Traditional Health Practices

TRADITIONAL LAOTIAN HEALING PRACTICES

"Coin Rubbing" is a traditional healing practice originating in southeast Asia(Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea and Southern China). It is used as a remedy to treat illness associated with cold weather. Southeast Asian people believe that rubbing certain parts of the body vigorously with a quarter sized coin and some ointment can alleviate or even eliminate the symptoms of illness such as nausea, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, syncope, and increased muscle tension in the back of the neck and shoulders. Without early treatment, these symptoms could become life threatening, thus requiring the need for emergency treatment at a medical facility,which in some parts of Asia are few and far between.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICE OF "COIN RUBBING"

The practice of "coin rubbing" is best initiated when the symptoms begin. An experienced Asian medical practitioner would then rub selected muscles of the upper chest, upper arm, neck or spinal area. An ointment such as tiger balm or Vicks is applied to the skin. The coin is then rubbed, producing welts or raided bumps on the skin.

TRANSCULTURAL IMPLICATIONS

If you are working at a medical facility and have a Southeast Asian patient who has welts on their body, please do not assume that the welts are related to physical abuse, either self-inflicted, or caused by another. These may indicate that the patient has sought traditional healing for symptoms which they have experience. Try to find someone who is fluent in the patient's language to assist you with a correct interpretation of the symptoms.

">References

E-mail Sharon Moran, RN, CS, MPH

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