The production of Baoding Balls, also called Chinese health balls, began in Baoding, China approximately 2,000 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. They were originally called 'iron balls' because they were made from solid iron (Anonymous, 1996). They were originally used for martial arts training but were later used by the wealthy aristocracy of China to promote the development and balancing of chi. Other disciplines that complemented the use of Baoding balls included Qi Gong, reflexology, acupuncture, herbal elixirs, and moxibustion (Ragnar, 2005).
Ragnar states that many of the Chinese aristocracy lived tremendously long lives because of their health practices, but careful research of many of the individuals mentioned does not support this claim. One individual that does stand out, though, is Emperor Qianlong who lived from 1711 to 1899. That is a life-span of 188 years! This Emperor was approached by a court physician who introduced to him the practice of building chi with Baoding balls. Both the Emperor and the physician lived very long lives.
Originally, the Baoding ball was a solid iron ball but, over time, it has been designed to be hollow so that a sounding plate can be placed inside of the ball. When you purchase a pair of Chinese Health Balls with sounding plates, you will notice that one ball sounds at a high pitch and the other at a low pitch. This sound therapy can prove to be very relaxing to the mind for some individuals. Many of the balls sold today are Cloisonne models with Chinese symbols or Western logos painted on them. Baoding craftsmen still produce the original iron balls of the Ming Dynasty.
A Form of Qi Gong
Chinese health balls can actually be considered a form of Qi Gong. Qi Gong combines gentle movement, self massage, relaxation, exercises, breathing, meditation, and visualization in order to balance the body's internal energies. Qi is moved along the meridians through providing massage along the hands, face, shoulders, arms, rib cage, chest, legs, and feet. All these areas involve the acupuncture micro-systems and reflex micro-systems that are present in the body.
Often, when people think of Chinese health balls, they imagine manipulating the balls in the palms of their hands. The balls can also be used for massaging the meridians throughout the body in order to develop and move Qi. The balls are unique because of an isometric capacity of transferring energy through the balls and through the body. This causes the body to eventually change its energy level rather than stay at an amplification that leads to prolonged stress and illness. The balls, when rolled along the meridians and reflex points, in conjunction with the frequency of the sound plates, leads to the stimulation of the limbic system. This helps to center the body and leads the body to become balanced through the release of tension on the inter-vertebral joints.
To understand this process, you need to understand the construction and function of the vertebrae. The spinal column is made up of four distinct sections. There are a total of 33 vertebrae in the spine, 24 of which are movable. It is through these vertebrae that energy is rotated.
Each vertebrae has six joints, two articulating facet joints at the top, one on each side, and two on the bottom. There is a large parallel surface area on the top and bottom of each vertebrae. When a person injures one of the vertebral joints in any manner, an imbalance develops between the relationship between the muscles and the spinal column. This imbalance can cause pain to be dispersed throughout the spinal column and, most often, in the curved areas, such as the upper and lower back. The body's response is to repair the damage irregardless as to whether the original structure of the spine is retained or not. Scar tissue may built up and result in limited movement along the spinal column as well as a blockage of Qi energy.
The same thing can occur anywhere else in the body where an injury affects the skeletal structure. Anywhere that inflammation is present, there exists an imbalance of Qi. Such can occur when one has chronic bronchitis, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, diverticulitis, heart problems, and any number of other conditions. The process is the same. Inflammation occurs, scar tissue builds up, and the pattern of energy is distorted in order to move around the scar tissue.
The use of Chinese health balls, not only by rolling them in your hands, but also by rolling them along the body, can facilitate the build up of Qi which can aid in the healing processes of the body. During the rolling process, which should be circular in nature, some of the muscles will roll one way while other muscles will roll the opposite way. Symmetric toning occurs and those areas that are asymmetric and misaligned are stretched and released. This action can lead to increased mobility of joints as well as an increase in healing.
What’s with the Sound Plates?Within nature, various elements of sound influence the human brain. One need only think of the soothing sound of the heart to a child or the calming sound of a person breathing to a cat or dog. The rhythms of the heart, brain, lungs, and other organs have a special synchronicity. When these inner rhythms are disturbed, illness can occur.
A person’s emotions are highly influenced by the sounds around them. Many people feel themselves becoming irritated when there is a profuse amount of noise around them. The quality of the noise can sometimes be more of a factor than the quantity. Imagine fingers scratching along a chalkboard and you will understand what I am saying. Tonal and harmonic aspects of sound have a strong influence on our emotions and brain function.
The dynamic relationship that is present between the high and low frequencies that is present in a pair of Chinese health balls has the power of influencing our emotions and mid-brain functions. This can affect the fundamental balance of the relationship of the body’s muscles and structural integrity. Low sounds tend to resonate with the lower parts of the body. High sounds resonate with the higher parts of the body. Sound is most especially linked to the 9th and 10th cranial nerves which carry the impulses to the brain. Ever wonder why those meditation tapes, chant tapes, and other auditory aids worked so well? It is because those impulses cause the brain to release motor and sensory impulses to the body that regulate speech, breathing, and heart rate and, in essence, assists us in our meditation practice. The sound plates in Chinese health balls perform the same function.
How to use Chinese Health BallsFirst of all, you need to find the size of balls that are right for you. One size does not fit all! The most common size is 35mm to 55mm. The 35mm size is used by children and adults less than 62 inches tall. The 55mm size is for those who are more experienced or someone who is over 74 inches tall. You should start small and work your way up. It is best to buy them from a store where you can handle the balls, get a feel for them, and see if they ‘speak’ to you.
You should begin practicing with two balls, rotating them clockwise and counterclockwise in the palm of one of your hands. After you have mastered this technique, try rotating the balls smoothly without them coming apart or clashing into each other. Another technique that works the fingers is to try rotating them so that they do not touch. By turning your palm downwards and rotating the balls, you build strength and dexterity in your fingers. You should practice this for fifteen minutes a day.
There exists two approaches to Chinese health ball practice: the physical or mechanical approach and the mental or martial approach (Anonymous, 1996).
The physical or mechanical approach involves moving the balls by pushing them around with the fingers. “When one ball pushes against the other, it replaces it and the other ball must move. If your palm is curved, the second ball moves into the position that the first ball occupied and the rotation is begun. Repeating this one simple movement is enough to begin your practices with the balls” (Anonymous, 1996).
The mental or martial arts approach involves you concentrating on what makes the balls move around in your palm. “When you see someone who is good with the balls, they seem to rotate like magic, with almost no external effort” (Anonymous, 1996).
Another way of working with the balls involves making space into which the ball can roll. This method may be difficult if you are using balls that are too large for your hands because space can not be made in such cases. Practice begins by holding one ball in your hand and manipulating each muscle in the palm in a manner to make the ball move about. Add the second ball once you have become comfortable with manipulating the first ball. Practice will lead to a smooth and effortless movement of balls in your hand.
Use of the balls for full-body massage is facilitated with having on hand a variety of sizes. Smaller balls can be used on the facial area while larger balls can be used on large areas. It is best if one person gives another person the massage so that the receiver can relax during the therapeutic session.
Begin at the face, using the smallest ball. At the forehead, roll the ball in a circular pattern from one side of the forehead to the other. Continue over the cheek area, onto the chin, and down the side of the neck. Repeat the same pattern but go down the other side of the face and neck. Now you should be on the trunk of the body. Switch to a larger ball. Massage the shoulders then move over the chest. Try to keep the ball in contact with the skin throughout the whole trunk massage. Roll the ball over the arms, going from one arm to the other, crossing the body with the ball. Cover the flanks and the abdominal region before rolling the ball over the top of the thigh. Go down the leg, doing the top and outside aspect of the leg. Do the top of the foot then the bottom. Come up the leg on the inside and repeat the same pattern on the other leg. Once done, have the receiver turn onto their stomach. Using a small ball, massage the back of the head and neck area. Continuing with the small ball, massage along the spinal column and at the base of the tailbone. Switch to a larger ball and massage both sides along the spinal column. Move towards the buttocks then down the backs of the legs. Try to keep the ball in contact with the skin as much as possible throughout the massage.
The Benefits of Chinese Health BallsAccording to the ancient Chinese practice of jingluo, which refers to the main and collateral energy channels, the ten fingers are connected to the cranial nerve and vital organs of the human body, including the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gallbladder, stomach, and intestines. Use of Chinese health balls enhances circulation of vital energy and blood in the body. The muscles are said to become nimble, the bones strong, and the mind sober. Other benefits include the following:
Relief of fatigue
Stress reduction
Increased blood circulation
Relaxation of muscles and joints
Relieves joint stiffness and soreness
Promotes sleep