What is Gua sha?

Gua sha (sometimes spelled "Guasha") is a traditional Chinese medical modality that has been around for thousands of years and involves using a flat tool to scrape the skin in order to improve circulation and promote healing. It's often used to treat pain and muscle tension, and release pathogens from the skin, but has more recently been adapted as a way to improve skin health and reduce signs of aging. Gua sha is sometimes referred to as "scraping" and is performed by a trained practitioner, but can also be learned as an at-home treatment which is very common in Chinese households.

This scraping technique is performed with a base oil and a scraping tool that can range from a stone board to a Chinese soup spoon. Although this modality looks intense and painful when used for musculoskeletal cases or for releasing pathogens, the majority of my patients enjoy it as it helps detoxify the body and disperse musculoskeletal pain. Most patients will feel temporary pain depending on how much pressure is used during the immediate treatment; but this pain quickly subsides as tension is released.

Gua sha boards made of different precious stones

Gua sha for facial skin care routines is not painful as it is very light pressure and can help release inflammation. The gua sha tools used for most facial practices is made of jade, rose quartz or other precious stones which also help reduce inflammation, heat and puffiness. I often encourage patients who are looking for a more sculpted face or suffer from congestion in the throat or thyroid to do light gua sha around the neck and clavicle daily to help encourage circulation and movement of congested fluids.