Why is everyone talking about Gua Sha?

Folk medicine and ancient healing techniques that support health, wellness and longevity.

Gentle strokes help improve lymphatic flow and promote glowing skin

So what is Gua Sha exactly? 

Gua sha is one of the oldest recorded forms of folk and Ancient Chinese medicine treatments.  The technique of Gua Sha is also referred to as coining, spooning or scraping. 

According to the principles of Chinese medicine Gua Sha is a healing method. It may be used along with acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, moxibustion and cupping. 

Chinese medicine practitioners are trained in proper use of Gua Sha and will use it depending on what condition is present. It is often used with acupuncture or as a stand alone treatment.

Gua Sha is also used at home as a folk healing method. It is not uncommon for Asian families to pass down how to do Gua Sha for self treatment or to family members. Just about every Chinese/asian family will have a spoon used for applying Gua Sha as well as favored herbal remedies or secret family recipes. 

It involves press stroking a kind of “scraping” on the skin surface using the edge of a tool with a rounded smooth surface. (like a spoon or jade tool made specifically for Gua Sha)  A lubricant or balm is first applied to the skin to assist with gliding. 

Gua Sha training is taught in Chinese medicine as a healing method to add to an acupuncture treatment or as a stand alone treatment. 

What does the phrase gua sha mean? Gua literally means “scraping” while Sha translates as “toxins and pathogens”; Gua Sha, literally means to "scrape away illness". 

Why would someone want to try gua sha? What conditions does it seem to help the most?

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are great at addressing chronic pain conditions because they address the root(cause) and branch (symptom) of a condition. Gua sha like acupuncture is a non-drug therapy very effective at improving chronic pain conditions.

Someone that has body stiffness and muscle tightness that does not improve with stretching or massage would benefit from acupuncture and adding Gua Sha could also be indicated.

When people are not recovering fully especially with post injury, stress, post surgery, poor mobility, circulation, tendino muscular and pain conditions especially where full range of motion is limited. 

The press stroking/scraping and friction of Gua Sha brings circulation to the area and helps to break up adhesions and smooth fascia and connective tissue.

Gua Sha improves lymph flow and circulation, reducing inflammation.

Gua Sha is used in Chinese medicine to “scrape” away disease or pathogens that are trapped on the surface layer and muscle layer of the body. 

Traditionally Gua Sha is used on large areas of the body such as shoulders and upper back where “Xie Qi '' evil wind try to enter the body. The neck and shoulders become stiff, this is referred to as the body is fighting off the pathogen. 

 Also used in areas of chronic injury where qi and blood become “stuck” causing loss of function.

Other professions now use Gua sha and Chinese cupping techniques for muscular conditions, renaming it such as Graston technique, omitting  that it comes from Chinese Medicine, but it is considered Gua Sha. 

How long might it take to feel benefits from gua sha?

People generally feel immediate relief after receiving Gua Sha, especially improved movement and a feeling of freedom in their body. After getting a Gua Sha therapy it is important to keep the area warm and protected as the “channels” are more open for the body to push out toxins. Exposure to cold can weaken the body or allow pathogens to enter. 

jade gua Sha tools used for the face and neck area

I know our article in She Knows will mention people trying gua sha on their own because of its popularity on social media. However, what would be some benefits for having an acupuncturist to perform it? 

Most of what is on social media are influencers doing facial gua sha attempting to look cool and sell stuff by culturally appropriating a Chinese medicine healing therapy.

Unfortunately these influencers using Gua Sha tools often do not show proper or safe use and take a healing practice out of context making it into a “trendy” thing to do. The benefit for having an acupuncturist perform is they are highly trained in safely and effectively administering Gua Sha. Taking into account meridians, blood vessels, nerves, health and constitution of the patient, anatomy and physiology. Without proper training there is a high chance of injury.

Can you describe what happens during a gua sha "session"?

When You want to explain to the patient what you are going to do and what they may expect to feel as well as clear communications about discomfort. There may be an informed consent form to make sure they understand the therapy, aftercare and that there will be marks that come to the surface that can be dramatic. Sometimes partners or spouses can get shocked.

The area to be treated is examined to make sure skin integrity is intact. Palpation of the tissue and muscles as well as surface pressure to get feedback from the body. This

A lubricant liniment is applied to the skin to assist with gliding. Using the smooth edge of Gua Sha tool gentle stroking called pressure stroking applied to an area of the skin at an angle similar to scraping the skin surface. Gentle steady pressure is done repeatedly in one direction. 

The pressure stroking stimulates the skin surface and microcirculation under the skin. As the practitioner strokes red marks called “sha” come to the surface, this is considered stuck energy, qi and blood in Chinese medicine that readily moves from the tissue.The effect is known as transitory therapeutic petechia, the extravasation of the blood below the skin surface. The marks can look pretty dramatic but they are not painful, patients feel warmth and a freeing of movement. Keeping the area covered after treatment helps the therapeutic effect. 

Too much pressure on the face surface, too many repeated strokes or aggressive passes can damage the capillaries.  Red scraping marks on the face and neck can mean too much pressure and the skin integrity is being damaged.

Additionally if the tool is not properly cleaned it can spread bacteria and result in infections. If a person has rosacea or is prone to herpes, facial gua sha can cause an outbreak. 

Studies show that Gua Sha is therapeutic for reducing pain conditions. Studies also show the effect of Gua Sha has to reduce inflammation and support the immune system.

Would an acupuncturist typically combine gua sha with other treatments, or focus exclusively on gua sha during an appointment?

An acupuncturist would combine other treatments with Gua Sha as it is really great at addressing tendon- muscular conditions and larger surfaces. 

Treatment strategy would be to address the underlying condition, by looking at what channels are involved, internal systems and external presentations such as pain with acupuncture and use Gua Sha or another therapy such as cupping, moxa, or bodywork.

Does gua sha have any side effects?

Gua Sha leaves marks that look like bruising or perhaps beaten with a rubber hose, this can look pretty alarming.

The person will feel a bit sore like a deep tissue massage, they may also feel sleepy or a bit sick, as toxins are flushed from the system. 

Is there anyone who shouldn't have gua sha done (for example, people on blood thinners or people with other conditions)?

Gua Sha is done on people that are relatively healthy so they don’t get weakened by the treatment itself. 

If there is broken skin, a rash, burns or other health conditions that could cause adverse reactions. People with neuropathies, poor healing, skin lesions, on chemotherapy, weak constitutions, infectious disease and blood thinners, 

A practitioner would be able to determine if it would be safe for someone or an individual basis.

With any therapy there are cautions and safety concerns.

Is there anything else to know before someone tries gua sha, either with an acupuncturist or at home?

Most Asian cultures have family traditions of how to treat basic illness with foods, herbs, soaks and other healing methods such as Gua Sha and cupping. The information and training is passed down by practice. 

If you are curious about experiencing Gua Sha, first and foremost you want to look for a practitioner who has trained in the technique.  You can ask them about doing it on your own and offer guidance. They can offer a mini course so you can learn to use it properly and when to use it to treat your family. 

Because Gua Sha is taught as part of Chinese medicine healing practices, the context when using the technique with regard to the health benefit should be considered.

For someone who wants to try gua sha at home (perhaps for facial gua sha), are there any tips to pick the right gua sha tool? How about tips on how to use a gua sha tool effectively?

Before trying any Gua Sha at home especially on the face that has many blood vessels and is delicate I suggest contacting acupuncturists and asking for instruction or taking a course. 

If you are curious about experiencing Gua Sha, first and foremost you want to look for a practitioner who has trained in the technique.  

This is a “physical” treatment that involves pressing the edge of a tool on to the face, having in person guidance is the safest way to learn and then use at home.

Gua Sha is used on areas or segments of the body at a time, you do not Gua Sha the whole body.

An article about Gua Sha for beginners and social media for SheKnows.