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In the height of summer, it is the peak season for heat stroke, air conditioning sickness, gastroenteritis, colds, and back pain. At this time, it is advisable to practice Gua Sha, which has both health benefits and therapeutic effects.
As early as the Ming Dynasty, the physician Zhang Fengkui described the causes and symptoms of Sha syndrome in his book Complete Book on Heat Stroke. He believed that toxic evils enter through the skin, blocking the body’s meridians and qi and blood, leading to poor circulation. The deeper the toxic evils penetrate, the more severe the stagnation becomes, necessitating emergency measures, specifically the use of Gua Sha to draw blood for treatment.
Using Gua Sha therapy, scrape until subcutaneous bleeding forms red spots resembling grains of rice. By inducing sweating to open the pores, the Sha toxins are expelled from the body, achieving the goal of healing. Gua Sha is performed using tools such as buffalo horn, jade, or cupping, scraping the skin in relevant areas, serving both preventive health and therapeutic purposes. Its specific mechanisms include detoxification, dispersing stagnation, expelling evils, and adjustment.
For those who do not like to exercise and enjoy air conditioning, Gua Sha can expand capillaries, increase sweat gland secretion, resolve dampness, and promote blood circulation; it is particularly effective for symptoms caused by hypertension, heat stroke, and muscle soreness related to wind-cold bi syndrome. Regular Gua Sha can help adjust meridian qi, relieve fatigue, and enhance immune function.
Different Areas for Targeted Gua Sha Yield Different Effects
Gua Sha on the Back to Relieve Heat
The points along the bladder meridian on both sides of the spine are where the internal organs receive qi and blood. Stimulating the back’s organ points directly regulates the essence of the five internal organs. Based on the distribution of nerves and the characteristics of meridian points, scraping in an upward and downward motion achieves the function of unblocking the meridians, expelling evils, dispersing heat, and enhancing the body’s resistance. It can not only dispel wind and release heat but also regulate the overall function of the body.
Gua Sha on the Head to Refresh the Mind
The head is where all the Yang meridians converge. After waking up in the morning, using a Gua Sha comb to scrape the head can invigorate Yang energy, making one feel refreshed. The method is to center on the Baihui (Hundred Meetings) point at the top of the head and scrape outward in a radial pattern until a sensation of heat is felt on the scalp. If there are painful points, scrape them repeatedly 5 to 10 times.
Gua Sha on the Soles to Alleviate Insomnia
Patients with insomnia can scrape the soles of their feet before bedtime to promote sleep and relieve headaches. The method is to scrape from the soles to the heels, and once heated, use the Gua Sha board to scrape the center of the Yongquan (Gushing Spring) point.
Gua Sha on the Abdomen to Relieve Constipation
Chronic constipation not only affects digestive absorption but also leads to toxin absorption by the body. Use the flat side of the Gua Sha board to scrape the abdomen from top to bottom, and from left to right. It is important to note that if there is organ prolapse, scrape from bottom to top.
Gua Sha Around the Eyes to Improve Vision
Many people are familiar with eye exercises, and using Gua Sha instead of finger pressure can provide more effective stimulation to the acupoints. First, use the Gua Sha comb to press the Jingming (Bright Eyes) point, then scrape from the Jingming point to the outer corner of the eye, both above and below the eye socket, to improve the circulation of qi and blood around the eyes, alleviating visual fatigue and dryness.
What Techniques are Used in Gua Sha?
1. The patient should take a comfortable position, fully exposing the treatment area, and wash the area with warm water.
2. Use a smooth-edged spoon (or ladle, copper coin, etc.) dipped in sesame oil (can also use rapeseed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, or plain water) to scrape in one direction on the area needing treatment.
3. The scraping order is generally from top to bottom, or from the center of the body outward, or always from inside to outside, without back-and-forth scraping. Each area should be scraped about 20 times until deep red streaks appear on the skin.
4. The scraping area is usually limited to the patient’s back or both sides of the neck. Depending on the condition, Gua Sha may also be performed on the sides of the throat, chest, both sides of the spine, the inner sides of the elbows, or the inner sides of the knees. Suitable areas should be chosen based on the condition.
5. Each area can have 2 to 4 or 4 to 8 “blood streaks” scraped. Depending on the area, the “blood streaks” can be straight or curved.
6. A smaller scraping tool can be used at acupoints. Common acupoints include Zusanli (Stomach 36), Tiantu (Heavenly Prominence), Quchi (Large Intestine 11), and various back points. Scraping at acupoints not only has the therapeutic effects of Gua Sha but also unblocks the meridians and promotes qi and blood circulation.
It is important to note:During Gua Sha, water is consumed, so patients should drink a cup of water before treatment; after Gua Sha, drink a cup of warm water to aid in the excretion of waste through urine. In summer, Gua Sha should not be performed under electric fans or air conditioning to avoid wind-cold invasion, which can worsen the condition. Gua Sha should aim for the appearance of Sha but should not be forced.
While Gua Sha is beneficial, certain individuals should avoid it:
● Pregnant women should not have Gua Sha on the abdomen or lower back, as it may lead to miscarriage.
● Gua Sha should not be performed on areas with boils, ulcers, sores, rashes, or unexplained lumps, as it may lead to infection and spread.
● Gua Sha is prohibited on acute sprains, painful areas of trauma, or fractured areas, as it may exacerbate bleeding at the injury site.
● Individuals with severe cardiovascular diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction, or generalized edema should avoid Gua Sha, as it can cause subcutaneous congestion and increase the burden on the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, worsening the condition and even endangering life.
● Those with contagious skin diseases should refrain from Gua Sha, as it may transmit the disease to others.
● Individuals who are excessively hungry, fatigued, or intoxicated should not undergo heavy or extensive Gua Sha, as it may lead to collapse.
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