How to Apply Liniments

While it doesn't seem like this is a hard thing to figure out, there is actually an art to applying these botanicals in order to receive their maximum healing potential.  The thing with liniments is that they must be applied frequently and copiously to really attain the effects of whichever one you are using.  There are many ideas out there on how to apply, how frequently you should use them, how much you should put on, so what I'm proposing are just my ideas based on trial and error, my own body, and what I've learned from my teachers who have many years of experience using these potent healers.

All of my liniments come with atomizer tops, which are ideal for the application of liniments in most areas.  If you're using a liniment that doesn't have an atomizer top, simply use your fingers or a cotton ball for the application.  

Step 1:  Apply liniment to area

Step 2:  Gently + lightly rub the liniment into the area using a quick and light back and forth motion with your hand (try to imagine the movement being generated from the shoulder, allowing your elbow, hand + fingers to remain very soft and fluid).

Step 3:  Watch the gloss of the liniment -- you can think of it like paint.  High gloss, glossy, satin, matte......when the liniment is first applied, this is the 'high-gloss' stage.  As you gently rub back and forth, the quality of the gloss will change to glossy, satin, and matte.  When there is no longer a gloss and you can feel that under your fingers is no longer that slippery-moist quality.........

Step 4:  Repeat steps 1-3!

Ideally, these steps will be repeated for 4-5 minutes several times a day.  I've timed myself doing this, and I'm not going to lie.  It feels like forever!  What we generally end up doing in our house is spending a couple minutes applying the liniment, and just doing it more frequently, sometimes with acute conditions up to 10 times a day!  

My partner had the pleasure 4 weeks ago of severely spraining his ankle.  It was bad; very swollen, bruising from the pinkie toe to the heel and up about 4" above the lateral malleolus, pain with very light touch, incredibly limited range of motion, and when he sprained it he heard (yep, gross, so close your eyes if you don't like this part) a big ol' pop.  Because it was 10pm and we are who we are, I did the acute ankle sprain Tuina protocol on his legs, went to my sports medicine bible, "The Tooth from the Tigers Mouth" and pressed the acupoints for acute ankle sprains, like a champ he took a Hit pill (Die da wan), and we applied a thick layer of Herbal Ice, San Huang San, to his entire foot and ankle and elevated it for an hour or so.  We did this for 3 days, until there was no more redness and he began using the Trauma liniment on the area, applying it every hour at first, then every 2.  He still used the Herbal Ice at night, covering his foot with a cut off sock so that the salve didn't mess with the sheets.  We've had pretty awesome experiences with this.  He was back to work 4 days later (albeit coming home with a pretty sore ankle and foot) and as he progressed in his healing we moved to different liniments and salves, using the Aches + Pains after the heat and swelling were completely gone to continue to promote the healing process from a different angle.  

The ultimate goal with this kind of injury is of course to not let it become a chronic thing, something that persists because it wasn't allowed to heal properly.  I say this having 2 ankles that have had so many sprains and ligament tears that I've lost count.  They're now super sensitive to temperature changes, rain, and being in one position for too long makes them hurt like crazy.  We're all in our own stage of figuring out what our bodies need, how to help them recover from trauma, past or present, and how to best facilitate future health and vibrancy.  There are so many paths we can take to find this empowerment -- best of luck on your journey!  I have to say that while I'm never happy he gets hurt, I do love the recovery process!!

This information is for educational purposes only.  It has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Ru Xiang >> 乳香

Ru xiang, or Boswellia papyifera, is commonly known as frankincense.  The trees that frankincense is harvested from are primarily grown in Somalia and India.  After lancing the trees it takes about 3 months for the hardened resin to fully dry for harvest.  

This herb has the properties of being warm in temperature, acrid and bitter, and is used in many formulas for topical and internal use to invigorate the Blood, promote the movement of Qi, alleviate pain and generate flesh.  Because of it's Blood moving abilities, it is *contraindicated during pregnancy*.  A classic pairing is ru xiang with mo yao, myrrh. 

It is in many of my liniments, salves and ointments to help invigorate the Blood, soften the sinews, alleviate pain, and promote the healing of injuries.  It's also known and widely used to help promote healthy gums and can be found in many natural and Ayurvedic toothpastes and mouthwashes.  Frankincense as an essential oil has an intoxicating, deeply rich and earthy aroma that the 'tears' also possess and is often used as support to the nervous system and adrenals as well as in a carrier oil for topical application to the skin (especially the face).  

Recent studies conducted by researchers from John's Hopkins University point to a correlation between burning frankincense resin and the alleviation of mild symptoms of anxiety and depression; it is one of the main ingredients in my Sacred Space Incense.  There is also ongoing research testing the efficacy of it's use in alleviating joint pain due to arthritis.  I'll be keeping my eyes out for the results of these studies!

This information is for educational purposes only.  It has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  

Hong Hua >> 红花

Hong hua's botanical name is Carthami flos, or safflower.  This is one of my favorite herbs!  It's only the petals of the flower that are used and they're so so light.  Opening a bag or container of hong hua is like getting punched in the face by a stinky wet dog, but like many aromatic morsels, once it's cooked into tea the aroma changes and it tastes nothing like it's initial aroma would lead you to believe!  It has the properties of being acrid and warm, both of which promote movement.  In Chinese medicine, safflower is used to promote the movement of blood to help alleviate pain.  Because of these blood moving actions, it's considered contraindicated during pregnancy.  

It's a specialty herb for both gynecological conditions as well as for treating traumatic injuries.  Dosage plays an important role in this herbs strength of action -- with higher doses strongly breaking up blood stasis and lower doses gently regulating and invigorating.  This flower is a bright red-orange and has thin petals.  If you think about the Doctrine of Signatures it makes sense that this herb goes to the blood and opens the channels to dispel stagnation!  

According to an article written in Acupuncture Today, "safflowers are grown in the Henan, Hubei, Sichuan and Zhejiang provinces [of China]. The flowers are picked from the plant in the summer, after the petals turn bright red, and are dried in the shade for herbal medicine."  It's native to Asia and parts of Northern Africa along the Nile river watershed and generally flowers in June and July.  Wouldn't it be amazing to see a field of these beautiful flowers!  Probably as awe-inspiring as the fields of sunflowers growing in the Midwest!

This herb shows up in a lot of my ingredient lists!  It's in the Aches + Pains (coming in August, 2015) Liniment, 4 Resin Salve to Alleviate Pain, Herbal Ice, Trauma Liniment, and the Eagle Claw Liniment.  

This information is for educational purposes only.  It has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Lu Lu Tong >> 路路通

Lu lu tong, or Liquidambaris fructus, is also the fruit from the Sweet Gum, those awesome spiky orbs that provide hours of fun and ammunition as a child!  In Chinese medicine this herb is used to invigorate the Blood and free obstructions along channels that are causing stagnation; it's name actually means "All roads are Open".  It is neutral in temperature and bitter in flavor.

This flavor profile is interesting as it primarily refers to the action of the herb, not the actual way it tastes.  There are 5 categories of flavors in Chinese medicine:  sweet, sour, salty, bitter and acrid (or spicy).  Each taste also corresponds to a set of organs, called Zang Fu. Bitter herbs are associated with the Liver and often contain alkaloids that affect the nervous system and glycosides that affect the circulatory system.  These herbs have the general actions of promoting the  movement of either Qi or Blood and are usually also drying.

Lu lu tong is an important ingredient in the Tendon Lotion and the Trauma Liniment.  In both of these preparations there is an action to move the Blood and either clear obstructions or prevent them from happening.  Because of this strong action it, and both of these preparations, should be avoided during pregnancy as well as during times of bleeding.

This information is for educational purposes only.  It has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.