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Explainer | China ethnic group sleep therapy with stir-fried herbs laid on entire body to boost blood flow

Ancient therapy sees patients lie enveloped in a whole body wrap of chopped rainforest herbs cooked with water, alcohol

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A herbal sleep therapy clinic in China is offering a treatment that involves lying on hot, stir-fried herbs to treat rheumatism and joint pain. Photo: SCMP composite/Zhihu/banyuetan.org
Yating Yangin Beijing

A healing practice used by China’s Dai ethnic group, which involves patients sleeping in beds of stir-fried herbs that cover their entire bodies, has become a wellness sensation.

So-called Herbal Sleep Therapy aims to boost blood circulation and alleviate a series of ailments.

Not only is it gaining popularity among the ethnic group, it is also becoming a favourite among tourists visiting China’s southwestern Yunnan province.

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Its origins can be traced back to the Dai people’s early efforts to combat rheumatism.

The herbs used in the therapy are stir-fried in a sizeable wok before being applied to patients. Photo: CCTV
The herbs used in the therapy are stir-fried in a sizeable wok before being applied to patients. Photo: CCTV

The Dai ethnic minority primarily lives in the autonomous prefectures of southwestern China’s Yunnan province. It has a population of around 1.26 million people.

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