, I also learned how to poke, or ddah, my finger to relieve major indigestion. I am not sure if there is any medical research or proof as to the effectiveness of this technique, but it is a very old school, Korean thing to do. Apparently it is a pressure point that will relieve the build up of gas in your stomach. To start, have someone pound your back with the flat of their palm, in a downward motion. Then repeat in an upwards motion from the shoulder blade up towards the shoulder. By doing this, you are getting the blood moving. Then run your hands down one arm to send the blood down to your hand. Wait, it gets even more weird. Thus comes the tricky part. You have to wrap your thumb with thread so that you capture all the blood at your thumb tip. Then you skillfully and quickly jab the area right below your nail bed with a needle (I prefer a sewing needle, with the string attached to it). Hey, I didn’t say this wouldn’t be painful. The prick will slowly start to bleed and if the blood is a deep red, it is usually an indication of severe indigestion. Then repeat on the opposite arm/hand. The more blood, the better.

I’ve explained this to my non-Asian friends before and all I get are crazed, incredulous looks. But I swear it works! Five minutes after I poke my thumb, my indigestion subsides. Has anyone else heard of this? What other seemingly crazy but effective techniques to people use to cure ailments?

-Linda

Comments

[christina]

I am Chinese American and grew up living with my grandparents (I thought *every* kid lived with their grandparents, imagine my surprise when I found out this was not the case with most of my non-Asian friends). Anyway, whenever my grandmother felt uncomfortable -too much "heat", she would rub vicks all over her neck and ask someone to rub it on her back and then my aunt would take a Chinese soup spoon and scrape her neck and back until the blood vessels just underneath the surface of the skin would break resulting in what essentially were humongous hickies all over her body. The larger and the more dark purple the better. It meant that she was releasing "heat" and that her body would then be balanced again and feel better. She swore by it but I never tried it.

[Angie in Texas]

i remember as a small child being terrified of the needle! but as an adult, i am the first one to bring out a sewing needle with thread!

*mom had an additional step: after the needle, more pounding . . . and then a cup of warm/hot water with about 1/2 cup of dissolved salt and then . . . throw up! :-(

i did this trick with a south african friend in college and she was amazed when it worked. 10 years later, super nanny is a believer now, too.

[Rachel aka Weigook Saram]

Ouch! Maybe it's so painful you just forget about the indigestion? Just kidding. :) I'll have to try this.

[Em]

My dad is an acupuncturist and growing up we never had health insurance. Our ailments were always cured up with some needles, herbs or antibiotics. My dad would perform several different kinds of blood-letting tricks for all kinds of ailments. When my 2 year old nephew had a dangerouly high fever and wouldn't stop crying (we were about to rush him to the ER), my dad massaged his legs and pricked the bottoms of his big toes. Literally within seconds, the fever subsided and my nephew stopped crying. It was amazing.

[Linda B]

Angie, I have not tried the throw up technique afterwards, but sounds .. interesting ;)

[Mama Nabi]

I've never had it done to me (I hear that the relief is so instantaneous that you kinda get addicted to it... at least that was the reason I was told why I shouldn't learn how) - but I've witnessed it. I know, I totally get the 'what this crazy Korean lady talking about' look whenever I tell people about it. It really is amazing!

[kim]

I second what Rachel said! But now I'm so tempted to see if this works... maybe I'll see if I can "practice" on the hubby. :)

[honglien123]

I would try this on the hubby but he's afraid of needles. :sigh: I never get to have any fun. I think there's a lot more to folk medicine than meets the eye.

Also, Christina, my parents and grandparents do the whole ointment and scraping thing too! Although we use a coin. Imagine my surprise when one day someone bought (from Hong Kong) a scraper in the shape of a coin with a wooden handle attached, made specifically for that home remedy.

[twizzle]

When I went to Korea as a teenager, I got violently ill from having eaten an entire dried cuttlefish. Rather than taking me to a doctor or giving me some OTC drug, my relatives made me drink a broth of stinky boiled herbs, which cured me immediately.

The thumb and needle trick sounds a bit scary to me, though I've had lots of acupuncture.