Spring is a season of vitality, with plants sprouting and all living things growing.
As Yang energy rises, many organs in the body accumulate internal heat, which can lead to spring dryness and various discomforts.
During this time, as most people are staying at home for health precautions, trying Gua Sha can help alleviate bodily discomfort.
A Gua Sha board and half an experienced doctor
Gua Sha health care is actually not difficult; items like a comb, a porcelain cup lid, or even a rounded spoon can be used for Gua Sha, making it simple and easy to operate.
1
Common Cold: Dazhui (Great Vertebra) Point
Dazhui (大椎穴): Located in 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 on the lower back, then slowly scrape down 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 while searching for areas of pain, nodules, or muscle tension, for about 15-30 minutes.
3
Breast Nodules: Scrape Both Breasts
Method: Apply a little moisturizer, then hold the Gua Sha board at a 45-degree angle, scraping gently from the root of the breast towards the nipple, using a comfortable pressure for about 5-10 minutes.
Note: Do not scrape the nipple, areola, or any unexplained lumps in the breast.
4
Digestive Issues: Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot) Point
Tianshu (天枢穴): Located two inches beside the navel.
For Common Diarrhea: For mild diarrhea, use the Gua Sha board to massage the Tianshu point counterclockwise, or press the Zhongwan point (4 inches above the navel).
For Constipation: Use the Gua Sha 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 Gua Sha board to gently massage around the eyes, focusing on Jingming (睛明穴, Inner Canthus), Cuanzhu (攒竹穴, Eyebrow), Yuyao (鱼腰穴, Mid Eyebrow), and Taiyang (太阳穴, Outer Canthus), spending 1-2 minutes on each point.
You can also scrape directly around the eye socket to relieve fatigue and improve vision.
6
Fatigue: Baihui (Hundred Meetings) Point + Taiyang (Sun) Point
Baihui (百会穴): Located at the intersection of the midline of the head and the line connecting the tips of both ears.
Taiyang (太阳穴): Located in front of the ear, above the extension 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 (风池穴): 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 (肩井穴): 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 to the Jianjing point, then scrape along the shoulder from the inside out, applying 30 strokes where there is muscle and 20 strokes where there is none.
Note: Adjust the angle with your wrist and move your forearm to guide the Gua Sha board.
8
Blood Nourishment and Liver Support: Xuehai (Blood Sea) Point + Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection) Point
Xuehai (血海穴): Bend the knee and cover the kneecap with the palm, fingers pointing up, with the thumb at the fleshy part below.
Sanyinjiao (三阴交): Located on the inner side of the lower leg, 4 fingerbreadths 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 bruises form. Regular scraping of the Sanyinjiao point can nourish blood and support the liver.
Note: For lower limb Gua Sha, start by scraping the outer side from top to bottom, then the back (the 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 (行间穴): Located on the dorsum of the foot, between the first and second toes.
Neiting (内庭穴): Located on the dorsum of the foot, between the second and third toes.
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 from the bottom, using Gua Sha oil or massage oil as needed, applying a stronger pressure within tolerable limits until bruising occurs or after 50 strokes.
10
Spring Deficiency 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 midline of the back (Du Meridian) and 1.5 inches to the sides (the first side line of the bladder meridian) and 3 inches to the sides (the second side line of the bladder meridian).
When scraping, apply light pressure and scrape slowly, allowing each stroke to stimulate the body’s vital energy and restore its functions.
Three Colors of Sha Corresponding to Different Conditions
Bright Red Sha: If the redness is not deep, it indicates the presence of wind-cold in the body, which is the most normal color.
Purple-Red or Dark Red Sha: This often indicates internal damp-heat.
Purple-Black Sha: Indicates severe stagnation in the body. The intensity of the Sha marks does not directly correlate with the severity of the illness and will gradually dissipate, so there is no need to worry excessively.
Areas Not to Scrape
Gua Sha is a relatively safe health practice, but there are still many contraindications. Which groups should avoid Gua Sha? Which areas should not be scraped? We need to be aware of these.
1
Do not scrape the sides of the neck
Clinical observations in TCM have found that scraping the neck carries certain risks, especially the sides of the neck 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 faintness.
Continuous stimulation may lead to more serious consequences, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions.
Avoid scraping the sides of the neck, and the same applies to massage.
2
Contraindicated Groups
Patients with cardiovascular diseases, the elderly, those with skin allergies, leukemia, allergic purpura, thrombocytopenia, cancer, skin inflammation, or wounds and 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 essential to allow the body a recovery period, waiting until the marks from the last Gua Sha have disappeared before proceeding.
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, and avoid scraping too hard.
2. Many people believe that Gua Sha must produce marks, and the more marks, the better. However, Teacher Yang points out that this is incorrect. When a person has a cold, fever, or fatigue, it is easier to produce marks; healthy individuals do not easily produce marks, only a slight reddening of the skin.
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 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 “tonifying,” while strong pressure is “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 sweating-inducing foods, and avoid exposure to wind; it is not recommended to bathe within an hour.