The internal arts. It's a huge area and this page will focus on the study of Lotions & Potions. The internal arts include the literary arts and the 10,000 other endeavors a warrior can use to round out her persona and experience. We found master swordsman Musashi studied calligraphy and Professor Pat Browne studied flower arranging. High Sierra Jujitsu Sensei Frank Ferris dabbles in Suiseki, or arranging stone patterns in gardening and art. Like Yin/Yang, the internal and external can be embedded in one another.
In traditional Chinese Medicine, we use the term "sinew damage" (Jim Shang) as a way to describe injury to the soft tissue. Treatments combine massage, acupuncture, external applications of herbs, internal ingestion of herbs, and, of course, exercise. Topical treatments of this nature are not used for bone fractures, dislocations, lacerations, or other internal injuries. For general purposes, there are three stages of injury. The first stage is the period during which swelling, pain, and redness are prominent. This usually lasts four to seven days. The second stage is that period during which swelling and pain still exist, but in a less severe form. This might last three weeks. The third stage begins three weeks to a month after the initial trauma, when swelling and redness have dissapeared. Stiffness and aching may be the only lasting symptoms.
Successful treatment requires an understanding of pathology. After the initial trauma (first stage), the blood vessels dilate and blood flow to the injured region increases. This is inflammation (swelling, pain and redness). At this paint we need to move blood, dissipate swelling, and relieve pain. Acupuncture and the application of liniments form the basis of treatment. Soaks, steams and compresses are avoided, because they aggravate inflammation by dilating blood vessels and encouraging hyperemia (an abnormally large amount of blood in any part of the body).
After a few days the circulatory system begins to clear away the damaged tissue, and swelling and pain decrease (second stage). The local area begins to turn deeper red or purple, indicating a stasis (stagnation in the flow of any of the fluids of the body) of blood and qi. The correct treatment is to soothe the sinews and quicken the blood. Massage, liniments (above and below the location), acupuncture, and soft plasters help at this time.
When acute pain and swelling have subsided and what remains is the nagging pain of an enduring injury, the thing to do is to move the qi, disperse cold and damp, and dissipate stasis to relax the sinews. Acupuncture and moxabustion are useful in treatment of this stage of damage, as are massage, liniments and salves, steams, soaks, hot compresses, and the application of hard plasters. Moxabustion is the process whereby moxa - a dried herb, usually mugwort - is burned, either directly on or above the skin, over a specific acupuncture points.
Satsazai
Ingredients: Water, Alcohol, Gliding and Essential Oils.
Emulsion (definition): a mixture of mutually independent liquids.
General Intention: Use for muscle ache, qi problems, and as a massage liniment. Satsazai keeps muscles loose and has a warming effect. Satsazai stimulates and quickens the Wei Qi level affecting the surface of the skin. The many different ingredients in Satsuzai are associated with different healing modalities and each item may add other value to the overall treatment.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, broken skin, signs of heat (redness, bruising or swelling); don't use on or near mucous membranes.
Tiger Balm
General Indication: Use for muscle soreness, more specific than Satuzai.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, broken skin, signs of heat (redness, bruising or swelling); don't use on or near mucous membranes.
Po Sum On
General Intention: Use for sharp, fixed & specific muscle pain, rheumatic join pain. Sharp, quick pain is a blood disturbance; This is a blood qi liniment and works at the wei qi level.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, broken skin, signs of heat (redness, bruising or swelling); don't use on or near mucous membranes.
Dit Da Jiao
General Intention: Used for bruise and mild inflammation, relieves pain. Dissolves blood stasis, promotes circulation of qi and blood, relieves stagnation. Also toughens ligaments, bone and skin, increases qi, blood, and Jing. Both cool and warm formulas can be used on areas with swelling and redness. Some are designed for internal use - you must check the ingredients. Aconite is very hot, strychnine is poisonous - for external use only. Should be applied for 10-20 minutes with very light surface friction.
Contraindications: Do not use on open wounds, even if scabbed over.
Zheng Gu Shui
General Intention: Use for joint pain, tendons and ligaments, old or chronic injuries. This is a bone (attaching to bone) preparation: fractures, sprains, dislocations. Promotes blood circulation, reduces swelling, and relieves pain. If there is inflammation, apply Dit Da Jiao first and then Zheng Gu Shui - it's a good combination for joints.
Contraindications: indications of heat and or swelling.