In the survival rules of the contemporary entertainment industry, there are always some mystifying operations. Recently, a certain female star made headlines by using a gua sha board as a selfie prop, while a popular young male star showcased his “gua sha vocabulary” vlog. When Sister Ning was praised for her facial gua sha, and when Qin Lan held a gua sha board to lift her face, we finally realized: this generation of stars is not walking the red carpet; they are competing in who can perform gua sha better!
1. Celebrity Gua Sha Confusion Awards
You might think that female celebrities’ makeup bags are filled with expensive skincare products? Wrong! Their secret weapon now is the gua sha board. Yang Mi pulled out a gua sha board in “Flowers and Youth” with a professionalism that surpassed holding a microphone; Liu Shishi was so engrossed in using a jade gua sha tool for self-massage during a break on the set of “The Golden Years” that it was more intense than her crying scenes. Even Hollywood’s Kendall Jenner showcased her gua sha skills on YouTube!
This wave of gua sha renaissance seems sudden, but it actually aligns with the millennia-old wisdom of the “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon). As the post-95 generation starts using mugwort to soak goji berries, and the post-00 generation treats gua sha boards as social currency, we have finally achieved a cyber health trend that even Hua Tuo could not have imagined.
2. The Four Divine Effects of Spring Gua Sha
1️⃣ Body “Spring Cleaning”:
In March, as yang energy rises, gua sha acts like a deep SPA for the body. Li Shizhen wrote in the “Bencao Gangmu” (Compendium of Materia Medica) about “bian stone releasing heat,” which today means helping the 996 workers expel the toxins from caffeine after binge-watching dramas.
2️⃣ Natural Blush Effect:
The blood circulation promoted by gua sha is more hardcore than the “vitality girl” filter of beauty cameras. Just look at Xue Baochai from “Dream of the Red Chamber”; with cold fragrance pills and gua sha, she is the epitome of a classical beauty without makeup.
3️⃣ Special Treatment for Spring Fatigue: Gua sha on the liver and gallbladder meridians in spring is more invigorating than three cups of iced Americano. If Su Shi had known this trick, he wouldn’t have been delayed in submitting “Cold Food Post” due to spring fatigue.
4️⃣ Boosting Immunity:
The wei qi activated by gua sha is like installing antivirus software for the immune system. The hidden gua sha secrets in Zhang Zhongjing’s “Shanghan Lun” (Treatise on Cold Damage) have now become a lifesaver for stars rushing to appointments.
3. Modern Gua Sha Safety Guidelines
1. Avoid the “Death Zone”:
The carotid artery in the neck is a high-voltage line, and bony protrusions are minefields. Gua sha emphasizes “stroking along the hair”, so never imitate certain influencers attempting high-difficulty moves, ending up with a Van Gogh starry night back.
2. Control the Force:
If you apply too little pressure, it’s like scratching the surface; too much pressure turns it into a domestic violence scene. Remember the three principles of gua sha: steady, precise, and gentle; after all, we are not trying to engrave the “Qingming Riverside Scene” on the back.
3. Keep Warm and Prevent Cold:
After gua sha, the pores are like open city gates; a breeze can be as punishing as a fine. It’s advisable to learn from the empresses in “Zhen Huan Zhuan” (Empresses in the Palace) and wrap up tighter than a zongzi after gua sha.
4. Frequency Restrictions:
Once or twice a week is enough to make the meridians dance; doing it daily may lead to sensitive skin. Remember the ancestors’ advice: “When the moon is full, it wanes; when water is full, it overflows”; health maintenance also requires sustainable development.
Conclusion:
From Hua Tuo’s “Five Animal Frolics” to the ubiquitous gua sha boards among contemporary female stars, from the “Huangdi Neijing” to trending notes on Xiaohongshu, gua sha, this Eastern mysticism, is performing cross-border miracles.
As we hold smart gua sha boards, cosplaying as ancient physicians, let’s not forget Zhang Zhongjing’s advice: “The best doctor treats the unillness.” This spring, why not let the gua sha board and thermos cup form a health maintenance duo? After all, in the battlefield of punk health, we need both a sense of ritual and scientific value!
