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.
