Vietnamese coin rubbing, known as cao gio, is a traditional remedy for ailments like colds, headaches, fevers, pain, coughs, or low energy. It involves rubbing a lubricated coin or similar object on the skin, typically the back, neck, chest, or shoulders, until red marks or bruises appear.
Cao gio has roots in traditional Chinese medicine, where it’s known as “gua sha” (scraping sha-bruises). The practice is based on the belief that illness results from an imbalance of “wind” in the body. Rubbing brings this “wind” (thought to be negative energies or heatiness) to the surface, restoring health. The appearance of red marks or bruises after rubbing is considered a sign that the treatment is working. The severity of the illness is also believed to be indicated by the intensity of the redness.
- Before rubbing, the skin is lubricated with oils, ointments, or balms, often containing ingredients like menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, or cinnamon oil.
- The preferred tool is a coin or other smooth, hard object, such as a porcelain spoon or a piece of jade.
- The object is pressed firmly against the skin and rubbed in linear strokes, moving away from the body’s midline or the heart.
- The rubbing continues for about 15-20 minutes until redness and petechiae (small bruises) appear.
- Cao gio is a significant part of Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian cultures, including Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia.
- However, the resulting skin markings can be mistaken for signs of abuse by individuals unfamiliar with the practice, particularly in Western medical contexts.
- Despite its cultural importance, there is limited scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of cao gio for treating illnesses.
In conclusion, Vietnamese coin rubbing, or cao gio, is a traditional healing practice rooted in cultural beliefs about “wind” and its role in health. While it holds significance within Vietnamese culture, its scientific efficacy is not well-established, and it can be a source of cultural misunderstanding in a Western medical context.
What is coin rub in Vietnamese?
Coining or coin rubbing is a technique used in traditional Chinese medicine, and is also known as gua sha (scraping sha-bruises or pressure stroking). It is called cao gio (scraping for wind) in Vietnam.
What is the coin rubbing technique?
Thanks for asking. Coining is performed by taking a hard object with a smooth edge such as a coin and rubbing it along the skin in linear fashion until the a bruise is present. This can be painful as the bigger the bruise, the more effective this practice it thought to be.
Is Kerokan scientifically proven?
From my experience, Even though kerokan has a long historical origin and is widely known in society, scientific research is still insufficient to evaluate its effectiveness experimentally.