Acute Inflammation

I've seen this before many times, a bubble around the injury. Most people end up resting and on pain killers. We leave them to stew in their problem. So what would I do differently? Lots, and it all depends on what I see. It is not that difficult to treat and after you do it a hundred times, you intuitively know what to expect.

As a practitioner it is best to begin any such session with the proper acu-points to help increase energy flow in the area and to alleviate the pain. When in doubt Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 on opposite sides is a good choice.

Go outside the bubble where it does not hurt ... maybe 3 inches out. Map out the courses of energy that lead to the bubble and gently create a stream away from the conflict. I use the Chinese meridians as my guide along with the movement of energy as felt from practicing Qi Qong daily. Below the wound -- press gently below it. Above the wound, press gently above it. Move like a stream with an even steady stream of pressure -- best done with lotion that has anti-inflammatory properties. I recommend TRAUMEEL® which is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical and 2 mineral substances. Magically, the bubble corners begin to soften.

Continue in those same course of energy but encroach upon the bubbles boundary -- a tad closer, not so close that it elicits pain. Make sure the stream follows its course a ways down or up -- always moving away from the conflict or bubble of inflammation. Notice the melting away of the boundary continues only more remarkably.

Now reach the boundary and begin the gentle pulling away in all directions from the bubble. Work even more gently as you are in the area of damage control for the body. From here on out it all depends where the trauma is -- pay attention to the structure of the underlying area for it is best to reinforce the underlying healthy movement of that structure. Pay attention to the extent of the damage and be gentle enough to keep receding the fluids.

A good follow up at this point is a lymph massage. That is like a sweeping brush of the hands and fingers in opposite directions, at opposite points on either side of the injury. A book could be written on how to move lymph so this is best demonstrated. It is best to match the technique to the specific injury. A number of the soft arts like Qi Qong and Tai Chi Chuan will move lymph. Moving up and down on a mini-trampoline without leaving the surface will move lymph.

At this point an experienced practitioner can go a bit deeper and help align the structure so that it sets properly while healing.