Eating ice will reduce metabolism, scraping massage can eliminate lower limb edema ~ Pay attention to these 5 taboos

In the hot summer, many people like to eat ice cream to cool off. An outpatient survey found that the number of women with lower limb edema increased by about 20% compared to usual. Chinese medicine practitioners point out that scraping and acupoint massage can help improve blood circulation, reduce heat and relieve summer heat, and improve edema. However, it should be noted that not everyone is suitable for this and there are some taboos that must be known.

Chen Chaozong, honorary chairman of the Taipei Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association and a Chinese medicine practitioner, pointed out that ice cream is a "cold and damp thing" that can easily deplete the body's yang energy, reduce the body's metabolic function, and also affect water retention in the body. This is especially true for office workers who sit for long periods of time and move less, which can lead to worse circulation in the lower limbs. Water is retained in the legs, which can easily cause lower limb edema.

Eating ice can cause edema, ginger black tea can regulate your body constitution

At the same time, eating ice will make your body colder and increase moisture in the body. Although everyone's tolerance to ice products is different and your body may not have immediate problems, you still need to pay attention to the effects of eating ice for a long time. For example: menstrual pain, allergies, headaches, and obesity. It is recommended that people drink warm water first and then some ginger black tea to regulate their physical condition after eating ice.

In addition to ice cream, if you consume wet foods for a long time, such as watermelon, pear, white radish, aloe vera, and herbal tea, you should also be careful as it can easily cause edema and eczema. If you find that you are severely swollen, dizzy, lack of energy, sleepy, or even have worsening skin itching, you must be alert to prevent illness caused by moisture in the body.

Relieve edema and reduce heat: scraping, acupoint massage

Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Chaozong emphasized that hot and dry weather can easily lead to heat exhaustion. Gua Sha and acupoint massage can help to unblock the flow of Qi and blood, improve blood circulation, eliminate heat, reduce heat, and relieve edema.

1. Scraping DIY:

In traditional Chinese medicine, it is called "Sha". The appearance of Sha can stimulate the meridians on the surface of the body and disperse the stagnant Qi and blood in the body. Many people believe that the darker, purpler or redder the color of the scraping is, the better the effect. However, you should not use too much force when scraping. It is enough to scrape about 20 times until small red bleeding spots appear.

Instruments: In addition to the orthodox scraping board, you can also choose instruments that are convenient in life, such as porcelain spoons, coins, small round plates, etc. As long as you use the smooth, undamaged side for scraping and do not hurt the skin, you can complete this DIY treatment.

Operation: There is no special restriction on the location of scraping. It can be targeted at acupoints or a large area. For example, the Baihui point on the head, the Luegu point about 2 fingers' width at the top of the ear, the neck, the back of the neck, the shoulders, the upper back, etc. are the most popular areas for scraping.

【Gua Sha DIY/5 Tips】:

• 1. Women’s faces should not be scraped over a large area or with strong force.

• 2. The place for scraping should be chosen in a ventilated place with good air circulation.

• 3. After scraping, you need to wipe the oil and sweat on the skin with a clean towel and add warm water.

• 4. Take a rest after scraping, don’t start working immediately.

• 5. If the person being scraped feels very uncomfortable during the process, he or she should stop the process immediately, sit or lie down to rest, drink some warm water, and seek medical treatment if necessary if the discomfort is serious.

[5 taboos of scraping / People who are not suitable for scraping]

• 1. People who are too thin.

• 2. Those whose skin has lost its elasticity, or has broken skin or wounds.

• 3. People with hemophilia or bleeding tendency.

• 4. Heart disease patients.

• 5. Women who are menstruating or pregnant.

[Tips from Chinese medicine practitioners for DIY scraping]:

Usually, for healthy young people, the sha will disappear in 2 to 3 hours at the fastest, and at least 1 day at the latest. However, for the elderly or those with severe symptoms, it may take as long as 2 to 3 days for it to disappear. If there are still traces of sha after 1 to 2 weeks, this may be skin damage caused by scraping too hard and requires careful care.

In addition to scraping, Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Chaozong emphasized that acupoint massage DIY is also a good method. Superficial acupoint massage is used to reflect pain points to stimulate the internal organs and activate cells, thereby promoting the smooth flow of qi and blood. For those suffering from lower limb edema, meridian massage can be targeted at Sanyinjiao, Xuehai, Yanglingquan and Futu points.

2. DIY massage:

1. Sanyinjiao point: located 4 finger widths above the tip of the inner ankle.

2. Xuehai Point: You can cover the kneecap with the palm of your hand, open your palm naturally, and the Xuehai Point is just below the tip of your thumb.

3. Yanglingquan Point: Located on the outside of the knee, feel the protrusions of the tibia and fibula, and move downward in the depression between the two bones.

4. Futu Point: Located about 8 fingers wide above the knee.

According to the traditional Chinese medicine meridian yin and yang principle, Sanyinjiao and Xuehai points belong to the yin meridians and are on the inner side of the body, so the recommended massage direction is downward; while Yanglingquan and Futu points belong to the yang meridians and are on the outer side of the body, so the massage direction can be upward to enhance the effect. Recommendation: Press the acupoints until you feel soreness and swelling, and then combine with scraping massage. Massage each acupoint for 5 minutes, twice a day, to help reduce leg edema. However, the following groups should be treated with caution when massaging acupoints, and it is not recommended to do it yourself:

【DIY Massage／5 Tips】

• 1. Trim your nails.

• 2. Warm palms.

• 3. Massage is not suitable when you are too full or too hungry. The best time to massage is 30 to 60 minutes before or after a meal.

• 4. Muscle relaxation.

• 5. Drink warm water after massage.

[5 taboos of massage / not suitable for DIY massage]

• 1. Patients with acute infectious diseases or acute inflammation.

• 2. People with skin diseases, allergies or skin wounds.

• 3. Patients with acute rheumatoid arthritis.

• 4. People with severe lung disease, heart disease, liver disease, or kidney disease.

• 5. Pregnant women are prohibited from pressing the Hegu, Sanyinjiao and abdominal acupoints.

[Tips from Chinese medicine practitioners for DIY scraping]:

To improve lower limb edema, you can also cooperate with foot muscle relaxation technique. Sit down and do dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle up and down, stop for 5 to 10 seconds each time and then relax. Continue for 5 minutes. Afterwards, you can massage the Weizhong point just behind the knee, press until you feel soreness and swelling, which can strengthen the circulation of the lower limbs and effectively relieve edema.