Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vox]

I told my gf I was sick yesterday with a stomach problem (actually it's a digestion problem from 고추장) and she told me she wants to do this thing called 부황.

So I asked today and my co-teacher said it involves the heated cups, the technique where the air inside them cools, and the cups suck on the skin. Cool. I'm okay with that.

My gf said she would have to put something on my body but then, God love her, she said she'd take some blood and there'd be a needle and thread involved. I asked, 'do you mean a drop?' and she said, 'no more than that.'

Does anyone know what kind of arcane bizarre Korean witchcraft the love of my life is alluding to? I'm leaning 75% to a flat-out 'no' but maybe someone who did it can draw out the inner meaning - or sew up this mystery for me.

[Bibbitybop]

There's a massage technique involving these heated cups that are placed on your back, then cool off, creating a sucking effect that draws your skin upwards into the cup. Think of numerous giant round hickeys on your back. This is not the most comfortable thing, either. Then the cups are removed and your back is massaged. This is comfortable. But as for the needles and bloodletting, unless you are into S&M, tell your girl there are other things she should be drawing out of your body.

[NAVFC]

The thing is while these cups are applied the pressure they will be exerting will suck crap right through your skin. I saw a video one of this prcedure in a dicumentary and this blackc rap floated up through the skin of the patient etc.

[vox]

Yeah, I think this is a case of mistaken identity for the technique of bloodletting. But I've seen those round hickeys when some men come to the jimjilbang after a session.

So I'm alright with stuff rising up to the skin. What I don't get is why a needle and thread would be involved, rather than just a pinprick.

[poet13]

The needle and thread is to sew all the body orifices closed before you apply the heated cups. Otherwise you just end up sucking air in through your butt instead of poison out of your body.

[billybrobby]

I've seen times where Koreans with stomach aches tie a string around their finger and then *beep* it with a needle and let out a drop of blood.

I remember in America there was this Korean girl who was totally incapcitated by a stomach ache and then keep doing this to her. But to no avail. I was kinda alarmed because she wasn't moving and stuff and I thought maybe we should go to a hospital. That was before I knew about Korean women;s habit of manufacturing hysterical illnesses.

[vox]

[xtchr]

[poet13]

"poet13 wrote:
The needle and thread is to sew all the body orifices closed before you apply the heated cups. Otherwise you just end up sucking air in through your butt instead of poison out of your body. "

"vox wrote:
Too bad you couldn't just sew your hands to your a*s and spare us your witticisms. Speaking of closing orifices, isn't your sphyncter puckering for your head to be re-inserted right about now?"

Wow....all that poison must have overwhelmed any sense of humor....

[dmbfan]

.........I hear mugwort works pretty good.

[vox]