Baoding Balls

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Baoding Balls

Baoding ball were (according to popular belief) created in Baoding, China, during the Ming dynasty. In that town, they call them Iron Balls, because they were originally made out of iron. Now, they come in all types of materials, but usually are light, hollow, chrome plated steel, with an optional noise maker inside. Baoding balls come in many sizes, usually within 30 (child sized) to 60 (for tall men) millimeters.

They can be used for exercise. One variation is to, inside one palm, rotate them counter-clockwise and clockwise, using gravity to help you maintain control over them. Avoid having them bump loudly, some try to not let them touch at all. Better users often do more than two in one hand.

By manipulating them in your hand, you can also work the forearm and shoulder muscles, as they are connected.

In addition to the health benefits of exercise, practitioners of Alternative Medicine believes they can, by interacting with acupuncture points on the hand, be used for many medical purposes.

Some baoding balls have small bumps in them. These balls are known as health balls and the small bumps help mould temperant and stimulate the circulation of the blood as well as to relax the muscles and joints. They can be used for the prevention and cure of numbness and trembeling of hands, arthrittis in fingers and wrists, and hypertension. For these benefits the balls are widely used by the medical circle.

There are apocryphal legends of the iron version being used as weapons, but no reliable sources describe this.

Golf-balls also prove to be sufficient as Baoding Balls.