Uyghur Medicine
01 · Historical Records
In the Tang Dynasty, medical writings already contained the record that "in the Western Regions, burying in hot sand dispels all ailments of wind and cold"; travel accounts by famous figures of successive dynasties frequently describe "burying in sand in the land of fire to cure illness and drive away disease." Sun Simiao, the famous Tang Dynasty medical scholar, gave a detailed introduction to the sand therapy in his Essential Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold (Qianjin Yaofang). Another famous Tang Dynasty medical scholar, Chen Cangqi, explained the specific methods of sand therapy in his Supplement to the Materia Medica (Bencao Shiyi). Li Shizhen, the great Ming Dynasty medical scholar, mentioned sand therapy in his Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu): "In the sixth month, take river sand, expose it to the blazing sun until it is extremely hot, and sit in it, replacing it when it cools," adding that the standard should be "taking the heat through to induce sweat," that is, until the body perspires.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Sand therapy is a non-medicinal therapy: it is a comprehensive natural physiotherapy method that makes use of the natural resource of magnetic dunes, acting through the conduction of heat by hot sand, magnetic effects, mineral penetration, and the massage of sand grains. Sand therapy is strongly seasonal: June 5 to August 20 each year is the golden season for sand therapy in Turpan. During this period, sunlight is abundant, daylight hours are long, and temperatures are high, making it most suitable for sand-burial treatment. In whole-body sand therapy, most of the body is covered with hot sand, leaving only the head, face, and neck exposed. Generally it is done for 2 hours a day, with 10 to 15 days making one course of treatment. Local sand therapy depends on the area being treated. It is done 1 to 2 hours a day, with 10 to 15 days making one course of treatment. Clinical practice has proven that sand therapy has many indications, and it is particularly effective against rheumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Sand therapy has the characteristics of no side effects, low cost, and fast results, which help lighten patients' burdens in various respects and reflect the social benefits of Uyghur medicine.
Whole-body sand therapy
The body is buried in hot sand except the head and neck, two hours a day over a course of ten to fifteen days.
Local sand therapy
Hot sand is piled on the affected part for one to two hours a day over ten to fifteen days.
Sweating is the measure
The session ends when the body has sweated; Li Shizhen records sitting in sun-baked river sand from the sixth month, changing it as it cools.
Heat conduction, magnetism and sand massage
A drug-free natural therapy acting through heat conduction, the magnetic sand, mineral penetration and the massage of grains.
The golden season from 5 June to 20 August
From 5 June to 20 August the strong sunshine, long days and high heat of Turpan make sand therapy most effective.
Sand clinics in Turpan and Shanshan
The therapy is now practised in the Turpan hospital sand clinic, the Shanshan Desert Park and the Lukqin sand clinic, passed from masters to apprentices.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Sand therapy, that is, the sand-burial therapy, is the crystallized wisdom of the people of Turpan City, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in understanding and making use of nature; it is a method of treating disease by using the distinctive local natural conditions, developed over a long struggle against illness, and it is an important component of Uyghur medicine. Sand therapy is divided into two types: whole-body sand therapy and local sand therapy. The therapy combines sunlight therapy, heat therapy, and massage into one; it treats illness when ill and preserves health when well. It is beneficial not only for inheriting and carrying forward China's traditional Chinese medicine culture, but also has positive significance for safeguarding people's health, building a harmonious society, strengthening ethnic unity, and promoting local socioeconomic development.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Uyghur Medicine · Uyghur Medicine · Uyghur Medicine · Uyghur Medicine · Uyghur Medicine.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Sand therapy is circulated in the Turpan region of Xinjiang. At present, the relatively large-scale sand-therapy facilities include the Sand Therapy Clinic of the Turpan Uyghur Medical Hospital, the Shanshan Desert Park, and the Lukeqin Sand Therapy Clinic of Shanshan County. Turpan is rich in medicinal and natural resources; its special geographical environment and climatic conditions have allowed sand therapy there to develop a complete theoretical system and rich diagnostic and treatment experience, and it has continued to this day mainly through master-apprentice and family transmission.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Abudouwubuer Aji 04-1954
- Aibibula Yusufu 04-1955
- Abudoukelimu Abudouremu 05-2966
- Wusiman Yasheng
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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