Spring is a season of vitality, with plants sprouting and all things growing.
As Yang energy rises, many organs in the body accumulate internal heat, which can lead to dryness in spring and various discomforts.
During this time, many people are staying at home to prevent illness, so why not try Gua Sha to alleviate discomfort?
A Gua Sha board and a skilled practitioner
Gua Sha for health is actually not difficult; items like a comb, the lid of a porcelain cup, or even a rounded spoon can be used for Gua Sha, making it simple and easy to perform.
1. Common Cold: Dazhui (Great Vertebra) Point
Dazhui point: Located at the depression below the highest protrusion of the cervical vertebrae, more pronounced when the head is lowered.
Method:Scrape from top to bottom for about 5-10 minutes until the back of the neck feels warm.
2. Lower Back Pain: Hands + Back
Method:Apply Gua Sha oil to the lower back, then slowly scrape down along both sides of the spine.
The reflex area for the lower back is in the center of the back of the hand; apply a little Gua Sha oil and scrape slowly from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
While scraping, look for areas of pain, nodules, or muscle tension, scraping for 15-30 minutes each time.
3. Breast Nodules: Scrape Both Breasts
Method:Apply a little moisturizer, then hold the scraping board at a 45-degree angle to the chest, scraping gently from the base of the breast towards the nipple, using a comfortable pressure for 5-10 minutes.
Note: Do not scrape the nipple, areola, or any unexplained lumps in the breast.
4. Poor Digestion: Scrape Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot) Point
Tianshu Point:Located two inches beside the navel.
For Common Diarrhea:For mild diarrhea, use the scraping board to massage the Tianshu point counterclockwise, or press the Zhongwan point (4 inches above the navel).
For Constipation:Use the scraping board to massage the Tianshu point in a clockwise direction until a warm sensation is felt in the abdomen.
5. Dry Eyes: Scrape Around the Eyes
Method:When the eyes are fatigued, use the scraping board to gently massage around the eyes, focusing on Jingming (Bright Eyes) point (inner corner), Cuanzhu (Gathering Bamboo) point (eyebrow), Yuyao (Fish Waist) point (middle of the eyebrow), and Taiyang (Sun) point (outer corner), spending 1-2 minutes on each point.
You can also scrape around the eye socket directly to relieve fatigue and improve vision.
6. Mental Fatigue: Baihui (Hundred Meetings) Point + Taiyang (Sun) Point
Baihui Point:Located at the intersection of the midline of the head and the line connecting the tips of both ears.
Taiyang Point:Located in front of the ear, on both sides of the forehead, above the extended line of the outer corner of the eye.
Method:
First, comb the hair from the front hairline back to wake up the mind in the morning;
Second, scrape from the center of the head in all directions, relaxing the entire head around the Baihui point;
Third, scrape forward and backward from the center of the head, and scrape backward from the sides towards the Taiyang points. This promotes blood circulation in the head, clears the mind, and enhances memory.
Note:Scrape or massage lightly whenever possible.
7. Neck and Shoulder Pain: Fengchi (Wind Pool) Point + Jianjing (Shoulder Well) Point
Fengchi Point:Located on both sides of the large muscle at the back of the head, parallel to the earlobe; the two depressions at the back of the head when the head is lowered are this point.
Jianjing Point:Located at the midpoint of the line connecting Dazhui and the acromion, at the highest point of the shoulder.
Method:Scrape from the Fengchi point down along the skin to the Jianjing point, then scrape along the shoulder from the inside out, scraping thirty times on fleshy areas and twenty times on bony areas.
Note:Adjust the angle with your wrist, moving the forearm to guide the scraping board.
8. Nourishing Blood and Liver: Xuehai (Sea of Blood) Point + Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection) Point
Xuehai Point:With the knee bent, cover the kneecap with the palm, fingers pointing up, and the thumb at the fleshy part below.
Sanyinjiao Point:Located on the inner side of the lower leg, four finger widths above the ankle joint.
Method:Scrape from the Xuehai point to the Sanyinjiao point in one continuous motion without stopping, until the skin turns red and purple petechiae form. Regular scraping of the Sanyinjiao point can nourish blood and support the liver.
Note:For lower limb scraping, start with the outer side, scraping downwards, then the back side (the bladder meridian), and finally the inner side.
9. Spring Excess Fire: Taichong (Great Surge) Point + Xingjian (Moving Between) Point
Symptoms:Gum pain, sore throat, mouth ulcers, thirst, irritability, yellow urine, dry stools, red tongue with yellow coating.
Xingjian Point:Located on the dorsum of the foot, between the first and second toes.
Neiting Point:Located on the dorsum of the foot, between the second and third toes.
Method:When scraping, use the blunt edge of the scraping board to press on the Xingjian and Neiting points for 1-2 minutes each, then scrape upwards (you can use Gua Sha oil or massage oil), applying a stronger pressure within a tolerable range until petechiae appear or scrape 50 times.
10. Spring Yang Deficiency: Scrape the Five Lines on the Back
Symptoms:Flushed complexion, thirst without desire to drink, dry cough with little phlegm, low fever, red tongue with little coating, five palms feeling hot.
Method: Scrape the five lines on the back, including the midline of the back (Du Meridian), 1.5 inches to the side of the Du Meridian (the first side line of the Bladder Meridian), and 3 inches to the side of the Du Meridian (the second side line of the Bladder Meridian).
When scraping, apply light pressure and scrape slowly, allowing for longer stimulation time on each area to invigorate the body’s vital energy and restore its functions.
Three colors of petechiae correspond to different conditions
Bright red petechiae: If the red is not too deep, it indicates the presence of wind-cold in the body, which is the most normal color.
Petechiae that are purple-red or dark red: This often indicates internal damp-heat.
Petechiae that are purple-black: This indicates significant stagnation in the body. The severity of the petechiae does not necessarily correlate with the disease and will gradually dissipate, so there is no need to worry excessively.
Areas to Avoid Scraping
Gua Sha is a relatively safe health practice, but there are still many contraindications. Which groups of people should avoid Gua Sha? Which areas should not be scraped? We need to know.
1. Do not scrape the sides of the neck
Clinical observations in TCM have found that scraping the neck carries certain risks, especially on both sides of the neck, which should not be scraped lightly!
This is because the middle part of the sternocleidomastoid muscle contains the carotid sinus, which is a pressure receptor. Stimulating it can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness and fainting.
Continuous stimulation may lead to more serious consequences, especially for those who are already in poor health.
When scraping, avoid the sides of the neck, and the same applies to massage.
2. Contraindicated populations
Patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the elderly and frail, those with skin allergies, leukemia, allergic purpura, thrombocytopenia, cancer, skin inflammation, or those with wounds or scars on the skin, as well as pregnant women and women during menstruation, should avoid Gua Sha.
Of course, even healthy individuals should not perform Gua Sha every day. It is important to allow the body to have a recovery period, waiting until the marks from the last Gua Sha have disappeared before performing it again.
Gua Sha Tips
1. Hold the scraping board at a 45-degree angle or less to the skin; the flatter the angle, the more comfortable it is to scrape. Do not scrape aggressively.
2. Many people believe that Gua Sha must produce petechiae, and the more petechiae, the better. However, this is incorrect. When a person has a cold, fever, or fatigue, it is easier to produce petechiae; healthy individuals may only experience skin redness.
3. Gua Sha should not be done back and forth; instead, scrape from top to bottom and from the inside out, in a single direction, to promote blood circulation.
4. It is advisable to scrape 3-5 areas each time, spending 3-5 minutes on each area, and not exceeding half an hour in total.
5. Different pressures will produce different effects; light pressure is for “tonifying,” while strong pressure is for “draining.” Most people do not know whether their constitution is deficient or excess, so it is best to maintain an average pressure, known as “balanced tonification and draining.” Wait 3-5 days after the first scraping before performing the second treatment.
6. After Gua Sha, choose warming and sweating-inducing foods, and avoid wind exposure; it is not recommended to take a shower within an hour.
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