Traditional Herbs 101...

Dit Dai Jow and Injuries: How to help heal yourself
By Dale Dugas
Edited By Ashe Higgs

Dit Da Jow/Die Da Jiu/Tieh Ta Jou 跌打酒 "Fall Hit Wine" is a staple healing aid that is found in traditional Chinese Martial Arts Schools (Wu Shu Gwoon). Dit Da Jow has been used for many centuries as a healing modality and conditioning agent when used in conjunction with authentic Iron Palm and external Iron Body training programs.

Many people have seen various liniments and balms for sale on the internet or in Chinese Herb stores as well as being used in kung fu movies. Usually you see the old master rubbing some sort of liquid on the hero who has suffered great bodily harm going up against some well trained enemy. This liquid helps the body and its own natural healing abilities to relieve pain, remove bruising and help remove swelling that occurs when injuries happen as well as condition the tissues/ligaments.

Most formulas contain herbs which help to reduce/remove swelling which is usually seen within the first 24 hours of a new injury depending on the location. The distal parts of the body usually seem to swell when injured. Examples are the wrists and ankles; though you can see swelling in and around other parts of the body as well.

Some of these herbs are cooling in nature and also help to move blood and cause fluids to be reabsorbed by the body. One should be aware that not all Dit Da Jow formulations are created equally and one should really know the formula they are using. Some formulas are too hot to be used on a first stage (new injury) that has swelling or heat present. If you find heat or warmth with an injury you need to cool it off in order to begin the healing process. If you use a warming or hot formula you can actually make your injuries feel worse as the action of the formula can exacerbate the injury.

Be careful with the use of ice as ice can cause damage to skin as well as the circulatory system if used improperly. One should never have direct skin contact with ice or ice packs and anyone who suggests such actions needs to be questioned. Chinese medicine has a few formulas available that deal with reducing swelling and ridding heat.

One of the more famous formulas comes from the Tang Shou Tao family of martial arts from Taiwan. Shifu Tom Bisio trained with Master Vince Black and Master Hsu Hong Chi and picked up a very simple but effective formula used as "herbal ice". This formula contains herbs that will cool the blood as well as move it and help kill the pain associated with a fresh injury.

This formula is called San Huang San 三黄散which means "Three Yellow Powder" even though the formula used now has a few more herbs in it. Coiling Dragon Internal Arts also has a version of this formula. One uses this herbal balm in lieu of ice for the first 24 to 48 hours. Many take the herbal powder and add it to Vaseline. Vaseline, being a petroleum product, is not the best choice as a medium for healing. Many use sesame oil, I make this using Olive Oil and Beeswax to create a healing balm that is hypoallergenic and as natural as can be. Beware of using sesame oil if you have allergies to nuts and nut products.

You apply this paste to the injured area where it can be rubbed into the skin as a balm or it can be applied as a poultice on a gauze pad and secured around the injured area with gauze bandages. Remember to not wrap the injury too tight as this can cause circulations issues and that is not healing but hurting. Apply this twice a day if using the unwrapped balm version. If you use the poultice application leave it on overnight and change it the next day.

After the swelling and heat have dissipated or disappeared altogether you can then use a Dit Da Jow that will further help move the dead blood and restore energy flow through the area that was affected by the injury.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) injuries cause what can be termed a “logjam” of fluids, blood and energy that must be addressed or it can come back to haunt you with a vengeance later in life.

Dit Da Jow will help to open the energy pathways as well as move out residual fluids and blood to be reabsorbed by the body.

If you have chronic versus new injuries than one should use a very warming Dit Da Jow that does not have cold properties as you want the medicine to move energy and warm up the area which has been injured. Many of these formulas contain very warm herbs.

Many herbs used in Chinese medicine are toxic if they enter the blood stream yet are very potent in healing action when used externally. So be careful and make sure you know which formula you are using!

Herbs to use caution with are Cao Wu, Chuan Wu. These are forms of Aconite and are very strong and toxic if used in their raw state. Tian Nan Xing and Ma Chien are others that are never to be used internally. Again know the formula and the people who prepare them. Be cautious and know exactly how your medicine is supposed to be utilized. Do not use a formula designed for one thing for another. Again know your formula and what it is meant to do.

Dit Da Jow is usually applied twice to three times a day. The best times would be right after getting out of the shower when your pores are open. I advise pouring off a little bit into the hands and rubbing on the injured area until the liquid has been absorbed. Then take a second application and rub the injured area in circles and then back towards the heart to help with moving the blood, fluids back into the circulatory system.

Many people report their injuries heal much faster when using Chinese Medicine compared to using nothing at all. Remember that bruises are hematomas; basically blood clots that if large enough can break off and travel to the heart, lungs or brain and wreck havoc on your health. Rather than take a risk, one should exercise caution and utilize the power of Chinese medicine to heal.

For more information on using Chinese medicine for healing martial arts injuries, contact Dale Dugas at 617-595-8097 or on the web at http://www.coilingdragon.com