Dit Da Jiao, or trauma medicine, is the ancient art of treating minor or serious injuries with the use of the external application of herbal liniments, oils, and poultices. This form of trauma medicine has been used to heal martial artists for more than a thousand years. With the discovery of Acupuncture in the modern western world, Dit Dat Jiao has become available to the public at large.
Like many modern sports creams, Dit Dat Jiao contains biochemical elements to soothe pain associated with minor strains, sprains, and bruises. Unlike many modern products though, Dit Da Jiao is produced with time tested herbal medicinals that are also proven to disperse stagnant blood from bruises, decrease swelling by increasing circulation, and to significantly decrease recovery time. Not only is the pain reduced, but so is the recovery time. Success is not only determined by the herbal formulation, but also by the proper application of the formula, and care of the injury.
In applying the Dit Da liniment, choose a liniment appropriate for the situation. For acute injuries, the liniment should be formulated to treat the swelling, heat, pain and bruising. In cases of long term conditions, a chronic formulation will help to warm the area, move out metabolites, encourage the body regenerate, as well as addressing the general pain and discomfort. When dealing with any injury, it is always a good idea to consult a medical professional if you feel that the injury is severe or not healing properly. In all cases, the application of topical liniments to open wounds or sores is contraindicated.
The protocol I suggest for most of my athletes and patients is to apply the liniment 3 – 6 times a day. This ensures that the local area receives enough of the medicinals to have the desired effect, and the act of gently massaging the liniment in acts as an additional therapy for furthering the healing process. For bruises, I recommend applying a liberal amount of liniment to the area and then using the fingers to massage it into the skin. Work in clockwise circles, from the inside of the bruise out, to and past the edges of the injury. Circle slowly and gently without causing pain to the area, until the skin becomes tacky and dry. Repeat this process a total of three times for each application.
For strains or inflamed muscles the procedure is similar. First, massage the liniment in along the length of the injury, and then massage across the fiber of the muscle or tendon. For joint and back pain, you can cover the affected area with gauze wetted with the liniment, and covered in plastic wrap. Heat can be applied on top of this with a hot pack or heating pad wrapped in a towel, to prevent burns.
Proper rest is advised. Many of the Mixed Martial Artists, and fitness and strength athletes I work with are reluctant to give up their routines. They continue to traumatize their injuries, and deal with pain, suffering and the risk of chronic, permanent injury because of it. Taking time off from their chosen sport does not mean an end to exercise, just finding alternative modalities that keep the body and metabolism active while minimizing the use of the injured body area. Not surprisingly, athletes I have placed on simple walking and body weight programs have retained athleticism and fitness levels, and minimized recovery time.
Along with the use of liniments, I also highly recommend working with acupuncturists, massage therapists, and your MD to find the right combination of activity and recuperative therapies that work for you.
Dave McKinnon
Dave McKinnon is an Acupuncturist, diet and exercise coach and a Kung Fu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor. Through his training he has become a specialist in the use of external liniments to correct and speed the recovery of his patients and clients. He currently blogs at www.solidstatekettlebell.com and can be reached at dwmckinnon@yahoo.com.
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