How to Prepare for a Coining Treatment
Coining, or cao gio, is a common Southeast Asian alternative medicine treatment used to provide relief from minor ailments such as a cold, flu, headache, muscle ache or fever. Cao gio literally translates to "catch the wind." In Eastern medicine, too much wind in the blood is believed to cause many illnesses. Coining brings the blood to the surface so the wind can be released. The actual coining treatment involves scraping the skin with a coin to create a red mark, a portal for the wind to get out. Before beginning a coining treatment there are some necessary preparations.
Things You'll Need:
Mentholated ointment or oil
A smooth coin or gua sha tool
1
Purchase some mentholated ointment or oil. Peppermint oil, wintergreen oil, eucalyptus oil, Tiger Balm or any other warming ointment with camphor are all appropriate for the job. These can be purchased from most natural foods stores.
2
Choose a good coin to use for the procedure. In the U.S., the quarter is the coin of choice because of its size. Pick a quarter that has been smoothed down by wear over the years rather than a freshly minted quarter.
3
Talk to the patient about what you are going to do before you do it. It's important to prepare the patient for the coining procedure so that the patient isn't caught off guard. Inform the patient that there may be pain during the procedure and that there will be marks on the skin for 2 to 4 days following the treatment.
4
Prepare the patient by having him undress from the waist up. Coining is typically performed on the back, chest, shoulders and neck depending on the ailment.
5
Massage the skin with the mentholated oil or ointment to prepare it for the treatment. The massage irritates the skin and warms it so the coining treatment can be more effective in bringing blood to the surface. It also relaxes the patient so that the treatment is less uncomfortable.
Tips & Warnings
Mentholated topical expectorant available in any drugstore can also be used for the massage.
Coining is very similar to "gua sha," a Chinese alternative medicine. Instead of using a coin, gua sha often uses rounded stones or tools like the ones available from Calm Spirit, Helio Medical Supplies or GoAcupuncture.com (see Resources below).
Sterilize the coin in boiling water, and allow it to cool before the procedure. Coining isn't supposed to break the skin, but if it accidentally does, using a sterile quarter will reduce the risk of infection.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2228239_prepare-coining-treatment.html
Coining, or cao gio, is a common Southeast Asian alternative medicine treatment used to provide relief from minor ailments such as a cold, flu, headache, muscle ache or fever. Cao gio literally translates to "catch the wind." In Eastern medicine, too much wind in the blood is believed to cause many illnesses. Coining brings the blood to the surface so the wind can be released. The actual coining treatment involves scraping the skin with a coin to create a red mark, a portal for the wind to get out. Before beginning a coining treatment there are some necessary preparations.
Things You'll Need:
Mentholated ointment or oil
A smooth coin or gua sha tool
1
Purchase some mentholated ointment or oil. Peppermint oil, wintergreen oil, eucalyptus oil, Tiger Balm or any other warming ointment with camphor are all appropriate for the job. These can be purchased from most natural foods stores.
2
Choose a good coin to use for the procedure. In the U.S., the quarter is the coin of choice because of its size. Pick a quarter that has been smoothed down by wear over the years rather than a freshly minted quarter.
3
Talk to the patient about what you are going to do before you do it. It's important to prepare the patient for the coining procedure so that the patient isn't caught off guard. Inform the patient that there may be pain during the procedure and that there will be marks on the skin for 2 to 4 days following the treatment.
4
Prepare the patient by having him undress from the waist up. Coining is typically performed on the back, chest, shoulders and neck depending on the ailment.
5
Massage the skin with the mentholated oil or ointment to prepare it for the treatment. The massage irritates the skin and warms it so the coining treatment can be more effective in bringing blood to the surface. It also relaxes the patient so that the treatment is less uncomfortable.
Tips & Warnings
Mentholated topical expectorant available in any drugstore can also be used for the massage.
Coining is very similar to "gua sha," a Chinese alternative medicine. Instead of using a coin, gua sha often uses rounded stones or tools like the ones available from Calm Spirit, Helio Medical Supplies or GoAcupuncture.com (see Resources below).
Sterilize the coin in boiling water, and allow it to cool before the procedure. Coining isn't supposed to break the skin, but if it accidentally does, using a sterile quarter will reduce the risk of infection.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2228239_prepare-coining-treatment.html
