If you’re tired of the cold and looking for some good old fashioned warmth, cui heat is just what the doctor ordered. Cui heat is a therapeutic treatment that uses clay to warm up acupuncture points in your body and relieve pain. Clay heats up when it’s heated, so don’t worry about getting burned! In this article, we’ll explore the history of cui heat, step-by-step instructions on how it’s done and information on where to find a practitioner near you! You deserve some relief from winter weather — so long as ice isn’t what gets your attention.
1. HISTORY
Cui heat has its roots in ancient Chinese practices where hot stones or metal balls were used to warm up acupuncture points. But this practice fell to the wayside because fire was so readily available and could be accomplished by simply lighting a fire under the metal balls. It wasn’t until people started living in colder climates that they had to rely on alternative sources of heat. It’s been recorded that some people would even bury themselves up to their necks in hot coals! Talk about take-no-prisoners heating…
The idea behind cui heat is that, if you apply it to certain acupuncture points, it will increase blood flow and warm up certain areas of your body. For example, sitting in a sauna or hot tub for a few minutes is much more pleasant than being in the same temperature for an extended period of time. This is because your body can only handle short bursts of high heat before feeling uncomfortable.
Cui heat works in the same way as a sauna — it heats certain areas of your body and increases blood flow. It’s not intended to be a long-term method to create warmth but rather something you apply for a short amount of time until you feel warmer or until the clay begins to cool down.
2. HOW IS IT PERFORMED?
Cui heat is one of the easiest treatments to do at home! All you need is some cui clay (more on this in a minute) and your hands. If you perform cui heat on multiple points, you’ll use both hands. If you only want to warm up one point, then just use one hand. You can even do cui heat on yourself if you’re desperate for warmth! You can either find a practitioner near you who performs cui heat or learn how to do it yourself and apply it as necessary (the latter tends to be more effective).
3. WHAT IS CUI CLAY?
Cui clay comes from the sea in Japan, where it is formed in a very long, narrow valley called Awaji Island. The land there has lots of small holes and fissures that are perfect for storing heat. When the winter comes around, people take small cylinders of this cui clay and fill them with hot coals. The cui clay releases heat that keeps the coals warm enough to use throughout the day!
4. CARING FOR YOUR CUI HEAT TREATMENT
Cui heat is meant to be used in moderation. It should be used for short periods of time until you feel warm or the clay begins to cool down. Some people also add salt to their clay, which makes it slightly heavier and more dense when hot, allowing it to stay hot longer. And, if you’re using cui clay that was purchased at a store, make sure you read and follow the directions so that you don’t burn yourself.
5. WHERE CAN I FIND A PRACTITIONER?
In my area, I have found that acupuncturists are very well versed in cui heat treatment. In fact, most acupuncturists specialize in helping with various types of pain. So if you’re experiencing some type of muscle pain or just want to feel warmer this winter, give your local acupuncturist a call and schedule an appointment! You won’t regret it!
Ideas For Cui Heat –
1. If you are unable to get out of bed due to the extreme cold, try lying underneath a blanket with a heating pad set on low placed at the foot of your body so the heat can flow upward into your feet and legs.
2. If you are exposed to extreme cold while you are at work, try wearing a pair of socks over your regular socks and tuck your pants into a pair of waterproof rubber boots or galoshes. This will allow the heat to stay near your feet in order to keep them warm.
3. Wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing instead of one or two bulky coats whenever possible. The clothing will trap air between the layers and allow for better insulation against cold temperatures.
4. If your hands begin to feel numb due to cold, try rubbing them together for a few minutes without using heat from a stove, fireplace or space heater. This motion should help stimulate blood flow through the veins in your hands and warm them up slightly.
