Knee beating with bamboo stick to clear blockages and reduce pain

When I was down in Singapore, I had the chance to witness ….and being on the receiving end of a beating by a Chinese traditional healer using fine bamboo strips.

Before the beating is done, the healer who first press on a few acupressure points to determine the cause of the problem. He would then choose one of the few sizes of bamboo sticks that he had and then he said, “you have to be patient and take the pain if you want to get well”. Then it starts….

Some scream, some yell, some asked to stop halfway. Not many people can take the pain as it is unlike any pain that they know. But people who genuinely want to get well would close their eyes, grit their teeth and take deep breaths.

Below is a middle age lady who agreed to be photographed. She had been having knee pain for many years. The usual suspect is due to wind dampness- that is causing the blockages. Sometimes it is blood clots that cause the blockage- so the clot is being dispersed through beating. It’s very painful but some people find their chronic pain or ailments going off after a round of good beating.

Below: the healer was beating the lady: his hands move so fast that the photograph below showed a shadow of movement- it was actually his right hand holding a bamboo strip stick and beating vigorously:

The after effects: blue black. Patients are told to apply oilment to warm up the area and improve the circulation.

One time would solve the problem- usually, one have to back a few times as one does not develop arthritis or pain overnight- it’s a gradual process that took years. I doubt there is a real cure but such pain conditions from osteoarthritis and chronic joint pain can only be ‘under control’ and ‘managed’.

My experience

I went there for my creaking knees. The beating seemed to loosen out and I feel the blood flow increase in the area. There was also no chronic discomfort as I walked- in fact, I walked with better ease. Some of my friends who went with me got their backs and butts beaten- depending on where the cause of the problem is diagnosed.

Please do not try this at home

Even though it looked like the healer was just beating around, it is not. He had been doing this for decades so he knows what he is doing. No one likes to be whacked like this – they allowed it because it works. Men who have been having back pain for years find relief and was able to move around with better ease.

But please, please don’t try this at home. The healer shared with me an experience- a man came for treatment and find that he helped to relief his pain. So he thought he could save money and then he went back and try to beat his wife using the same method as to how he was beaten. You know what, after the beating, his wife could not walk! So the man brought back his wife to the healer and the healer had to beat his wife back to normal.

I’ve provided the address of this healer in this follow up post: Tui Na and Bamboo stick beating to clear pain in Singapore. For those staying in Singapore, you can visit this healer.