The Gua Sha therapy in Zhuang medicine utilizes smooth-edged tools made from materials such as sheep horn, cow horn, tender bamboo, porcelain, small spoons, coins, buttons, etc. The therapy involves scraping the skin surface repeatedly with these tools, using lubricating oil or water as a medium, to treat conditions such as Sha syndrome, heat stroke, colds, sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Located in the southern region, Guangxi has a humid and hot climate, historically known as a place of miasma. The Gua Sha therapy of Zhuang medicine is a unique and effective external treatment method developed by the Zhuang ancestors over thousands of years in their struggle against diseases. After the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the experiences of treating Sha diseases in Lingnan attracted the attention of medical practitioners. For instance, Wei Yilin’s “Shiyi Deyao Fang” describes “Jiao Chang Sha”: “Severe abdominal cramping, cold sweat, bloating, and a feeling of impending doom, as if the intestines are being stirred.”
Zhuang medicine believes that the three pathways and two routes are physiological channels through which vital substances such as Qi and blood circulate to sustain life activities throughout the body. The Gua Sha therapy stimulates local or corresponding acupuncture points, activating the meridians on the body surface, fully invigorating the Qi of heaven, earth, and humanity, allowing them to synchronize. This therapy can clear the three pathways and two routes, promote the circulation of Qi and blood, invigorate blood and resolve stasis, alleviate pain, dissipate stagnant blood, and generate new blood. It also facilitates the smooth flow of Qi and blood, nourishing the organs and promoting various physiological functions of the body.
The Gua Sha therapy has effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, dispelling dampness and stopping vomiting, unblocking meridians and alleviating pain, and invigorating blood and resolving stasis. The selection of scraping areas varies according to the symptoms. For Sha syndrome, scraping is performed on both sides of the back from top to bottom; for colds, loss of appetite, fatigue, and low fever, scraping is done from top to bottom on the back, as well as in the popliteal fossa, back of the neck, and elbow pits; for pediatric malnutrition, scraping is performed from Changqiang (长强) to Dazhui (大椎) points… The technique emphasizes even pressure, using wrist and arm strength, with the scraping tool held at an angle of 45° to 90°. The scraping surface length is about 5 inches, and it can be done in segments, generally scraping 10 to 20 times until purple-red spots or patches appear.
The clinical application of Gua Sha therapy is extensive. Folk Zhuang medicine primarily treats common Sha-related conditions, and after years of research and clinical validation, it is now widely used for various diseases across internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology. It is not only effective for treating diseases but also for disease prevention and health maintenance. In today’s world, which values green and natural therapies, Gua Sha therapy is gradually revealing its unique advantages and charm.
Source: Guangxi Autonomous Region Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital
