By Lee Sung-hun
I could safely assume that most Korean readers have seen red splotchy circles on the backs and shoulders of people and are aware of what those marks are.
They are the marks left from cupping _ a typical treatment method for blood stasis in traditional Korean medicine.
Although not as well-known as acupuncture, cupping is already a widely available treatment, even in Western countries.
Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer with 23 gold medals, apparently used cupping treatment during the last Rio Olympics and the resulting cupping marks were clearly visible for all the media to see.
Although they were obviously the results from cupping, many Americans who were not familiar with the treatment speculated that they were caused by sleeping with a tennis ball under the back, which sounds horribly uncomfortable.
In contrast, blood stasis _ the main target of cupping treatment _ may be an unfamiliar concept for many.
A broad definition of blood stasis includes all types of stagnant blood flow in one part of the body instead of normal circulation due to stress, external trauma or aging of the body.
In layman's terms, it is often referred to as "dead blood."
The resulting symptoms of blood stasis are quite as varied as its definition.
One of the most recognizable symptoms is muscular pain, which is treated with cupping.
The cupping marks vary in their hues where some are a lighter shade of pinkish red, and others are darker and almost blackish.
Darker color usually means that that particular patch of patient's body had more blood stasis.
Another symptom is the bruising, where the leaked blood from the contusion is considered as blood stasis.
Another example of blood stasis is when the blood becomes "turbid" and blocked from its normal circulation and stagnant with in the meridian vessel _ the normal routes for blood and qi.
The resulting symptoms of this type of blood stasis include sprained ankles and wrists, and musculoskeletal issues suffered after an external trauma such as an automobile accident.
The pain is generally centered in the region of blood stasis, and tends to feel like poking or stabbing.
Other internal organ issues can also be associated with blood stasis.
In traditional medicine, when organs accumulated blood within them, it is also considered as blood stasis.
An example of symptoms caused by internal blood stasis is women's menstrual pains.
When the womb is too cold, it can cause blood stasis to accumulate within it.
Also stress can interfere with normal functions of the heart, liver and spleen to cause issues with generating and restoring of blood to result in blood stasis within the womb.
When blood stasis is accumulated within the womb, the discharged blood tends to be very dark.
Other symptoms caused by blood stasis include headaches, dizziness, and buzzing in the ears.
Bleeding in general such as nosebleeds, hematemesis, or hematuria can also be associated with blood stasis.
Digestive tracts and cardiovascular systems can also be affected by blood stasis.
If left alone, blood stasis can develop into lumps and in some cases even tumors.
Treatment of blood stasis aims to restore the normal circulation of the blocked meridian vessel while removing stagnant blood.
Many expat patients inquire about cupping treatment to remove blood stasis.
Although cupping is the most common method of dealing with blood stasis, it is not the only option, nor is it applicable to all blood stasis symptoms.
Depending on the location and the underlying cause, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Hanyak medication, or combinations of them can be applied.
Blood stasis is not a recognizable medical concept in Western medicine, and yet many chronic illnesses can be caused by it.
If you suspect blood stasis in your body and want to know more about it, please visit your local traditional medicine clinic.
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