What is Gua Sha?
Gua sha is a practice in which a tool is used to decrease blood stasis in the skin and within sore, tired, stiff, or injured muscle areas to stimulate new oxygenated blood flow to the areas, thus promoting metabolic cell repair, regeneration, healing, and recovery. Gua sha is sometimes referred to as "scraping", "spooning" or "coining" by English speakers. Tools used include coins, ceramic soup spoons, rounded flat tools of jade or semi precious stones and stainless steel.
What is it used to treat?
Gua Sha is clinically used in Chinese medicine for various acute and chronic illnesses such as heat stroke, dizziness, GI and abdominal issues, nausea vomiting, fever, cough and pain and soft tissue injuries. It is often useful for releasing muscle tension in the Back, shoulders, Neck, Feet, legs and Arms. improving microcirculation and restructuring fascia to help tone and smooth skin and help to destress. It is also used to decrease inflammation, decrease migraine pain, perimenopausal symptoms including hot flashes, breast pain during breast feeding.
What does a treatment involve?
Skin is typically lubricated with massage oil or balm, and commonly a rounded smooth ceramic or jade tool is scraped using repeated pressed strokes are made over the lubricated skin in order to produce light peteciae - small, red, dots that show under the skin. You might also have gua sha done on your face, but that process would be gentler.
How does it work?
Even though it's a 2,000 year old treatment, there is much modern scientific conversation to describe how acupuncture works. Acupuncture points are at areas known as channels or meridians. In western medicine these areas correspond to regions of increased nerve and circulatory activity. The needles stimulate these regions activating the body to increase local blood flow to flush out pain chemicals and bring in healing chemicals to the local area. They also induce the release of natural pain killers and endorphins ('feel good' chemicals) that calm the nervous system to prevent pain signals and encourage relaxation.
What about side effects/risks?
Typically, gua sha is considered safe. However, you may have some bruising or discoloration of your skin. You could also be sore and tender for a short while after you have your treatment. You shouldn't have gua sha if you're taking medicine for blood clots. If a patient has a bleeding disease, like hemophilia, has a metal allergy, or has an infection in a treatment site, they will be asked to consult their medical doctor before Gua Sha treatment. Due to the effects of this stimulation, pregnant patients should ensure the acupuncturist is aware before treatment.