Ancient Wisdom | Dit Da Jow | Healing Balm & Liniment History

Dit Da Jow is a generic name for Chinese liniments sold to heal external damage such as bruises or sore muscles, providing natural pain relief. There are several different recipes for Dit Da Jow, most of which are considered to be a "secret formula" passed down though oral and written history of traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and modern western science. Although Chinese tradition traces the origins of Chinese medicine to demigods named the Divine Plowman (Sheng Nung) and the Yellow Emperor (Huang Ti), who are said to have lived in the early 3rd millennium B.C., the earliest available historical records of Chinese medicine are medical texts dating from the Han Dynasty via several Chinese Materia Medica.

Dit Da Jow is an analgesic liniment traditionally preferred by martial artists. Often a martial arts master blended his unique mixture of many aromatic herbs such as myrrh and ginseng, which were combined to stimulate circulation, reduce pain and swelling, and improve healing injuries and wounds from practice and martial arts combat. The tradition became known as "hit medicine".

All bruise liniment formulas contained ingredients for natural pain relief, to reduce swelling and inflammation and disperse stagnant chi (life force energy) and blood. It was composed of cooling herbs to reduce swelling and inflammation as effectively as ice; and warming herbs that killed pain, promoted circulation, and broke
up accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids.

Herbs in the formulas according to traditional Chinese medicine, use "temperature" and "action", with each herb exhibiting an "energy" that has an effect on the body. Some are cold while others are hot. The overall combination of herbs in a Dit Da Jow formula determines its relative energy. Warmer jow is more often used in conditioning or chronic injury while cooler jow is more likely to be used for new injuries that may be inflamed. The action of each herb has specific uses. A Dit Da Jow should have one or two primary actions, determined by the herbs which are used in the Dit Da Jow formula.

Most bruises are usually shrugged off by athletes and martial artists as minor injuries that will heal themselves. Over the centuries, Kung Fu practitioners noticed that large bruises or repeated bruising on one area sometimes created accumulations of stagnant qi and blood that could cause serious health problems years later. Trauma liniment was developed to disperse these accumulations and treat injuries, thereby prolonging the soldier/warrior/athlete's career and health.

The original Herbal Chi Balm formulation was passed down from the Shaolin Temple to a wealthy family of doctors and scholars. The monks used the formulation to make themselves stronger after injuries and strenuous training. Use of the natural balm for natural pain relief and energy, let them practice martial arts and chi gung exercises everyday until they were in their 70's and 80's giving them longevity.

The emperor's physicians spent their lives searching for perfectly balanced natural pain relief and energizing formulas for the royal family and their generals. Martial artists that were herbalists made secret formulas that helped the body recover from injuries and over exertion so fast that it was miraculous. Herbal Chi Balm also uses this secret knowledge of perfectly blending herbs.

One of the secret herbs is called "Mender of Shattered Bones." The Chinese believed that the foundation for immortality were strong bones. Having healthy bones is the key for having a good, healthy, active life. May happiness always be with you.