“People in my village and even in Kathmandu believe that bokshis (witches or women who practice black magic) suck blood of other women to harm them,” she says. [break]
And for her, this myth holds true to some extent. With some hesitation, she says, “I know you won’t believe such stuffs.”
She then describes the phenomenon.
“Usually, the night before I get the patches, I feel like someone is talking to me when I’m half asleep.” Accordingly, the patches seem like someone has bitten her with teeth. However, till this date, she has not consulted any doctor for it. “If the case isn’t severe, I don’t visit doctors,” she shares.
“The mark of upper and lower teeth remains for a couple of days and it pains as well,” she adds.
Normally, the patches occur when skin brushes against furniture, and at other times they appear without any apparent reason.
“Nepali women still hold to the myth that such blue patches are marks after the bokshis bite and suck their blood,” says Dr. Uma Shrivastava, an endocrinologist and director of Infertility Care Center in Kathmandu.
According to her, such blue patches are frequent amongst women who are anemic.
“Such cases are related to different bleeding factors and blood veins of our respective bodies,” informs Dr. Shrivastava.
Accordingly, such patches develop often if there is any kind of deficiency in blood components or the person’s blood itself – for instance, in anemia. Generally, women in their fertility period get the patches. Such condition is known as bruises, bluish discoloration of skin, or ecchymosis.
“A woman’s body is in need of blood as there is a heavy loss of it during menstruation. Thus, the blood capillaries burst in specific areas, causing bleeding under the skin,” Dr Shrivastava adds.
Besides, such bluish bruises also occur in women who have had their menopause, or are in that phase, as changes occur in the blood-clotting factor, which also affects the coloring factor of blood. And similar is the case in girls who have just reached their puberty. In the meantime, if there is deficiency of Vitamin C, then such bruises occur frequently.
As an early treatment, the doctor suggests taking iron capsules since it boosts hemoglobin. However, if this does not help, it is wise to have a blood test.
Dr Shrivastava explains, the second layer of body skin has the most blood veins among the three layers. So if there is any kind of pressure on the capillaries, then bleeding can occur in the second layer of skin. But there can be no superficial bleeding. Blue patches appear more often if it is aplastic anemia. Usually, in this type of anemia, there is superficial bleeding and a continuous one, such as from the ears and nose.
Bluish discoloration of the skin can be related to many diseases. For instance, liver disease, scurvy, abnormal functioning of the kidneys, eye diseases, hormonal disorder, problems in circulatory functions, and lack of blood platelet, which helps in blood-clotting.
“Unlike women, men don’t lose blood from their bodies so such patches are rare in them. If it appears then it’s serious,” says the doctor. The patches might develop on men with liver cirrhosis or hormonal disorder. Men with hemophilia, a genetic disorder, also get such patches.
Explaining the shape of the patch which appears like a bite mark, the doctor says, “It’s hypnotism. Because everyone has been repeating the same thing, we also feel that it’s a tooth mark. But actually, it’s the path of blood vessels, which can vary.”
Well, so much for the bokshi’s bites on the body!
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