In the late Qing Dynasty, the Confucian master and modern poet Yu Pingbo’s great-grandfather, Yu Quyuan, who was a teacher of Zhang Taiyan and Wu Changshuo, and the author of the TCM literature “Neijing Bianyan,” once said: “When someone at home catches a slight cold, they firmly believe in the Gua Sha method, using a fine porcelain bowl or a smooth copper coin, dipping it in oil, and scraping it on the back. After scraping, the heavier symptoms lessen, and the lighter ones recover.”What Yu meant was that during the Qing Dynasty, Gua Sha was popular, and for minor issues like a cold, using a porcelain bowl or copper coin dipped in sesame oil to scrape the back would suffice.TCM scholar Mr. Yue Meizhong also mentioned: “I remember in my childhood, whenever I caught a seasonal cold, my mother often used a copper coin or a smooth-edged ceramic bowl to perform Gua Sha, applying sesame oil and scraping until it turned red on my back, elbow pits, and knee pits. While scraping, she would say, ‘You must scrape downwards, not back and forth, to avoid breaking the skin.’ After scraping, the illness would vanish suddenly.”Teachers are very professional~Why can scraping cure a cold?In TCM, Gua Sha is believed to expel cold pathogens, invigorate blood circulation, regulate yin and yang, relax muscles and tendons, and promote qi and blood flow.By scraping, the cold pathogens are expelled from the body, and the cold naturally resolves.In fact, not only colds but also other issues related to qi and blood stagnation can be resolved with Gua Sha.The body’s qi and blood can be harmed by wind, cold, heat, dampness, and dietary stagnation, leading to stagnation manifesting as Sha. The Du Mai (Governing Vessel) runs along the back, receiving yang qi, and the acupuncture points of the five zang and six fu organs are also expressed on the back; therefore, scraping the back can expel diseases.It’s like a clogged drain; scraping Gua Sha clears it up, making it smooth and comfortable.Back to the topic of Gua Sha.Although the exact time of the formation of the “Gua Sha therapy” is untraceable, it has been passed down through generations and remains in use.During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it was widely known among the people to use spoons or copper coins dipped in water or oil to scrape the back to treat abdominal pain and other symptoms, and these experiences caught the attention of medical scholars.For example, in the Song Dynasty, Teacher Wang Rong referred to Gua Sha as “Tiao Caozi” in his work “Zhi Mi Fang Zhang Nü.”In the Yuan Dynasty, Teacher Wei Yilin clearly documented Sha syndrome in his book “Shi Yi De Xiao Fang”: “Heart and abdominal cramping pain, cold sweat, bloating, and a feeling of impending doom, commonly referred to as ‘stirring the intestines Sha.'”China’s earliest pediatric massage monograph, “Xiao Er An Mo Jing” by Chen in the Ming Dynasty, also recorded experiences of using Gua Sha to treat diseases: “Scraping the back of the hand: scrape from the back of the child’s hand to the tip of the middle finger to induce diarrhea.”The wheel of history rolls forward.Ancient physicians’ research on “Gua Sha” finally made a breakthrough during the Qing Dynasty, marked by the publication of the first specialized work on “Sha syndrome”—”Sha Zhang Yu Heng” written by Teacher Guo Zhizui in the early Kangxi period.This book provides a detailed discussion on the etiology, prevalence, manifestations, classification, scraping methods, tools, and comprehensive treatment of Sha syndrome, stating about the “Gua Sha method”: “There are generally two methods of treatment: if the Sha is on the skin, scrape it to cure; if the Sha is in the flesh and blood, let it go to cure; both of these are for the Sha that is shallow.”Additionally, Teacher Xia Yunjiji’s “Bao Chi Tui Na Fa” records: “Scraping involves the physician’s fingers lightly pressing against the child’s skin and scraping downwards.”Famous Qing Dynasty physician Zhang Lu summarized in his representative work “Zhang Shi Yi Tong”: “I have examined the formulas, and the common people scrape their backs with porcelain dipped in oil, and when red spots appear, it is called ‘Rizha,’ commonly known as ‘Fan Sha.'”Time flies.Today, Gua Sha therapy has developed into a natural therapy applicable to a wide range of diseases.According to the late first National Medical Master Lu Guangxin: “Gua Sha therapy acts on the skin, scraping the skin to reveal the diseased areas, and through scraping on the skin, it unblocks the meridians and promotes blood circulation, thus benefiting overall health.”Mr. Lu also said: “In the past, most treatment methods were additive, adding something to the body, like taking medicine. Gua Sha therapy is a ‘subtractive’ method, called ‘排’ (pai), which in TCM is a method of expulsion. The ‘Sha’ in Gua Sha is recorded in literature as over 150 types, with the main pathology being due to ‘stasis.’ Therefore, it must be expelled, using a policy of ‘giving an outlet’ rather than ‘closing the door and hitting the dog,’ transforming from additive to subtractive, which is a very important conceptual change in health care.”Take note!!!Next, let’s discuss how to use the marks left by Gua Sha—”Sha Yin”—to assess health status.First, observe the color:Red. Indicates blood heat and dryness, making the body prone to inflammation and irritability.Purple-red. Indicates cold has entered the body, harming the internal organs but only at the surface.Purple. Indicates cold has penetrated the internal organs, leading to phenomena like stomach cold and uterine cold.Purple-black. Indicates cold has entered the spleen and heart, indicating impending illness.Black. Indicates severe cold has penetrated the internal organs, and illness has already occurred.Next, observe the shape:Flat. Indicates the problem is only at the surface.Small dots. Indicates damp heat or cold dampness.Medium dots. Indicates pathological precursors.Large dots. Indicates disease response.Bubbles. Indicates wind dampness or internal wind dampness has formed.Highlighting key points!!!Benefits of Gua Sha:Scraping hands and feet can promote qi and unblock meridians. Scraping around the eyes can improve vision. Scraping the abdomen can relieve constipation. Scraping the neck can invigorate blood and relax muscles. Scraping the sternum can broaden the chest and regulate qi. Scraping the ribs can soothe the liver and relieve depression. Scraping the soles of the feet can alleviate insomnia.Indications for Gua Sha:Colds, fevers, heatstroke, headaches, gastrointestinal diseases, stiff neck, shoulder periarthritis, lumbar muscle strain, muscle spasms, rheumatic arthritis, and other conditions.Contraindications for Gua Sha:1. After Gua Sha, avoid cold showers, washing hair, exposure to cold, and intense exercise; drink more hot water to promote metabolism.2. Those with severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction, or generalized edema should avoid Gua Sha.3. Pregnant women should not use Gua Sha on the abdomen or lower back, as it may induce miscarriage.4. Those with bleeding tendencies, such as late-stage diabetes, severe anemia, leukemia, aplastic anemia, and thrombocytopenia, should not undergo Gua Sha.5. Patients with mental illnesses should avoid Gua Sha, as it may trigger their condition.That’s all for now; wishing you peace and health.
