Note: The following account is told by Sayar U Kyaw Soe of ‘Nagaman Myanmar Lethwei Club’ about the experience of healing retired Lethwei champion, Eh Htee Kaw, by using a traditional remedy. Afterwards is a remark written by Prof. Patrick Finley analyzing the remedy from a modern medical perspective.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
This record details an experience from a traditional Lethwei competition held in 2004 in Karuppi Village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State.
The two competitors were my fighter, Eh Htee Kaw, and his opponent, Saw Nga Man. Eh Htee Kaw was a southpaw, while Saw Nga Man fought with an orthodox stance. At that time, both were considered first-class fighters. The rules of the match stipulated a five-round bout to be fought until a clear winner emerged.
In the very first round, Eh Htee Kaw’s left eyebrow was cut by a punch from Saw Nga Man. As he continued to fight through the injury, the wound grew significantly larger by the third round. Due to the severity of the cut, Eh Htee Kaw’s vision in his left eye was no longer clear.
The officials stopped the match to assess whether Eh Htee Kaw could continue. After I discussed the situation with him, Eh Htee Kaw insisted on finishing the fight, and the officials allowed it. Although he bravely chose to fight on, I noticed his vision was severely compromised. As the match resumed, Saw Nga Man capitalized on this by repeatedly landing heavy inner and outer low kicks to Eh Htee Kaw’s legs.
The fight exhausted the regulation five rounds and moved into a grueling “Yay Kone Yay Kham” (Until All The Water Is Gone) overtime that had lasted a full hour. Including the initial rounds, the competitors had been fighting for 90 minutes. Eh Htee Kaw fought with unrelenting grit and spirit, refusing to give up. While Saw Nga Man could not secure a knockout, his strikes were consistent and damaging. Eh Htee Kaw’s thighs were so badly bruised they had turned dark purple and were painful even to look at. Though Eh Htee Kaw claimed he could keep going, to ensure his long-term well being, we chose to forfeit the match.
Since the match was over, we supported Eh Htee Kaw and walked him back to our lodgings. When we arrived, the chief jury, Sayar U Daung Ni, who was staying with us, had already returned. Eh Htee Kaw could barely walk, and there were no health centers, clinics, or doctors in the vicinity.
Without hesitation, Sayar U Daung Ni told us, “We must massage this out while the blood is still warm. If the blood clots, he won’t be able to stand tomorrow, and the injury will last a long time.” He then had Eh Htee Kaw lie down on his back.
Sayar Daung Ni prepared a liniment by mixing mustard oil and camphor. He then had Eh Htee Kaw bite down on a roll of fresh bandage. Sayar U Daung Ni and I sat astride Eh Htee Kaw, back-to-back, to hold him down. He directed me to rub and massage Eh Htee Kaw’s arms with the medicine.
Sayar U Daung Ni applied the mixture to the blackened thighs and used his heels to forcefully press and massage the bruised tissue. The pain was so excruciating that Eh Htee Kaw screamed in every way imaginable and tried to arch his body to push us off. However, because we were sitting on him to provide leverage, his struggles were ineffective. After thoroughly massaging the front and back of both thighs, the treatment concluded by wrapping the legs tightly from the upper thighs down to the calves with old bandages.
The pain of the injury was bad enough, but the pain of the treatment was so intense that even those watching felt the agony. Sayar U Daung Ni was drenched in sweat from the physical exertion. Despite his fatigue, he offered these words:
“By breaking up the clots while the blood is still hot, he will be able to walk tomorrow. Otherwise, it would be very difficult. Because we did this, he will be walking easily tomorrow. Do not worry.”
To be honest, I was privately worried that Sayar U Daung Ni’s aggressive treatment might have caused more damage, leaving Eh Htee Kaw unable to even stand the next day.
Looking back, I realize my doubts were rooted in a lack of experience. One only truly understands how to overcome an obstacle after having gone through it.
The next morning, as we carried our bags to the bus station, I watched Eh Htee Kaw closely. He was walking normally, just like anyone else. When I asked if he was okay, he replied, “Yes, I’m fine. I’m good now.”
In the context of traditional Lethwei, matches in rural areas often take place far from modern medical care. In these situations, we rely on traditional Lethwei healing methods. While Sayar U Daung Ni’s deep-tissue massage might not align with modern medical views, it allowed Eh Htee Kaw to walk the next day, and we all returned smoothly to Yangon.
Kyaw Soe
(‘Nagaman’ Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Club)
Remarks on the above event
After almost ninety minutes of fighting, the fighter Eh Htee Kaw suffered severe bruising and swelling in his legs from repeated low kicks. With no doctors or clinics nearby, experienced members of the Lethwei community used traditional healing methods such as deep-tissue massage, mustard oil, camphor, and compression wrapping. The treatment was very painful, but the fighter reportedly walked normally the next day.
While some parts of this treatment differ from modern medical practice, several aspects can be explained by sports science and medicine.
Severe Muscle Bruising and Hematomas
The dark purple color in Eh Htee Kaw’s thighs suggest he had severe muscle bruises and hematomas. A contusion happens when a hard hit damages muscle fibers and small blood vessels under the skin. Blood leaks into the surrounding tissue, causing swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
In combat sports, repeated low kicks can seriously injure the quadriceps muscles. When blood and fluid build up in damaged tissue, pressure inside the muscle rises, which makes it harder to move and walk.
Massage and Improved Circulation
One possible benefit of the strong massage was better circulation. Massage physically stimulates blood vessels and soft tissue, which can improve blood flow to injured muscles. Better circulation brings more oxygen, nutrients, immune cells, and proteins that help repair tissue.
It also helps remove waste products, such as lactate, damaged cells, and excess fluid, from the injured area.
Lymphatic Drainage and Swelling Reduction
The treatment may have also influenced the lymphatic system. This system removes extra fluid and inflammatory substances from injured tissue. Severe bruising often leads to edema, which is swelling from trapped fluid.
Deep massage can create pressure changes in the tissue that help drain this fluid. Reducing swelling lowers tissue pressure, which can ease pain and help muscles move better.
Neuromuscular Relaxation and Muscle Spasms
Another possible reason for the treatment working may have been neuromuscular relaxation. After an injury, muscles often tighten up as a protective response from the nervous system, which can cause stiffness and limit movement.
Applying strong pressure may temporarily reduce muscle spasms by stimulating sensory receptors in the muscles and connective tissue. This could have helped the fighter regain enough flexibility to walk more easily the next day.
Mustard Oil, Heat, and Tissue Recovery
The mustard oil and camphor mixture mentioned in this story may have also helped with recovery. Mustard oil contains compounds that produce a warming sensation and mildly irritate the skin. This irritation can trigger vasodilation, which is the widening of blood vessels.
When blood vessels widen, more blood flows to the surface, which can warm the tissue and make it more flexible. It can also assist in the recovery of the injured tissue. Heat is often used in sports medicine during later recovery because warmer muscles usually move better and feel less stiff.
Camphor and Pain Relief
Camphor has been used in pain-relief products for a long time. It activates sensory receptors in the skin that can produce cooling and warming feelings. These sensations can interrupt pain signals through a process called counterirritation.
Simply put, the nervous system gets partly distracted by the strong sensations from camphor, so deeper muscle pain feels less intense. Modern creams for sore muscles and joint pain still use camphor and menthol for these reasons.
Compression Wrapping and Tissue Support
Wrapping the legs tightly probably worked as a form of compression therapy. Compression is common in modern sports medicine to limit swelling and support injured tissue.
Putting pressure on the area reduces the amount of fluid that builds up and can help keep muscle tissue stable during movement. Compression can also help blood flow back to the heart more efficiently, which reduces fluid pooling in injured limbs.
Psychological Effects and Pain Tolerance
Psychological factors may have also been important in the fighter’s recovery. The healer kept reassuring everyone that the treatment would let Eh Htee Kaw walk the next day.
Belief in the treatment can affect how people feel pain through both psychological and neurological effects. Lowering fear and anxiety can lower the body’s stress response, reduce muscle tension, and help the athlete perform better. Combat athletes also develop high pain tolerance from repeated physical and mental stress.
Risks from a Modern Medical Perspective
At the same time, modern medicine may see risks in this kind of treatment. Forceful massage right after a serious injury could worsen bleeding within the muscle or increase inflammation.
In rare cases, excessive muscle swelling can cause compartment syndrome, a dangerous condition that limits blood flow and damages nerves and tissues. Today, modern sports medicine professionals would typically assess the injury before using deep-tissue techniques.
Traditional Knowledge and Modern Sports Recovery
Even so, many principles from the traditional treatment are still used in modern recovery and rehabilitation. Massage, heat, compression, improved circulation, reduced swelling, and gradual restoration of movement are all important in sports injury recovery today.
This story demonstrates how traditional Lethwei coaches, trainers, practitioners, and communities developed practical treatments based on observation and experience. While perhaps not scientific, the Lethwei healers’ traditional treatments, or at least certain aspects of them, seem to have provided real physical benefits, helping the fighter walk again by the next day.
Medical and Safety Disclaimer
This testimonial discusses traditional healing methods used in a historical Lethwei setting and is intended for educational, cultural, and analytical purposes only.
The treatments described, including aggressive deep-tissue massage, forceful pressure on bruised muscles, and tightly wrapping injured limbs, may carry serious medical risks if performed improperly. Severe bruising, swelling, muscle trauma, head injuries, and prolonged physical exertion can involve conditions that require professional medical evaluation and treatment.
Attempting to replicate the techniques described in this story without proper medical supervision could result in worsening injuries, internal bleeding, nerve damage, compartment syndrome, blood clots, infection, permanent disability, or other serious complications. Modern sports medicine standards generally recommend that significant combat sports injuries be evaluated by qualified healthcare professionals.
This testimonial and any associated commentary are not intended to provide any medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Individuals with injuries or health concerns should seek care from licensed medical professionals.
Patrick Finley Ph.D., M.A.
FAQs
1. Why did traditional Lethwei fighters rely on folk remedies so heavily?
Many matches took place in rural areas without nearby clinics or doctors. Fighters and trainers had to improvise treatments using whatever materials and experience they had available.
2. Why is massage commonly used after heavy leg kicks in Lethwei?
The goal is to reduce stiffness and swelling before the muscles tighten further. Strong massage can also stimulate circulation, which may help damaged tissue recover movement faster.
3. What role do oils and liniments play in traditional treatment?
Mixtures like mustard oil and camphor create heat and strong skin sensations that temporarily ease pain and loosen stiff muscles. They function more like recovery aids than miracle cures.
4. Why is compression wrapping used on injured legs?
Tight wrapping helps control swelling and supports damaged muscles during movement. Similar compression methods still exist in modern sports recovery today.
5. Are traditional Lethwei remedies medically accepted today?
Some methods overlap with modern recovery principles, but others carry real risks if done improperly. Traditional treatments were often practical solutions for environments where professional care was unavailable.
