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Cao gio (coin rubbing)
Cạo gió
A listing is not a recommendation.
This entry is not recommended. It is listed only as a caution.
Origin: Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia · Tradition: A folk method of “scraping out wind” · Manual therapy & points
What it is
A folk method of oiling the skin and rubbing it hard with a coin or similar tool, producing redness or bruising. It is similar to gua sha. Doing it strongly on a child’s body can cause injury, and it can also be mistaken for abuse.
A short introduction (not a treatment instruction)
- Do not rub hard enough to produce strong bruising. Do not do this to a child in particular.
- High fever or difficulty breathing needs care, not a folk method.
- Even with a clean technique, usefulness has not been established.
Symptoms or aims often mentioned with this practice
- Early signs of a cold
- Stiff shoulders
Related symptom videos
Research notes (this is not a promise of effect)
D: Traditional use only. This review did not find enough clinical research on the practice itself
High-quality evidence of usefulness is scarce. Because of the risk of injury and of misunderstanding (suspected abuse), it is listed as a caution.
Sources
Safety notes
Skin injury; doing this to a child is dangerous. The sources are reviews of similar gua sha.
If you are unsure, or if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medicine, consult a qualified professional.
Situations in which this is better avoided
- Children
- A tendency to bleed
- A wound on the skin