Specific Practices

There are a number of specific practices common in different Asian groups. It is important for providers to be aware of these practices.

Cupping, pinching, and coining. Some Asian groups may cup, pinch, coin, or rub an ill person's skin to treat a range of ailments. In cupping, a cup is heated and then placed on the skin, usually on the forehead or abdomen. As it cools, the cup contracts, drawing the skin and what is believed to be the evil energy or "air" into the cup. This causes a skin alteration or scar. Pinching is done by pinching the skin between the thumb and index finger to the point of producing a contusion at the base of the nose, between the eyes, or on the chest, neck, or back. Coining is the rubbing of the skin with the side of a coin, causing striations or ecchymoses. It is important that these techniques not automatically be labeled as abuse without further culturally sensitive investigation.

Acupuncture. Almost all Asian subgroups rely on acupuncture for the treatment of illnesses. Rooted in traditional Chinese concepts of health, acupuncture is a sophisticated and codified form of medicine that involves the insertion of fine needles, often no thicker than a human hair, into strategic points on the body. These specific sites are believed to be meridians for energy sources that help maintain homeostasis (Kaiser Permanente 1999). All acupuncture points have local effects and are useful for treating pain or dysfunction in a specific area. Other acupuncture points have general effects on the body as a whole or treat specific patterns of disease. (How alternative medicine can help you: Acupuncture).

< prev | next >