The child cried and writhed like a snake squeezing its prey. Only a few months old, he never imagined that his incipient pilgrimage through the earthly world would bring him both happiness and pain. He was now feeling the discomfort produced by abdominal cramps. His father poured salt in his navel, lit a rare tobacco and brought it within inches of it. The warmth on his skin and the smell that enveloped the atmosphere, within minutes, completely relieved his first discomfort in life.

Friends of #Hive and #HiveCollectors, this introduction was a true story with my son Andres in 2000. I applied one of the most widely used therapies in Natural and Traditional Chinese Medicine to him.

After graduating as a medical doctor, one of the lines I delved into, was Natural Medicine and Holistic Therapies, before focusing on my second specialty.

Over time, I stopped using my equipment and objects in that specific area. Now they are part of one of my collections, although sometimes, I count on them, to alleviate some health problem.

With this post, I hope to share with you my objects, and give you some extra information of interest.

Acupuncture needles

They are the most known and used. Acupuncture is a therapy that emerged more than 2000 years ago in China. Currently, it is used as an alternative method to Western Medicine.

They are available in different sizes, thickness, and with handles of different metals. They are almost always made of stainless steel. They are used to be inserted in the acupuncture points that are located in the meridians and close to them, in order to balance the energies, prevent, relieve and treat various health problems.

Depending on the position in which they are inserted, the speed and rotation that we give, and the time of permanence in the patient, they propitiate an effect or another.

Needles, when purchased new, come in blister packs, inside boxes that reflect their details. Once used, they should be separated and organized inside glass tubes.

If they are made of suitable materials, they should be sterilized for later use. There are texts that refer that a needle, well inserted in an acupuncture point, does not need to receive a cleaning process with hot steam, since the energy concentrated in the point will sterilize the metal.

_{Boxes of new needles. 200 needles per unit.}

Used needles

Seven Star Needle:

It is a tool used in people who are afraid of needle sticks. It is a non-invasive technique, in which we hammer the chosen areas, to achieve the desired effect.

The handle is made of flexible metal. In its head we can find 7 small needles or 12, called "Plum Blossom hammer".

These needles are known as "Teishin". Sometimes, when hammering the area, the skin reddens or even bleeds.

Fixed magnets

We apply these permanent magnets on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. This therapy is called Magnet Therapy, where we take advantage of the benefits of magnetic fields.

It is one of the therapies I have used the most, as it is painless for the patient, easy to use and practical. Very useful for lumbago, shoulder bursitis, inflammations, etc.

These are fixed magnets, they make clear their polarity on each side. Between both poles, lines of magnetic force are created that penetrate our body, achieving effects at the tissue, cellular and biochemical level. Each pole causes different effects. The power of magnets is expressed in Tesla or Gauss.

Acupuncture electrostimulation equipment

This transcutaneous electrostimulation equipment is very useful for many ailments and pathologies. It has the possibility of treating more than one patient, as it has 4 outputs for its cables.

It stimulates both the motor and nervous systems, with different low frequency waves regulated in intensity and duration, with action on acupuncture points or specific areas, in order to achieve therapeutic effects.

Its 4 outputs, at its other free end, can be coupled to the inserted acupuncture needles. Also, to small conductive plates or small magnets on the skin.

I obtained this equipment, as a gift of a direct donation from China, while I was working in the Department of Natural and Traditional Medicine of the Provincial Ministry of Public Health of Cuba.

I used it a lot with the magnets it comes with, and it keeps working well in spite of the years.

Cupping therapy

The use of cupping therapy, is of great benefit to treat diseases. They are made of different materials, from flexible rubber pears that are squeezed and released to achieve vacuum and adhesion to the skin, to objects with rigid walls, such as glass jars, plastics, porcelain, or these suction cups in my photos, which are original and made of bamboo. In these, the vacuum is achieved with fire, which by consuming the oxygen, creates a negative pressure when it cools down.

The cupping effect helps to open the meridians, which are the channels where the Qi energy circulates.

With its use, we dissipate the stagnation of body fluids, such as blood and lymph, harmonizing the energy flow.

Moxibustion

Once we have talked about other therapeutic techniques and electrostimulation equipment. We give extension to the initial intro of my post.

The therapeutic modality I used to treat my son was Moxibustion, a complementary therapy to Acupuncture. It consists in the application of heat on the acupuncture points.

Very useful in infantile colic. As the navel area is a place where energy is concentrated. By applying salt, the heat reaches the nearby points faster, regulating the energy in the lower abdomen and organs present there.

It helps the stagnant circulation of Qi energy or Xue, related to blood, to flow. With the heat it brings to the points, it helps to neutralize cold diseases, toning the body and relieving pain.

What is moxa made of?

Moxa is made from dried and powdered Artemisia vulgaris or Artemisia abrotanum. A plant of the genus Artemisia, found in temperate areas of Asia, Europe, North Africa and certain parts of North America.

When we ignite this moxa, the smell spreads impregnating the place, due to the volatility of its oils. It has also been used as an anthelmintic and to relieve certain types of pain.

Friends, to end this collection related to medical issues, I do it with a quote from a well-known Hispanic-Roman philosopher:

"The wish for healing has always been half of health"

Seneca

Thanks to those who read me. I wish you a nice Friday.

Own photos. Camera: Panasonic Lumix model DMC-ZS100

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Text by Andrés Brunet

@abrunet

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