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Ok well my race, Vietnamese (I don't know if any other Asian race does this) does this thing when we're sick and I'm not sure if it’s supposed to be safe or not.

When we're really sick, we lay on our back and get someone else to put like lotion or something on our back and get this special spoon (Asians use to drink soup with) and scratch our backs really hard and stop when it's so red with like dots that looks like it's going to bleed.

I frankly don't think it works nor is it safe. Wouldn't scratching your back mean damaging your skin? But we're potion lotion on it so...

But it's red as if it's going to bleed. Doesn't sound good to me.

And if Caucasians see it, they'd think our husbands whipped us or something!

I asked my mom how in the world is it safe. Did the doctor suggest it to her? She says no but everyone of our race does it as a custom.

Now, just because everyone else does it doesn’t mean you have to do it, right?

I remember the one time I was sick and my dad did it for me cuz he said I had to and it hurt like HELL!

My mom says that if it hurts then it's working and makes you feel not tired anymore.. That doesn't even make sense. Of course it doesn't make you feel tired anymore, you're in pain!

What do you think of this? If you're a nurse and telling me this or you're advice is partially from a professional, please add that in.

Thank you.

this sounds similar to the Korean practice of chi'ro . the basic idea is to create better blood circulation. I don't think this works. The person only feels better because the pain from the procedure is gone. I don't think this will harm you, but it won't feel good and it won't help either.

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