Gua Sha (pronounced “gwa sha,”) is an East Asian healing technique. Gua means to scrape or rub. Sha is a ‘reddish, elevated, millet-like skin rash’. Sha is the term used to describe Blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae. Gua Sha is the technique that intentionally raises Sha rash or petechiae.
When is Gua Sha used?
Gua Sha is usually used when a patient has pain whether associated with an acute or chronic disorder. There may be aching, tenderness and/or a knotty feeling in the muscles. Palpation reveals Sha when normal finger pressure on a patient’s skin causes blanching that is slow to fade. In addition to resolving musculo skeletal pain, Gua Sha is used to treat and prevent common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, as well as any chronic disorder involving pain, congestion of Qi and Blood.
Gua Sha is effective to treat below conditions:
Reduce fever (the technique was used to treat cholera).
Treat fatigue caused by exposure to heat (often used to treat heat-stroke) or cold.
Cough and dyspnea: bronchitis, asthma, emphysema.
Treat muscle and tendon injuries.
Push sluggish circulation, fibromyalgia.
Treat headache.
Treat sunstrokes / heat syncope and nausea.
Treat stiffness, pain, immobility.
Treat digestive disorders.
Treat urinary, gynecological disorders.
To assist with reactions to food poisoning.
Where is Gua Sha applied?
Sha is raised primarily at the Yang surface of the body: the back, face, neck, shoulders, buttocks, and limbs. On occasion, Gua Sha is applied at the chest and abdomen.
Gua Sha Procedure
Lubricate the area with Gua Sha oil, or white flower oil
Skip the areas with moles, cuts or unhealed areas.
Hold the gua sha tool at a thirty degree angle to the skin allowing the smooth edge will touch the skin.
The skin is then rubbed with a round-edged instrument in downward strokes.
One area is stroked until the petechiae that surface are completely raised. If there is no Blood stasis the petechiae will not form and the skin will only turn pink.
Gua Sha stroke areas
Observe that the sha petechiae should fade in about 2-4 days. If it takes longer to fade, it indicates poor blood circulation and there may be more serious deficiency that will require additional treatments with combination of acupuncture or acupressure in specific areas. Gua sha treatment can be used up to three times weekly, and is most effective when used as a wee. ly treatment on chronic conditions.
What does the type of Sha indicate?
The color of the Sha is both diagnostic and prognostic. Very light colored Sha can indicate Deficiency of Blood. If the Sha is fresh red, it is of recent penetration. If the Sha is purple or black, the Blood stasis is long-standing. If brown, the Blood may be dry. Dark red Sha can indicate heat.
What are the benefits of Gua Sha?
In most cases the patient feels immediate improvement in their condition particularly in their pain or sense of constraint. Gua Sha moves stuck Qi and Blood, releases the exterior mimicking sweating, and moves Fluids. In a modern medical construct these fluids contain metabolic waste that congested the surface tissues and muscles. Gua Sha promotes circulation and normalizes metabolic processes. It is a valuable treatment for both external and internal pain, and facilitates the resolution of both acute and chronic disorders.
Face Gua Sha
Gua Sha can be applied on face and eye. Gua Sha is used to extract toxic waste, remove blood stagnation, promote normal circulation and metabolic processes of the body. It removes blockage, improves blood circulation and fluid flow. Gua Sha is known to be effective in removing dark eye circle, puffy eye bag, lighten pigmentation and sharpen the face.
Face Gua Sha Promotion
Is Gua Sha Safe?
Gua Sha is a completely safe technique, but it is serious medicine. Knowing when to use it and what to expect from treatment is as important as good technique. People who live in chronic pain often erect emotional defenses to cope with it or can feel completely hopeless. Having that pain ‘touched’ and relieved can be unsettling, even shocking. It is good to be moderate in activity after treatment, even rest. After treatment, stay mellow, no drugs, booze, vigorous activity, exercise, fasting, feasting or hard labor for the rest of the day.
How to use:
First apply a few Gua Sha oil to the skin surface. This oil is designed for the Gua Sha treatment it contains medicinal herbs with properties which will enhance the blood moving (circulating) or toxin eliminating function of Gua Sha treatment.
Then take the Gua sha tool( there Re many to choose from) ,and slowly and continuously making long strokes, robe downward from the neck down the posterior aspect of the back ( which is the most common area, but not the only area - other areas such as chest, arms and legs are also treated.)
Initially a few red spots will be visible, and will guide you where to concentrate on. Continue for approximately 5 to 10 minutes depending on the condition and severity. Some purple marks could also appear. In young patients, on ly a pink glow will appear.
Gua Sha is a safe, simple and effective traditional procedure. The marks (if any) will only be visible for a few days, before disappearing. An early feeling of relief and recovery is reported by adherents of Traditional Chinese Medicines.
Do's
- use medicinal oil on the body and limbs to facilitate scraping. However, it is not necessary to apps the oil to the head.
- Gua Sha strokes should be firm in pressure and even In speed. However,do not scrape with too much force to prevent injury to the skin.
-Each some should be about four to five inches long, repeated 10-30 times, or until the skin is slightly warm.
-Scrape in a downward motion, of outward from the centre of the body .
-Drink a glass of warm water after a Gua Sha session to help the body dispel toxins.
Dont's
-Avoid using a back and forth movement.
-Avoid using coins or plastic tools as scrapers. They may hurt your skin.
- do not scrape on bony areas of the body, e.g.directly above the spine.
-Do not use the Gua Sha when there is a fan or air-conditioner blowing directly at you; coverup the scraped area immediately with a towel to avoid catching a chill.
- If Sha appears, allow it to subsides (2 to 4 days) before you scare the same area again.
When not to use Gua Sha?
While scraping therapy can be used by most people avoid it if you have any of the following conditions:
- Recent fractures, surgical scars or wounds on the skin.
-Contagious s,in diseases
-Pregnancy
-Menstruation
-Lumps of the body of unknown cause.
For those interested in trying out this ancient therapy method,the following diagram provide a guide Gua Sha Therapy
