After catching a cold from being exposed to cold air, the elderly at home often use scraping therapy, which is very effective. Can scraping therapy remove the red dots on the back?
Can scraping therapy remove the red dots on the back?
No, it cannot.
The red dots on the back may be caused by several reasons: 1. Poor personal hygiene, such as not thoroughly cleaning the back after bathing, infrequent changing of clothes and sheets, which leads to bacterial growth and infection on the back, resulting in inflammation and acne on the back; 2. Long-term consumption of high-fat and spicy foods can also cause excessive sebum secretion, clogging the hair follicles and causing folliculitis; 3. Irregular sleep patterns and staying up late can lead to hormonal imbalance, causing excessive sebum secretion, clogged pores, and the occurrence of acne on the back; 4. Some people are prone to feeling heat and fire, accompanied by acne on the back.
Scraping therapy uses a specific scraping board to repeatedly scrape and rub specific acupoints on the body, causing the local skin to appear red papules or dark red bleeding points, which are the changes of "sha" (redness) and have the effects of promoting blood circulation and detoxification. However, scraping therapy cannot clean clogged pores or eliminate folliculitis, so it cannot remove the red dots on the back.
Moreover, since scraping therapy involves applying medicated oils and rubbing the skin vigorously, if the red dots on the back are severely swollen or infected, scraping therapy may worsen the symptoms.
It is recommended to maintain good skin hygiene, eat a lighter diet, and drink herbal teas that have heat-clearing and fire-reducing effects, such as chrysanthemum tea and honeysuckle tea. If the red dots on the back are severe, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist.
What causes the red dots on the back after scraping therapy?
The red dots on the back after scraping therapy are a phenomenon called "sha".
If there is wind-cold, summer heat, heat, or blood stasis in the body, scraping therapy can bring out "sha". This is because these conditions can cause local meridians to be blocked, resulting in blood stasis, and the "sha" that is scraped out is the manifestation of blood stasis in these areas.
The amount of "sha" that appears varies depending on various factors. Different causes of the condition result in different amounts of "sha". The appearance of red dots after scraping indicates that toxins have accumulated on the surface of the body, which is a relatively mild symptom. Patients do not need to worry, as the red dots will fade on their own and will not have any adverse effects on the body.
The benefits of back scraping for women
1. Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis
Scraping therapy can regulate the contraction and relaxation of muscles, adjust the pressure between tissues, and promote blood circulation around the scraped area. This increases tissue flow, thereby promoting "blood circulation and removal of blood stasis" and "dispelling stasis and generating new blood".
2. Prevents diseases and maintains health
Back scraping therapy has a good therapeutic effect on painful diseases, colds and fevers, sub-health conditions, preventive health care, and mild dysfunction of organs.
3. Relaxes muscles and unblocks meridians
Back scraping therapy relieves pain and tension in affected areas. If tense muscles are relaxed, the symptoms of pain and compression can be significantly reduced or eliminated, which is also beneficial for the repair of affected areas.
4. Eliminates toxins
The scraping process (using scraping to stimulate the skin) can cause local tissues to become highly congested, stimulate blood vessels and nerves to dilate, accelerate blood flow and lymphatic fluid, enhance phagocytosis and transportation, and accelerate the elimination of waste and toxins from the body, thereby purifying the blood and increasing overall resistance, relieving the condition, and promoting recovery.
5. Regulates yin and yang
By scraping the corresponding acupoints on the skin, the skin will show blue or purple congestion marks, which opens up and unblocks the pores, allowing various pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, phlegm, dampness, blood stasis, heat, and pus toxins that are stagnant in the meridians, tissues, and organs to be expelled through the skin, thereby unblocking the meridians.
How to perform back scraping
1. Choose the right tool
In general, any tool with a blunt and smooth edge can be used, such as a comb, porcelain spoon, or scraping board (the material should also be considered). However, attention should be paid to the thickness and size. Too thick will not produce "sha," while too thin may easily cause skin damage. The size should generally be smaller than an adult's palm to facilitate gripping and exerting force. In addition to the scraping board, a medicated oil or lubricant should be used to avoid skin damage. Lubricants can be specialized scraping oils, or products like green oil, mentholated oil, baby oil, scraping ointments containing ingredients such as safflower, chuanxiong, and angelica, or simply using safflower oil, sesame oil, or even water.
2. Scraping areas and sequence
The scraping techniques and sequence may vary among practitioners. Generally, only the corresponding areas that feel uncomfortable are scraped. For example, if someone is suffering from heat stroke or discomfort in the gastrointestinal or abdominal area, the corresponding areas should be scraped. However, most people scrape the back and limbs, especially women rarely scrape the front chest; other areas such as the head, neck, abdomen, and waist can also be scraped. Typically, the scraping direction is from top to bottom and from inside to outside, in a single direction without repeating. When scraping the back along the Du Meridian (also known as the Governing Vessel or central nervous system), it should start from the most prominent occipital bone at the back of the head and go down to the Dazhui acupoint. For the Gallbladder Meridian and Bladder Meridian on the back, it should be scraped from the high bone behind both ears to the shoulders. The Kidney Meridian is mainly scraped on the lower back, the Heart and Lung function is mainly scraped on the upper back, and the Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen, and Stomach are mainly scraped on the lower back.
3. Scraping angle
Hold the scraping board in your hand, with the thick edge pressed against the palm and the thin edge at a 45-degree angle to the skin. Scrape gently in one direction, without pushing or cutting the skin. If deep stimulation is required, the scraping board can be pressed vertically against the skin at a 90-degree angle, but the pressure should not be applied for too long.
4. Scraping intensity
The intensity of scraping is similar to the dosage in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. It is neither too light nor too heavy. Too light will have no effect, while too heavy can cause injury to muscle tissue. Generally, the force should be even and moderate, gradually increasing from light to heavy, within the tolerance of the recipient. Each stroke should cover a distance of about five to ten centimeters, and the scraping should stop when the color no longer changes.
Note that the intensity of scraping does not mean the heavier, the better, nor does it mean that the more pain, the more effective. The intensity of scraping also has a tonic or purgative effect: generally, light force and slow speed are considered "tonic," while strong force and fast speed are considered "purgative." Moderate force and speed, or light force and fast speed, or strong force and slow speed are considered "balanced tonification and purgation."
5. Scraping frequency
The frequency of scraping therapy varies depending on individual needs and constitution. Each session should last about 20 to 30 minutes. For the first time, the duration should not be too long, and the technique should not be too intense. The second session should be scheduled one to two weeks apart.
Who should avoid scraping therapy
1. Scraping therapy should be avoided in individuals with abscesses, ulcers, sores, rashes, or unexplained lumps on the surface of the body, as it may cause infection and spread. Acute pain or trauma, such as pain caused by sprains or fractures, should also avoid scraping therapy, as it may exacerbate bleeding at the injury site.
2. Individuals with severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction, or generalized edema should not undergo scraping therapy. Scraping therapy can cause congestion of the skin and increase the burden on the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, worsening the condition.
3. Patients with skin ulcers and other skin diseases should not undergo scraping therapy. Scraping therapy involves scraping the surface of the skin, and if there are ulcers, it can easily cause rupture and infection, worsening the condition.
4. Patients with hemophilia or leukemia should be cautious about scraping therapy, as scraping can cause local congestion and may affect platelet-deficient individuals. However, if scraping therapy is needed for areas such as external injuries (e.g., bruised arms, broken back, etc.), precautions should be taken.
5. Pregnant women should avoid scraping therapy, especially on the abdomen, waist, and sacrum, as it may cause miscarriage.
6. Patients with varicose veins in the lower limbs should be cautious about scraping therapy. If scraping is necessary, it should be done gently, with scraping direction from bottom to top. The scraping may cause local pain, and failure to avoid wind and cold after scraping may lead to colds and other illnesses.
What should be done after back scraping therapy
1. Avoid drafts and keep warm after back scraping therapy
After back scraping therapy, avoid drafts and keep warm. When the room temperature is low, try to minimize the exposed areas. In hot summer weather, avoid scraping therapy near an electric fan or in places with drafts. During scraping therapy, the skin pores open and release sweat, and if exposed to wind and cold at this time, the pathogenic factors may directly invade through the open pores, affecting the effectiveness of scraping therapy and possibly causing new diseases.
2. Drink a cup of hot water after back scraping therapy
Scraping therapy promotes the opening of sweat pores and the expulsion of pathogenic factors. It also consumes a certain amount of body fluid. After back scraping therapy, drinking a cup of hot water replenishes the consumed body fluid, promotes metabolism, and accelerates the elimination of metabolic waste.
3. Timing for bathing after back scraping therapy
After back scraping therapy, it is necessary to wait for the skin pores to close and return to their original state before taking a bath, which is usually about three hours. However, during bathing, scraping therapy can be performed when the water has not completely dried on the skin. Bathing opens the pores slightly, making scraping therapy more effective, but attention should be paid to keeping warm.
4. Scraping methods for different types of skin diseases
For patients with skin diseases, scraping can be performed directly on dry, non-inflammatory, exudative, or ulcerated skin lesions (e.g., neurodermatitis, vitiligo, psoriasis, etc.). Skin nodules without pain in benign areas can also be scraped directly. However, for inflammatory lesions with purulent inflammation, exudation, and ulceration, as well as acute inflammation with redness, swelling, heat, and pain (e.g., eczema, herpes, furuncle, carbuncle, acne, etc.), scraping should not be directly performed on the lesion or inflamed area, but around the lesion or inflammatory area.
