Spring is a vibrant season when plants sprout and everything grows.

As Yang energy rises, many organs in the body accumulate internal heat, which can lead to spring dryness and various discomforts.

During this time, when most people are staying at home for health precautions, trying Gua Sha can help alleviate bodily discomfort.

A Gua Sha board and a seasoned practitioner

Gua Sha is actually not difficult; tools 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 in the depression just 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.

Scrape for 15-30 minutes, focusing on areas of pain, nodules, or muscle tension.

3. Breast Nodules: Scrape Both Breasts

Method: Apply a small amount of moisturizer, then hold the Gua Sha board at a 45-degree angle and scrape gently from the base of the breast towards the nipple, using a comfortable pressure for 5-10 minutes.

Note: Avoid scraping the nipple, areola, or any unexplained lumps in the breast.

4. Digestive Issues: Scrape Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot) Point

Tianshu Point: Located two inches beside the navel.

For Common Diarrhea: Lightly scrape the Tianshu point counterclockwise, or press the Zhongwan point (4 inches above the navel).

For Constipation: Scrape 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 Gua Sha board to gently press around the Jingming (Bright Eyes) point (inner corner of the eye), Cuanzhu (Gathering Bamboo) point (eyebrow), Yuyao (Fish Waist) point (middle of the eyebrow), and Taiyang (Sun) point (outer corner of the eye), spending 1-2 minutes on each point.

You can also scrape around the eye socket directly to relieve fatigue and improve vision.

6. 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, above the outer corner of the eye, on both sides of the forehead.

Method:

First, comb the hair from the forehead to the 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 from the center of the head, backward from the center, and outward from the Taiyang points. This promotes blood circulation in the head, enhances alertness, and improves 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 either side of the large muscle at the back of the head, parallel to the earlobes; 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 the Fengchi point from top to bottom along the skin until reaching the Jianjing point, then scrape from the inside out along the shoulder, 30 times on fleshy areas and 20 times on bony areas.

Note: Adjust the angle with your wrist and move your forearm to guide the Gua Sha board.

8. Blood Nourishment and Liver Support: Xuehai (Sea of Blood) Point + Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection) Point

Xuehai Point: Bend the knee and cover the kneecap with the palm, fingers pointing up, with the thumb at the fleshy part below.

Sanyinjiao Point: Located on the inner side of the lower leg, 4 finger widths above the ankle joint.

Method: Scrape from the Xuehai point on the inner side of the lower leg to the Sanyinjiao point in one continuous motion without stopping, until the skin turns red and purple bruises form. Regular scraping of the Sanyinjiao point can nourish blood and support the liver.

Note: For lower limb Gua Sha, start with the outer side, scraping downwards, then the back (bladder meridian area), and finally the inner side.

9. Spring Excess Heat: 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 between the first and second toes on the dorsal side of the foot.

Neiting Point: Located between the second and third toes on the dorsal side of the foot.

Method: When scraping, use the blunt edge of the Gua Sha board to press on the Xingjian and Neiting points for 1-2 minutes each, then scrape upwards (can be combined with Gua Sha oil or massage oil) with a stronger pressure until bruising occurs or scrape 50 times.

10. Spring Deficient Heat: 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 hearts feeling hot.

Method: Scrape the five lines on the back, including the central 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 to invigorate the body’s vital energy and restore function.

Three Colors of Bruises Corresponding to Different Conditions

Bright Red Bruises: If the red is not too deep, it indicates the presence of wind-cold in the body, which is the most normal color.

Purple-Red or Dark Red Bruises: This often indicates internal damp-heat.

Purple-Black Bruises: This indicates severe stagnation in the body. The severity of the bruises does not always correlate with the illness 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. It is important to know which groups should avoid Gua Sha and which areas should not be scraped.

1. Avoid Scraping the Sides of the Neck

Clinical observations in Traditional Chinese Medicine have found that scraping the neck carries certain risks, especially on the sides of the neck, which should not be scraped lightly!

This is because the carotid sinus is located in the middle of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, 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 with pre-existing health conditions.

When performing Gua Sha, avoid the sides of the neck, as should be done with massage.

2. Contraindicated Groups

Patients with cardiovascular diseases, the elderly, 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 recover, waiting until the marks from the previous Gua Sha have disappeared before performing it again.

Gua Sha Tips

1. Hold the Gua Sha board at a 45-degree angle or less to the skin; the flatter the angle, the more comfortable it is to scrape. Avoid scraping with a scooping motion.

2. Many people believe that Gua Sha must produce bruises, and the more bruises, the better. However, this is incorrect. When a person has a cold, fever, or fatigue, they are more likely to bruise; healthy individuals do not bruise easily, only showing skin redness.

3. Gua Sha should not be done back and forth; instead, scrape from top to bottom and from inside to outside, in a single direction, to maximize the scraping distance. This follows the direction of arterial blood circulation, promoting blood flow.

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 yield different effects; light pressure is for “tonifying,” while strong pressure is for “draining.” Most people are unsure of their constitution, 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 sweat-inducing foods, and avoid wind exposure; it is not recommended to bathe within an hour.

Warm Reminder: The various prescriptions and remedies mentioned in this article are for reference and learning by professional TCM practitioners only and should not be used as prescriptions. Please do not self-medicate, as this platform does not bear any responsibility for any consequences arising from this!

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