(Minghui.org) Raynaud’s disease is characterized by spasm of the small blood vessels in the fingers, toes, or other extremities, which blocked circulation. It is triggered by cold temperatures, emotional stress, or certain auto-immune medical conditions, such as lupus.
During an attack, the fingertips turn white and can become cyanotic if blood flow isn’t restored. This typically begins at the fingertips and can spread down the entire finger or even to the palm. The condition is accompanied by numbness.
I had this problem for 20 years, which began after severe frostbite damaged the small blood vessels and nerves in my hands, after which I suffered greatly.
I have been frail and sickly since childhood. Every winter was a grueling ordeal. I suffered from frequent colds and coughs—the kind that were stubborn and hard to shake off—and often lay awake at night coughing. I also developed chronic sinusitis and tonsillitis, which led to headaches and nasal congestion. I had to breathe through my mouth while sleeping, which caused a sore throat and made it impossible to get proper rest.
Although I used nasal drops every night before bed, they provided only temporary relief. I would often wake in the middle of the night, gasping for air because my nose was completely blocked—a truly miserable experience. After giving birth, I developed hemorrhoids and chronic low blood pressure, which frequently made me dizzy and groggy. I even fainted several times, which frightened my family.
In 1979, after graduating from junior high, I attended a vocational college in another city. That winter was exceptionally cold; there was no central heating—only a single coal stove in each dormitory and classroom. None of us students, having left home for the first time, knew how to light the stove, and we were afraid of carbon monoxide poisoning, so we simply endured the freezing temperatures.
Sometimes, upon waking, I found the water in my washbasin frozen solid. When I had frostbite on my hands and feet, they turned red and swelled. As they thawed while I slept, the pain and itching were excruciating; in the morning, my fingers were so swollen and sore that I couldn’t even make a fist or wash my clothes.
When the skin cracked, it was incredibly difficult to heal. Over time, the frostbite damaged the small blood vessels, capillaries, and nerves in my hands and feet—irreversible damage that cannot be cured, leaving me with Raynaud’s disease.
For nearly 20 years after that, no matter how well I protected myself, my hands and feet still got frostbite every year. Winter was particularly grueling, and the chapped skin that cracked open led to two serious infections.
The swelling started in my hands and spread up to my forearms and elbows, and it was excruciatingly painful. Fortunately, I found an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who treated me with acupuncture and herbal poultices, which ultimately led to my recovery. However, the doctors were unable to repair the damaged blood vessels and nerves.
This painful ordeal ended in 1998. By then, my cousin was practicing Falun Dafa and had benefited immensely. He previously had numerous ailments brought on by overwork, but after practicing, he became radiant with health and felt completely free of illness. Witnessing his transformation, I became curious and borrowed a copy of the book Zhuan Falun from him.
After reading this precious book, I was deeply moved by the principles of the Fa. My worldview was transformed. I came to understand the true meaning of life—returning to one’s original, true self—and realized that Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance are the universal characteristics of the cosmos and that cultivating the Fa is a sacred and solemn endeavor.
In the summer of 1998, I began practicing Dafa. I got up early, went to the nearby station square, and spent an hour doing the four standing exercises with a group of practitioners. Then, feeling full of energy, I dove into my daily life and work. In the evenings, I studied the Fa and meditated.
I experienced the wonderful feeling of being enveloped and blessed by energy. My body underwent a dramatic transformation: chronic ailments vanished, I felt light and free of illness, and my whole body was brimming with vitality. I am grateful to Master Li for his compassionate salvation. In my daily life, I strive to uphold the standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and work diligently.
Despite the harsh winter cold, I maintained my daily outdoor practice. Although my hands would get very cold in the low temperatures, I didn’t experience frostbite.
One evening, the weatherman predicted the temperature would drop to minus 10 degrees overnight. I felt apprehensive—should I still go to practice in the morning? Would my hands get frostbitten? Despite my fears, I went to the practice site the next morning and joined the others.
When we reached the third exercise, my hands began to throb with excruciating pain as I moved them up and down. It was indescribable—worse than pouring alcohol on an open wound—and it was unrelenting. I thought my hands must surely be frostbitten, but I gritted my teeth and kept going through my tears.
By the time I finished the third exercise, the pain had vanished. I looked at my hands—not only were they not frostbitten, but they had returned to their normal color, and the palms felt warm. From that day on, my hands have been normal, and Raynaud’s phenomenon has not recurred.
I was so thrilled—the damage to the small blood vessels and local nerves in my hands, once considered irreversible, had been cured. I shared my happiness with those around me. Everyone—family, friends, and colleagues—knew about my annual struggle with frostbite.
While the physical changes might not be immediately obvious, the best proof was my hands. People marveled at the wonders of Falun Dafa cultivation. They all know that Falun Dafa is good, and my family and two close friends from work have also begun practicing.
Such miracles abound among Dafa practitioners. Now, more than 20 years later—despite the severity of the persecution—I remain steadfast in my cultivation of Dafa and enjoy robust health. I use various means to expose the evil persecution and the fabricated lies to the world, and to share the beauty of Falun Dafa, hoping that kind-hearted people will learn the truth, see through the malicious lies, refuse to align with evil, and attain salvation through Dafa.
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Category: Health Benefits
