Traditional Chinese Medicine at Home for Pain Management
DIY Chinese Medicine: “Sock It” to Your Pain
Incorporating TCM Techniques into Home Remedies for Pain
Pain management is one of the most popular reasons people seek acupuncture. But patients often ask about different ways to continue the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment in between regular acupuncture appointments.
For patients suffering from pain, whether due to sports injury, accident, chronic issue, muscle fatigue, or stress-related aches and pains, there is a very easy and simple way to provide pain relief from the comfort of home—and our patients at Herb + Ōhm in Chicago’s Loop love it.
Build Your Own Pain Relief Kit*
Find a long, clean, cotton sock. (CLEAN is the operative word)
Fill ⅔ with dry, uncooked white rice and ⅓ with dry, raw fennel seed. We like Jasmine rice, but you can use any white rice.
Mix the rice and fennel together so they are evenly distributed throughout the sock.
Tie off the end of the sock in a knot. Once you do, the sock should feel like a long bean bag.
Toss the sock in the microwave for 60 seconds (shorter or longer if needed, depending on your microwave). Always test the heat level before applying to your skin.
Rest the sock on a sore or painful area of the body. Apply for 30 minutes for optimal results. Repeat as needed.
*NOTE: Rice socks can get very hot. Always test the temperature before applying it to your skin to prevent redness or discomfort. Also, do not get the sock wet or use it on open wounds.
How and Why Does It Work?
From a TCM perspective, applying heat to strains, sprains, stiff joints or other injuries (occurring after 48 hours) increases blood flow to the area and speeds up healing. Fennel seed is a Chinese herb that reduces pain because it is warm and acrid, helping to increase circulation and disperse stuck blood and fluids, which cause obstruction and pain. The rice is also a Chinese herb. And when heated raw, it remains warm for a long period of time, maximizing this therapeutic effect and slowly losing its heat, and reducing the chance of burns to the skin. Also, the fine grains mold nicely around joints and body contours.
How can it get any better than this? You can REUSE and REHEAT the sock as often as necessary to bring you maximum relief! Pro tip: Lay on the sock in bed or put it between your desk chair and lower back when sitting for long periods of time.
If you’re struggling with soreness or another pain-related issue, we can help! At Herb + Ōhm acupuncture and TCM clinic in downtown Chicago, we can identify and treat the root cause of the issue in order to help you achieve long-term results. We provide acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities with specific protocols that are designed to help treat all forms of pain. You can book your consultation today!