Changes in weather can easily lead to discomfort in the body,
and if one is not careful, they may catch a cold and develop a fever.
How should one manage a fever at home?
Bloodletting, Gua Sha, and Foot Soaking,
Do these three methods actually help reduce fever?
Let’s take a look together.
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Is Bloodletting Effective for Reducing Fever?
Director of the Acupuncture Department at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Lu Jian
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) bloodletting therapy can activate the body’s immune system and has a certain effect on reducing fever. However, bloodletting is not suitable for all types of fever, and it is not recommended to perform it at home; it is best to seek a professional doctor to carry it out.
Four groups of people for whom bloodletting is not suitable: diabetic patients, tuberculosis patients, HIV patients, and cancer patients, should avoid bloodletting as much as possible.
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Is Foot Soaking Effective for Reducing Fever?
Simply soaking feet to reduce fever is unreliable.
Although foot soaking cannot directly reduce fever, it can promote blood circulation, enhance immunity, and relieve fatigue, which aids in sleep.
However, not everyone can soak their feet; some individuals should avoid it, such as those with diabetic foot and cardiovascular diseases, as the water temperature should not be too high.
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Is Gua Sha Effective for Reducing Fever?
Gua Sha has certain benefits for lowering body temperature.
However, it is important to first assess whether the patient is suitable for Gua Sha; diabetic patients with blood sugar over 10 should avoid Gua Sha; individuals with certain underlying conditions (tuberculosis, cancer, HIV) or blood coagulation disorders should also avoid it.
If the fever is due to a cold, and the body temperature exceeds 38°C, Gua Sha can be used to help reduce fever.
Note: It is not necessary for Gua Sha to produce marks; a slight warmth is sufficient, and each area should be scraped about 20 times in one direction.
After most of the marks have faded, Gua Sha can be performed again; if a Gua Sha board is not available, a ceramic spoon can be used as a substitute.
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The Body Has Its Own “Fever-Reducing Medicine”
① Dazhui (Great Vertebra) Point
When lowering your head, you can feel two protruding vertebrae at the back of your neck; the higher protrusion is the Dazhui, and the lower one is the thoracic vertebra, with the Dazhui point located at the center depression between the Dazhui and thoracic vertebrae.
Using the Dazhui point as the origin, scrape 5 centimeters up, down, left, and right, scraping from top to bottom and left to right, 20 times in each direction, with the Gua Sha board held at a 45-degree angle to the scraping direction, applying moderate pressure until the skin feels slightly warm.
The medium can be essential oil, petroleum jelly, or liquid paraffin; if none are available, plant oils, peanut oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil can be used, as these are non-irritating to the skin.
② Weizhong (Middle of the Knee) Point
Located in the center of the popliteal fossa. Scrape this point following the same order as the Dazhui point, but slightly faster. This point can dispel wind and release the exterior, as well as clear heat and cool the blood to reduce fever, making it widely applicable, especially effective for reducing fever.
Source: CCTV Life Circle (ID:cctvshzck2013)
Editor: Gu Peng
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