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As the weather gets hotter, many people turn to gua sha to relieve summer heat. On the afternoon of July 8, movie star Chen Xuedong shared his gua sha photo on Weibo, showing a deep red area on his back, captioned: “Those with a fear of tight spaces should not enter; the power of gua sha is instant.”
Dr. Ni Feng, Deputy Chief Physician of the Medical Health Center at Zhongshan Hospital in Zhejiang Province, commented: Using excessive force in gua sha is not advisable; it is not good just because it turns red.
Regarding Chen Xuedong’s remark about “instant results,” Dr. Ni explained, “The speed of sha appearing is not an indicator of efficacy; it relates to skin sensitivity. Some people may not show any visible signs after gua sha, but the capillaries in the epidermis may have already ruptured.”
Dr. Ni stated, the main function of gua sha is to invigorate blood circulation and resolve stasis, promoting the recovery of the body’s self-immune function. It has certain intervention effects on heatstroke, stiff neck, and wind-cold colds, and is increasingly popular among young people as it can also relieve neck and shoulder pain.
Previously, A Jiao’s gua sha photo showing a “blood-red back” sparked heated discussions. Experts generally commented that this was excessive gua sha, with too much pressure causing skin bleeding, which can damage the skin barrier and potentially lead to localized redness and infection.
Excessive force in gua sha can lead to skin damage, and the elderly and children should be especially cautious. “Gua sha causes a large amount of metabolic waste to be released into the interstitial fluid, which is then excreted through the kidneys. If done excessively, and if kidney function is already weak, it can lead to kidney damage,” Dr. Ni warned.
Gua Sha Process: Each area should be treated in three stages, using a jade stone from top to bottom and from inside to outside. Start with gentle scraping for 5 strokes until slight redness appears, then apply more force for 10 strokes. If the skin tolerates it, add another 5 strokes.
Dr. Ni does not oppose people doing gua sha at home to prevent heatstroke or expel dampness; gua sha indeed has benefits, but the key is to control the intensity and proceed gradually. So, what else should be noted? He listed the following:
People unsuitable for gua sha: Those who are physically weak or fatigued, have poor constitution, chronic diseases, leukemia, diabetes, liver and kidney dysfunction, severe cardiovascular diseases, pregnant women, those on their menstrual period, and individuals with skin lesions.
During gua sha, do not use air conditioning or electric fans. On the day of gua sha, avoid cold drinks before and after. After gua sha, it is recommended to drink warm water, and if possible, take a short nap. If you need to shower, wait at least half an hour.
Choose gua sha tools that are of moderate thickness, with blunt and smooth edges, such as jade, cow horn combs, or ceramic spoons. When performing gua sha, use lubricating oil or olive oil; petroleum jelly is also a good choice, but avoid using safflower oil.
Be cautious with the technique; if symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or cold sweats occur, stop immediately and lie down. If symptoms do not improve, seek medical attention. Generally, gua sha should be repeated only after 5-7 days.
So how should we perform gua sha in daily life?
Yang Jinsheng, a researcher and chief physician at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, said that when holding the scraping board, the angle of the board should be 45 degrees or less relative to the skin. The flatter the angle, the more comfortable it is to scrape; do not scrape like a shovel. Scrape in the direction of blood circulation, and do not scrape back and forth. It is advisable to scrape 3-5 areas each time for 3-5 minutes, not exceeding half an hour.
Different strengths will produce different effects; light stimulation is “tonifying,” while strong stimulation is “draining.” Most people do not know whether their constitution is strong or weak, and cannot accurately determine whether to tonify or drain, so it is best to maintain an average strength, known as “balanced tonification and draining.” After the first gua sha, wait 3-5 days before performing the second treatment.
Once the technique of gua sha is mastered, the next step is to learn where to scrape for various body pains.
Fatigue: Baihui (Hundred Meetings) + Taiyang (Sun)
Baihui (Hundred Meetings) Point: Located at the intersection of the midline of the head and the line connecting the tips of both ears.
Taiyang (Sun) Point: Located in front of the ear, above the extension line of the outer corner of the eye, on both sides of the forehead.
Method: There are three methods for gua sha on the head. First, comb the hair from the front hairline to the back; Mao Zedong used to do this, and it would wake him up in the morning. Second, scrape from the center of the head in all directions, relaxing the entire head centered on Baihui. Third, scrape from the center of the head forward, backward, and on both sides toward Taiyang. This promotes blood circulation in the head, clears the mind, and enhances memory.
Tip: Scrape or rub lightly when there is no issue.
Neck and Shoulder Pain: Fengchi (Wind Pool) + Jianjing (Shoulder Well)
Fengchi (Wind Pool) 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 acupoint.
Jianjing (Shoulder Well) Point: Located at the midpoint of the line connecting Dazhui (Great Vertebra) and the acromion, at the highest point of the shoulder.
Method: Scrape Fengchi from top to bottom along the skin until reaching Jianjing, then scrape along the shoulder direction from inside to outside, scraping thirty times on fleshy areas and twenty times on bony areas.
Tip: Adjust the angle with your wrist, moving the forearm to guide the scraping board.
Cough and Asthma: Tiantu (Heavenly Prominence) + Shanzhong (Chest Center)
Tiantu (Heavenly Prominence) Point: Located at the central depression of the sternum along the midline of the neck.
Shanzhong (Chest Center) Point: Located in the center of the chest between the two nipples.
Method: Scrape along a straight line from top to bottom. You can also scrape along the intercostal spaces, using the edge to scrape from inside to outside, generally scraping ten to twenty times until the chest shows slight redness.
Tip: Avoid scraping the nipples, areolas, and any unexplained lumps in the breast.
Poor Digestion: Zhongwan (Middle Cavity) + Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot)
Zhongwan (Middle Cavity) Point: Located in the upper abdomen, 4 finger widths above the navel along the midline.
Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot) Point: Located 2 finger widths to the side of the navel.
Method: The muscle fibers in the abdomen run from top to bottom, and the blood vessels follow the same direction. Some people scrape from the inside out to lose weight, but this only loosens the flesh. The scraping of the abdomen should also be from top to bottom.
Tip: For poor bowel function, scrape below the navel; some women also scrape the lower abdomen for menstrual pain.
Blood Nourishing and Liver Supporting: Xuehai (Sea of Blood) + Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection)
Xuehai (Sea of Blood) Point: Bend the knee, cover the kneecap with the palm, fingers pointing upwards, with the thumb at the fleshy part below the knee.
Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection) Point: Located on the inner side of the lower leg, 4 finger widths above the ankle joint.
Method: Scrape from the inner side of the lower leg at Xuehai to Sanyinjiao, from top to bottom without pausing, until the skin turns red and purple sha marks form. Regular scraping at Sanyinjiao can nourish blood and support the liver.
Tip: For lower limb gua sha, start scraping the outer side from top to bottom, then scrape the back (along the bladder meridian), and finally scrape the inner side.
After gua sha, there are some things to do and environmental considerations that everyone may not be familiar with. Sun Jianhua, director of the acupuncture department at Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, recommends that after doing gua sha at home, drink a cup of warm water, preferably with a little salt or sugar.
During the gua sha process, the body loses some fluids, and drinking salt or sugar water can replenish fluids and accelerate metabolism, promoting the elimination of waste from the body, thereby enhancing the effects of gua sha. Director Sun also reminds that do not take a cold shower within 30 minutes after gua sha.
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