Heathy Care : Belief and Practices

 Cambodian People are as comfortable using medicine as they are using traditional or indigenous healing  practices. Many Khmer believe that illness may be attributed to an imbalance in nature. A common expression of this concept is for people to  note the influence of "wind " or "kchall " on blood circulation and thus on illness. There may also be discussion of body condition called "cold " or "hot". These are not necessarily temperatures, but rather, body states leading to or caused by illness or other changes such as childbirth.

For a variety of reasons, many Khmer are slow to seek care from western practitioners and often traditional measures are tried first. Some of the  following procedures are carried out by family members and some by traditional healers or kruu khmer. Some kruu khmer specialize in medicinal practice with a spiritual component. Regardless of who carries out the procedures m they are usually accompanied by prayer and other spiritual activities.

Koo'kchall is used to treat many different ailment, including fever, respiratory infections, nausea, heart complaints, and malaise, To practice Koo' kchall a coin is dipped in a mentholated medicine and rubbed vigorously on the skin, away from the center of the body. This is referred to as " coining " or " dermabrasion " The treatment essentially induces a hematoma , leaving the patient with deep red marks on the skin, which disappear after a few weeks.

Jub kchall or pinching is used to treat headach and malaise. The Jub treatment involves pinching the bridge of the nose, neck, or chest leaving small bruises.
The Practice of " cupping " is very popular in Cambodia and involves the placement of a small lit candle on the forehead and placing a small jar over the candle. The flame consumes the Oxygen and creates a vacuum, thus causing a circular contusion on the skin.

Traditional or natural medicines include a wide variety of plant ( leaves, bark and extracts )and other substance use singly or in combination with the another . They may be used topically or rally.
Magico-religious articles such as amulets, strings, and Buddha images are also commonly used to treat ailments. Katha (blessed pieces of string ) are commonly worn around the neck by children or around the waist by adults. Other types of amulets include small pieces of metal inscribed with sacred word written in the Pali script and rolled around  string , Buddha images attached to a gold chain, and braided knotted string (with the knots incorporating magical substance). Amulets attain their power from prayers or incantations, from the  words inscribed in the metal portion , fro
m the material from which they are made, or from other attributes. Magical picture and words called yuan may also be employed to keep bad spirits at bay.  These picture are often painted on a piece of cloth and placed in one's pocket or place over the doorways in the home. Another preventative measure
e are tattoos, which will ward off sickness or danger. Pali writing and sacred image are tattooed onto the skin, usually on the chest and arms.

All these techniques may be combined with more modern medicines but are often favored for the first attempt at curing an illness.