Gua Sha promotes blood flow, helping the body flush away toxins and waste products more effectively. Furthermore, the scraping creates what practitioners refer to as microtrauma – breaking down scar tissue and decreasing inflammation.
Minichiello describes how practitioners will scrape across a patient’s lubricated skin using a smooth-edged tool such as a Chinese soup spoon or buffalo horn to produce tiny pinpoint red spots called petechiae which indicate there may be blood underneath the surface of the skin, Minichiello says.
1. Reduces Stress
Gua sha is an effective, relaxing practice that sends signals to your nervous system that it is time for relaxation, lowering levels of stress hormones and giving your body time to reset itself.
At each treatment session, a smooth-edged tool such as a small wooden spoon or buffalo horn is gently used to scrape over muscles and other parts of the body, leaving tiny red or purple spots known as petechiae that indicate there is blood underneath the skin.
These spots form when broken blood vessels release trapped oxygen, making gua sha an integral component. Furthermore, their appearance signifies healthy circulation which reduces pain and inflammation. Though gua sha can be done anywhere on your body, Minichiello recommends targeting areas of high tension such as temples or shoulders where chronic neck pain exists for maximum effectiveness.
Studies conducted on gua sha have demonstrated its efficacy at treating muscular tension in the neck and relieving headaches, while providing headache relief. Gua sha may also help alleviate symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes, fatigue and mood shifts according to another research article published in Menopause journal.
Most people tolerate Gua Sha well; however, it may not be suitable for those with thin or fragile skin conditions such as Psoriasis or Eczema which can tear the surface layer. You should also consult your practitioner if you have heart conditions or are taking blood thinners as the gentle trauma to the skin could potentially trigger bleeding in those cases. For optimal results, start off slowly using only light pressure before gradually applying more. Additionally don’t use over open wounds or sunburns!
2. Relieves Pain
Rubbing skin with a flat tool called a gua sha brush or stone is intended to disperse stagnant energy responsible for inflammation. According to licensed acupuncturist Tim Sobo at Cleveland Clinic’s licensed acupuncture, it may help relieve pain by decreasing inflammation and increasing circulation; further research should confirm these benefits.
Gua sha may offer other health benefits as well, including treating autoimmune diseases such as lupus. A study on men exercising with chronic mechanical neck pain who received gua sha treatments demonstrated less fatigue – suggesting the technique helped promote muscle recovery.
Gua sha has also been proven to help ease the symptoms associated with perimenopause, according to one study: women who participated in 15-minute gua sha sessions once every week as part of an integrated therapy treatment program experienced less hot flashes, fatigue and depression symptoms than their counterparts who only received traditional therapies such as acupuncture or other forms of bodywork (for instance acupuncture alone did not make much difference).
If you suffer from diabetes or poor circulation, consult with a healthcare provider before using Gua Sha. People on blood thinners or with blood clotting disorders shouldn’t use Gua Sha, and any open wounds, sunburn or rashes on your body shouldn’t be treated using this therapy either. Furthermore, experts advise avoiding this form of therapy due to scraping as this may tear it.
After your session of Gua Sha, you may notice reddish-brown or speckled bruising in the area where you had it done. These marks, known as petechiae (bursting capillaries caused by pressure), indicate that Gua Sha has stimulated your immune system.
3. Improves Sleep
Gua Sha, or Gua-sha, is used to release any stagnant energy (qi or chi) which causes pain. Rubbing the skin generates light bruising which eventually forms purple or red spots known as petechiae or sha on the body – this improves circulation, relieves pain and tension as well as helping eliminate toxins according to UW integrative medicine doctor Minichiello who teaches this technique.
Used for chronic neck pain, arthritis, muscle spasms, fibromyalgia and general joint stiffness. Also used to alleviate headaches caused by stress as well as conditions like migraine. According to one study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice journal it may even help relieve some perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep issues fatigue and mood changes according to Mayo Clinic reports.
Studies on 48 people with neck pain found that using Gua Sha for just one week reduced discomfort — though more research needs to be conducted in order to establish its long-term effectiveness. Gua Sha can also assist those living with diabetic neuropathy – caused when high blood sugar damages nerves throughout the body – by decreasing pain levels and increasing mobility; in one small trial Gua Sha was found to significantly help this group of individuals.
Gua sha is generally safe for most adults, though it is wise to apply only light pressure when conducting it on vulnerable areas like hands, eyes, open wounds or sunburned skin. Furthermore, Houshmand cautions that those taking blood thinners or having blood-clotting disorders shouldn’t participate. Furthermore, children, elderly individuals or anyone with thin skin might find it uncomfortable; to minimize any bruises it would be wiser to apply the tool carefully so as to not cause any bruises with each application of pressure from the tool itself.
4. Increases Flexibility
Gua sha is believed to promote healthy energy and blood flow through its scraping technique, stimulating circulation and clearing blockages from meridians (energy highways in your body). Gua sha also assists cells in transporting oxygen, nutrients and waste products out of cells more effectively.
Massage can be used anywhere on the body, though its primary use is for neck, back, and shoulder discomfort since research supports its benefits in those areas, according to Minichiello. Massage has also been proven effective at relieving headaches by relieving muscle tension that contributes to headaches; one study published in Pain Medicine provides further evidence.
Gua sha can produce bright red or dark red marks on the skin called petechiae, signaling there are toxins trapped under the surface that need to be released through massage therapy. Once complete, these marks should fade within a few days; to ensure optimal results a therapist may choose to sterilize their tool or apply protective oils like jojoba, shea butter or olive over the bruised area for best results.
Gua sha can help improve the appearance of your face by decreasing puffiness, swelling and other symptoms associated with aging and disease. It has also been successfully used to treat chronic liver inflammation caused by Hepatitis B virus infection. One case study reported a 70% decrease in symptoms for Tourette syndrome after 35 once-week treatments of Gua Sha combined with Acupuncture and Herbs; more research may show its efficacy at helping manage symptoms associated with Perimenopause such as hot flashes, insomnia and mood changes.
5. Reduces Blood Pressure
Gua sha, according to Arya Nielsen, an acupuncturist and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, helps increase blood flow to bring oxygen and nutrients that heal tissues while simultaneously relieving excess fluid accumulations that contribute to inflammation. Furthermore, this form of therapy also releases excess toxins that could otherwise contribute to discomfort.
Tim Sobo of Cleveland Clinic tells that gua sha can also relieve headaches, migraines, fatigue, insomnia and anxiety; more research needs to be conducted in this regard. He advises anyone considering this time-honored muscular scraping technique speak with their physician first to see if it’s right for them; those taking blood thinners or having clotting disorders might not benefit as much, while sensitive skin could potentially be negatively affected.
As Gua Sha involves pressing and scraping your skin with tools, tiny blood vessels near the surface may burst and leave light bruising or indentation behind; this bruising should dissipate within several days. Because of this risk, practitioners regularly disinfect their tools between patients.
One study discovered that gua sha may help treat diabetic neuropathy, caused by high levels of glucose damaging nerves in the feet and legs. According to other research, it may also break down microscopic scar tissue adhesions which may help relieve neck pain in some people and ease perimenopausal symptoms in women such as hot flashes and sleep problems according to one 2019 study.
Gua sha is most often performed by acupuncturists and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners alongside acupuncture treatments, but physical therapists trained in the Graston Technique may also practice it. You can find it at spas and wellness centers offering massage therapy services; for optimal results it should always be performed by someone certified both for acupuncture and gua sha.
