The weather is utterly perfect today. Sunshine is pouring down from the sky but there’s also a cool wind to take the edge off the heat. This is the sort of dangerous weather where it’s *so* excellent I could fool myself into thinking it wasn’t too hot and I didn’t need sunblock. Except I know better. :) I swear, I just need to live somewhere the sun shines most of the time. I had an unspeakable sunshine headache on…Sunday, I guess, but I was still cheerful. And I continue to be cheerful, but now I also am massaged, so I’m like, cheerful and floaty, plus my head turns to the left!
Last week the doctor guy did cupping on my back. It left truly horrible bruises, which I have been applying arnica to with a vigor and regularity that I’m typically unable to sustain (I tend to forget, but even though I couldn’t *see* them, I was *extremely* aware and self-conscious about the GIANT PURPLE SPOTS on my back, and so I *really* didn’t forget). Consequently, today I only have faintly yellow spots on my back instead of–well, without arnica they would still be livid purple. I bruise easily and impressively. Anyway, so I was going to tell the doctor no more cupping, because I was too self-conscious, but before I said anything he said, “Oh, how ’bout cupping? Maybe cupping is no good for you. Your friends say (*insert very credible gasp here*), “Oooh, what happen! Cupping! What is cupping!”” *laughs* So no more cupping, but a good massage, and the doctor is better-pleased with the state of my tongue, which he made me stick out for him. (I have no idea what that means, but hey, he thinks it’s better. :))
eta: …oh *no*. David Eddings has died. How very sad. I love the Belgariad. It was one of the series that made me want to write for my current publisher, Del Rey, in fact. Damn. How very sad.
So…what *IS* cupping, then? Inquiring Minds want to know! *GRIN*
And, what is “arnica”? I must admit, this is a post of unusual bafflement to me… :)
*laughs* Cupping is this method of removing toxins, or at least that’s the theory, by heating the mouth of a glass bubble/jar and sticking it to the skin so it creates a pocket vacuum and sucks icky things out of your body. No idea if it works, though, I mean, it /does/ suck icky things out of your body, anyway. It’s kind of gross, really. and it leaves terrible bruises, particularly if you’re fair-skinned, which I very much am.
Arnica is a new-world bruise remedy which is made from the arnica plant which is toxic by nature. American Indians used to–and in fact this is basically how it’s still done–distill it until there was no quantifiable amount of the plant left in the water, and use it as a remedy. Their explanation was that “the water remembers” (which, fascinatingly, recent studies have begun to suggest is *true*), and it really, *really* significantly promotes healing of bruises and burns and things. You’re not to put it on open cuts, but you can take arnica pellets internally, and put creme on bruises and whatnot, and it makes a huge difference in the healing time.
Aww I am so sad about Eddings. Garion was my childhood friend, and we grew up together.