Gua Sha, as one of the traditional Chinese medical therapies, is a popular wellness method embraced by many.
The “pain and pleasure” sensation during treatment makes it hard for many to resist; today, let us uncover the secrets of Gua Sha therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
First
1
What is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha involves using a scraping tool, dipped in a certain medium, to repeatedly scrape and rub the skin surface, causing localized “Sha” (redness) to emerge, thereby achieving effects such as invigorating blood circulation, relaxing muscles, detoxifying, clearing heat, promoting Qi flow, alleviating pain, and strengthening the spleen and stomach.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that Qi circulates continuously within the body, capable of rising, falling, entering, and exiting.
Once this Qi flow is obstructed, it can trigger various stagnation-related ailments.
Gua Sha primarily focuses on regulating Qi by applying external force to stimulate and clear obstructions, promoting the flow of Qi and blood, and expelling pathogens.
Furthermore, the body’s inherent ability to dissolve “Sha” helps metabolize impurities, thus treating diseases.
The skin is closely connected to the meridians; Gua Sha stimulates the body’s surface meridians, facilitating the unblocking of channels, invigorating blood circulation, and regulating the Qi and blood of the internal organs.
Therefore, Gua Sha can enhance local blood circulation and mobilize the body’s immune response.
Second
2
What exactly is the “Sha” that emerges?
Those who have experienced Gua Sha know that the scraped area often appears red, which is what we commonly refer to as “Sha”.
The process of “Sha” emergence involves the dilation of blood vessels leading to the rupture of capillaries, resulting in blood extravasation and the formation of bruises on the skin.
Blood clots soon dissolve, producing endogenous hemolysins that can adjust immune function and enhance immunity.
Individuals with significant dampness, deep cold, or Qi stagnation and blood stasis will often exhibit pronounced “Sha” after Gua Sha.
Third
3
Is more “Sha” better?
Is more “Sha” better?
The amount of “Sha” produced during Gua Sha does not directly correlate with its effectiveness; it primarily depends on the individual’s constitution and condition.
Individuals with damp-heat or blood stasis tend to produce darker “Sha”, while those with Qi and blood deficiency may have lighter or even no “Sha” marks, but this does not indicate ineffectiveness. Just as some individuals with thicker skin may have lighter marks due to insufficient scraping force, their bodies are still absorbing energy.
Excessive pursuit of “Sha” can be detrimental; heavy techniques or prolonged scraping can damage the skin and exacerbate Qi and blood depletion, especially dangerous for those with weak constitutions.
TCM emphasizes “tonify the deficient, drain the excess”; Gua Sha also has tonifying and draining techniques: gentle scraping along the meridians is tonifying, suitable for those with deficiency; vigorous scraping against the meridians is draining, suitable for excess heat conditions.
Rather than focusing on the amount of “Sha”, the effectiveness of Gua Sha should be assessed by the color changes of the “Sha”—bright red indicates heat syndrome, dark purple indicates severe conditions, and a transition from dark to red indicates that stagnation is gradually being relieved.
For instance, Gua Sha combined with medication is more effective for colds and fevers, but simply scraping the head for headaches may not be effective; underlying organic issues must be ruled out first.
Fourth
4
Common areas to scrape for relieving fatigue and promoting liver function
Common areas to scrape for relieving fatigue and promoting liver function
1
Scraping the neck and shoulders, invigorating blood and relaxing muscles
Gua Sha on the neck and shoulder area primarily targets neck and shoulder strain caused by prolonged desk work, achieving effects of invigorating blood circulation and relaxing muscles, improving local Qi and blood stagnation.
After applying Gua Sha oil, scrape from the hairline at the neck down along the Du meridian to the Dazhui (大椎) point, then along the Bladder meridian outward, focusing on acupoints such as Fengchi (风池) and Jianjing (肩井), with pressure sufficient to cause slight redness of the skin.
This practice can promote blood circulation, accelerate the elimination of metabolic waste, relieve muscle tension, and alleviate pain caused by cervical spondylosis, while also stimulating acupoints to regulate Qi and blood, assisting in improving issues like cough and insomnia.
2
Scraping the ribs, promoting liver Qi and relieving stagnation
The ribs are the area where the Liver meridian circulates; scraping here can promote the smooth flow of liver Qi, improving emotional issues such as anxiety and depression caused by liver Qi stagnation, especially suitable for those under stress and prone to irritability.
The focus in this area is the Qimen (期门) acupoint, located at the intersection of the nipple line and the sixth intercostal space.
During scraping, movements should be slow, seeking and scraping painful or nodular areas.
3
Scraping the abdomen, reducing belly fat
The abdomen is where most of the body’s meridians circulate; due to lack of exercise, it often leads to meridian stagnation. Abdominal Gua Sha can unblock the meridians, help with fat reduction, and alleviate constipation and diarrhea.
When scraping the abdomen, stand with legs apart, stable and upright, using the Gua Sha board to scrape along the lower edge of one side of the ribs down to the lower abdomen, then scrape to the other side.
The scraping force should be moderate; if constipated, scrape clockwise, and if experiencing diarrhea, scrape counterclockwise.
Fifth
Important contraindications to remember for Gua Sha
Important contraindications to remember for Gua Sha
While Gua Sha has many benefits, it is not without contraindications, such as:
1. Do not consume alcohol 24 hours before or after Gua Sha; intoxicated individuals should avoid it altogether;
2. Avoid Gua Sha when overly full or too hungry;
3. Do not scrape the nipple or genital areas;
4. Avoid scraping over areas with skin ulcers;
5. Individuals with chronic lower abdominal issues like constipation should be cautious when scraping abdominal acupoints to prevent Qi from reversing;
6. Wait 3 hours after Gua Sha before bathing, as the pores will be open, and bathing immediately can allow cold and dampness to enter the skin.
7. After Gua Sha, cover the scraped areas with clothing to prevent invasion of wind and cold.
Finally, we remind everyone that if you need Gua Sha, it is best to go to a reputable hospital or therapy center for professional treatment. If you experience any discomfort during Gua Sha, be sure to inform the practitioner immediately or seek medical attention.
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Introduction
Associate Professor at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Master’s supervisor, mentor at the academic experience inheritance studio of Zhu Wangwei in Hongkou District, representative inheritor of the “Three Methods of Bone Setting” intangible cultural heritage; engaged in clinical, teaching, and basic research work on various degenerative diseases of bones and joints such as neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, combining traditional Chinese massage with modern rehabilitation techniques, with in-depth research on conditions like atlantoaxial and cervical dislocation.
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