Gua Sha is both an instrument and a therapeutic technique within Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Gua Sha could be described as a small spatula, although it can take many forms. With Gua Sha, frictions on the skin are performed like a scraping, to stimulate the circulation of Qi, the Blood and the Body Fluids towards the area. The friction generates heat and opens the pores, helping to eliminate pathogens like Wind-Cold. And the mobilization of fluids and Blood helps to dissolve stagnations.

It is a technique that does not require great knowledge or expensive materials, so it is popular as a "home treatment", for example in cases of Cold Wind attack that produces contractures or colds. It is also used as a facial cosmetic self-treatment.

Gua Sha Materials

Gua Sha is usually made:

• Of plastic. Economical and lightweight.
• Of ox horn. It is an economical and lightweight material, but it cannot be disinfected well.
• Of minerals. Jade, quartz... It is heavier and more delicate, but it brings the energetic quality of the mineral to the treatment.
• Of Bian stone.
• Of metal. Brass, stainless steel. They disinfect well and have great durability.
• Other objects can be used to perform Gua Sha such as porcelain spoons.

The varied shapes of Gua Sha allow it to adapt to different body areas and contour around bones.

How to apply Gua Sha

Remember to disinfect the Gua Sha before and after each patient. The scraping of Gua Sha releases many dead cells and stimulates the expulsion of toxins, although not blood, it is convenient to disinfect for hygiene. Use some bactericidal product.

Depending on the technique we use, if it is intense we will apply an oil on the body to perform the Gua Sha treatment without damaging the skin. Better an oil of sesame, because it is of hot nature.

If we are going to make gentle frictions to tonify, we can do it without oil.

We support the Gua Sha by one of its edges on the area to be treated and slide with sufficient pressure to stretch the skin, making a linear movement, scraping the skin. It is not a friction in both directions, we only friction in one direction, lift and return to the start of the path. In several frictions, we will see that the skin is reddening by the stimulus.

Adapt to the sensitivity of the person, it does not have to be a painful treatment.

Diagnosis

• If the skin reddens very quickly when stimulating with Gua Sha, it indicates fullness, congestion or stagnation.
• If the skin, on the contrary, takes time to color when frictioning with Gua Sha and becomes only pink, it will indicate deficiency.

Tonification and dispersion

If we make a gentle stimulus with Gua Sha and friction only until the area becomes pink and hot, we are tonifying. It is a suitable treatment for people with Qi, Blood or Yang deficiency. We are stimulating the circulation of Qi and Blood and relieving tensions.

If we make a scraping with faster and more intense strokes, for longer time, some petechiae or blood spots appear on the skin. These marks are the Sha of Gua Sha. It is the expression that the pathogenic energy is being expelled, the accumulated toxins and mobilizing the stagnant Blood. It is dispersion. These marks, like the circular marks of the Cupping are part of the therapeutic treatment, they are not a damage. However, it is necessary to inform the patient before the treatment that they may appear and disappear in three days.

After Gua Sha

A slight feeling of pain and reddened skin is normal. It is good to take an infusion or hot water to replace fluids. As you have sweated and unlocked the surface, for a while after the treatment it is recommended to:

• Avoid sudden temperature changes.
• Avoid showering.
• Avoid taking sun.

Indications of Gua Sha

• Releases the surface. Very useful in case of beginning of Cold Wind attack: the frictions in the interscapular area help to stimulate Lung and the Bladder Channel, to expel the cold wind and relieve back pain, contractures and torticollis. The massage can be extended to the entire back where discomfort is felt.
• Relaxes muscles and tendons: muscle contractures.
• Drain, reduce swelling and accumulations of an area. Gua Sha is also used for cosmetic purposes, with great gentleness on the face.
• Releases accumulated toxins in the skin.

Contraindications of Gua Sha

Do not perform Gua Sha treatment on:

• Skin lesions such as burns, cuts.
• Skin eruptions, pimples.
• Bruises.

Also avoid in:

• Elderly patients with very thin and fragile skin.
• People taking anticoagulants.
• Pregnant women.
• Hemophiliacs.