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Ancient Modifications - Alternative Look

Neck Stretching - Brass Neck Rings

October 29th 2008 21:00

Although, this practice isn't for the modern world, there are still civilizations who practice neck stretching for one reason or another. The tradition actually started as a means to indicate the wealth of a family, but for the most part, currently, women still practice the tradition for money from tourists.

For the most part the tradition is that of African and Asian cultures. Some of the more common people include the Kayan people from Myanmar and the people of Thailand. But, you'll find that girls of Ndebele in South Africa wore neck rings to signify their marriage, versus the ideal of overall beauty.

Basically the women start at the age of 5 years old with their first brass neck ring, and as the child ages and grows, more rings are added, until the neck is stretched 10" to 15" long.

The actual brass neck rings push the collarbone and the ribs down while stretching the neck muscles. In order to reach full length, it takes women years of slowly stretching their necks and carefully adding the brass neck rings.

The rings do not stretch the neck, just the neck muscles, and for the most part, the actual neck stretch is an illusion because what it's really doing is weighing down the collar bone, to some extent. The weight of the brass rings twist the collar bone and the upper ribs. The actual vertebrae do not elongate, as though you were stretching the tissues of a piercing.

A woman with an elongated neck cannot drink from a cup or look up at the sky. She much use a straw to drink and just not look at the sky, as she will overbalance herself and fall.

A person with stretched neck can suffer many difficulties, some of which can include:

* Occlusion of blood floor.
* Hematoma
* Difficulties with neck muscles
* Pain from the weight of the brass rings
* Infection under the neck rings if unwashed.
* Weakened neck muscles if the brass rings are removed and left to heal and recover (in lesser cases).
* Death caused by choking on tongue if the neck rings are removed in more extreme cases.
* Bone structure deformation, which can recover only in lesser cases of elongation and fewer neck rings.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Ancient Modifications

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Chinese Foot Binding

October 25th 2008 22:05

Although, foot binding isn't a modern practice, it is still a very interesting body modification that was a very popular practice in the beginning of the 10th century all through the early 20th century. Basically, it's an extreme body modification that shows how such an extreme deformity of today's standards can be seen as a source of beauty.

Although there are different theories as to the beginning of the foot binding process. For the most part, though, it seems that women with small feet were thought of as more beautiful, so women of higher class would practice foot binding to be more appealing and so that they could wear the cute small shoes. Poor women needed to be able to work in the fields, so they did not practice this mdofication.

Basically, young girls' feet were wrapped with tight bandages so that the feet could not grow and develop naturally. The feet would instead bread and become highly deformed, typically not reaching bpast 4-6 inches long. Then, as the girl would age, her feet would stay the same size, which would actually lead to infection, paralysis, and even muscular attrophy. Basically, females who practiced foot binding, were not able to do anything strenuous; they even had trouble preparing meals and performing regular household duties that required them to be on their feet for long periods.

What is said is that the ideal sized foot was 3 inches long....

In the 17th century, Manchus tried to abolish the practice, be he failed. He was able to forbid Manchu women to bind their feet or their daughters. Instead they just wore flower bowl shoes, which gave the appearance of small feet.

But, the practice continued and began to flourish inthe 19th century all the way through the early 20th century before more people began to revolt the practice and actually start the anti-foot binding movement.

In 1911, the Qing Dynasty banned foot binding, and women were forced to unwrap their feet or else they would be killed. After unwrapping their feet, some women's feet actually grew 0.5 to 1 inch; of course this regrowth was very painful and even devasting to some.

1949, when the Communists took over, they maintained the strict ban on footbinding, which is still in effect today.

The Actual Process of Foot Binding
Basically, the mother or grandmother began binding the daughter or granddaughter's feet between the age of 4 and 7 before the arch of the foot had a change to properly develop.

Usually, they would start in the winter months so that the feet were numb and the pain would not be as severe.

First, both feet would be soaked in herbs and animal blood, which was thought to cause any necrotised flesh to fall off. Then the toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent ingrowth and infections.

The feet where massaged and prepared for the silk or cotton bandages that were about 10 feet long and 2 inches wide, which were also soaked in the herbs and animal blood.

Then, the toes were broken and wrapped in the wet bandages, which would constrict when dried. The bandages were pulled very tightly downward towards the heal. Sometimes they had to make deep cuts in the sole.

Every two days, this was repeated with fresh bindings, and each time the feet were rebound tigheter, which makes the full practice very painful.

Common Complications During the Practice of Foot Binding
The most common problem during the foot binding process was infection. Sometimes the toenails would ingrow potentially causing flesh rotting, and sometimes causing the toes to fall off. Disease followed infection, which could potentially lead to deaht. And, sometimes, the ball of the foot would grow into the heal.

As the girl grew older, foot binding could cause other medical complications, and as the girl grew even older, it could lead to breaking hips and other bones. It also caused the women to have trouble standing up after sitting down.