Spring is a season of growth and vitality, as nature awakens and flourishes.As Yang energy rises, many organs in the body accumulate internal heat, which can lead to dryness in spring 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 little experience can go a long way
Gua Sha is actually quite simple; items like a comb, the lid of a porcelain cup, or even a rounded spoon can be used for Gua Sha, making it 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, it becomes 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 located in the center of the back of the hand; apply a small amount of Gua Sha oil and scrape 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 mild diarrhea: Use the Gua Sha board to press and rub the Tianshu point counterclockwise, or press the Zhongwan point (4 inches above the navel).
For constipation: Use the Gua Sha board to rub the Tianshu point clockwise until a warm sensation is felt in the abdomen.
5. Dry Eyes: Scrape Around the Eyes
Method: When experiencing eye fatigue, use the Gua Sha board to gently press around the eyes, focusing on Jingming (Bright Eyes) point (inner corner), Cuanzhu (Gathering Bamboo) point (eyebrow), Yuyuan (Fish Waist) point (middle of the eyebrow), and Taiyang (Sun) point (outer corner), spending 1-2 minutes on each point.
You can also scrape around the eye socket directly to relieve fatigue and improve vision.
6. Mental 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.
Method:
First, comb the hair from the front hairline to the back; this can help wake up the mind in the morning.
Second, scrape from the center of the head outward in all directions, relaxing the entire head.
Third, scrape from the center of the head forward and backward, and from the sides towards the back. 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 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 down from Fengchi along the skin to Jianjing, then scrape outward along the shoulder, applying 30 strokes on fleshy areas and 20 strokes on bony areas.
Note: Adjust the angle with your wrist and use your forearm to move the Gua Sha board.
8. Nourishing Blood and Liver: 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 fingerbreadths above the ankle joint.
Method: Scrape from the Xuehai point on the inner thigh to the Sanyinjiao point, without stopping in between, until the skin turns red and purple bruises appear. Regular scraping of Sanyinjiao can help nourish blood and liver.
Note: For scraping the lower limbs, start with the outer side, scraping downwards, then the back side (the bladder meridian), 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 Xingjian and Neiting points for 1-2 minutes each, then scrape upwards (can be combined with Gua Sha oil or massage oil), applying a stronger pressure within a tolerable range until bruising occurs or scrape 50 times.
10. Spring Deficiency Heat: Scrape the Back Five Lines
Symptoms: Flushed complexion, thirst without desire to drink, dry cough with little phlegm, low fever, red tongue with little coating, five hearts heat.
Method: Scrape the back along five lines, 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 on each area to invigorate the body’s vital energy and restore function.
Three Colors of Sha Corresponding to Different Conditions
Bright Red Sha: 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 Sha: This often indicates internal damp-heat.
Purple-Black Sha: Indicates significant stagnation in the body. The severity of the Sha marks does not directly correlate with the disease 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 TCM 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 the case with massage.
2. Contraindicated Groups
Individuals with cardiovascular diseases, the elderly, those with skin allergies, leukemia, allergic purpura, thrombocytopenia, cancer, skin inflammation, or open wounds and scars, as well as pregnant women and women during menstruation, should avoid Gua Sha.
Even healthy individuals should not perform Gua Sha daily. It is important to allow the body to recover and wait 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 marks, and the more marks, the better. However, this is incorrect. When a person has a cold, fever, or fatigue, it is easier to produce marks; healthy individuals may only experience 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 promote blood circulation.
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 yield different effects; light pressure is for “tonifying,” while strong pressure is for “draining.” Most people may not know 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.
Source: Health Times, Life Times, BTV Health Hall
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