Gua sha is a time-honored muscular scraping technique used in China to unblock and restore energy flow. Today, it’s a common practice to help relieve pain and improve circulation.
It’s a gentle and non-invasive treatment that involves scraping across the skin with rounded-edge tools in one direction. During this process, capillaries can burst, resulting in pinpoint red spots called petechiae.
Increased Circulation
Gua Sha Massage is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which believes that your body’s energy, qi, must flow throughout to maintain good health. When qi is blocked in certain areas, it can cause pain, inflammation, and other problems.
A rounded-edge tool is scraped across the skin to release stagnant qi and increase blood flow. It can cause tiny red marks called petechiae, which are only temporary.
Gua sha massage Fredericksburg VA can assist with hormones and digestion and relieve pain. It can release the fascia, a tissue surrounding muscles and organs, and tangling under stress.
It can help reduce puffiness, improve collagen production, and improve your skin’s appearance by decreasing fine lines, reducing acne, and minimizing dark spots. It can also boost your immune system and support your microbiome, vital to your digestive health and overall immunity.
Decreased Pain
Gua sha is an ancient Chinese massage technique that stimulates blood flow to reduce pain in the body. It involves scraping a tool, such as a smooth coin, a jade tool, or a ceramic soup spoon, on the skin and body.
The therapist uses long, consistent strokes to apply pressure. It begins with a gentle rub to soften the skin and prepare it for the tool.
Next, press along the body and palpate to find adhesions or scar tissues. It helps the therapist determine which areas need more pressure.
She will also test the capillary response in the area where she’s pressing to see if it changes to a pale color when the pressure is released. If it doesn’t return to standard color quickly, the area may weaken and need more pressure.
Some research shows that gua sha can be effective for back pain, migraine headaches, and diabetic neuropathy. However, more studies are needed to assess its effectiveness.
Boosted Immune System
Gua Sha massage improves circulation, stimulates the immune system, and boosts overall health and vitality. It also reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, gua sha massage breaks up stagnation and moves energy around the body. It is believed to boost the immune system, making it an effective treatment for illnesses like the common cold.
It also recommended a gua sha session for those suffering from congestion, sinus inflammation, allergies, migraines, headaches, and overall immune system sluggishness.
Gua sha can help move lymph fluid in the body, which is a natural part of the immune system and helps filter toxins. It is one of the reasons why gua sha has been used to treat musculoskeletal disorders, breast cancer, and other conditions.
Reduced Inflammation
Gua Sha Massage reduces inflammation in the body by releasing stagnation. Traditional Chinese medicine views pooled or stagnated blood as a cause of pain, illness, and disease.
Inflammation can occur in the muscles, joints, and ligaments, as well as in the skin. It’s essential to keep your inflammatory processes under control with regular exercise, healthy eating, and plenty of rest.
Maintaining your lymphatic system is also very important. This detoxification system helps your body fight off infections, including the common cold.
During a gua sha session, your therapist uses rounded-edge tools to scrape your skin gently. The pressure from the device causes tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin to burst, resulting in petechiae and bruise-like marks that typically disappear within a few days.
Gua sha is safe and can effectively reduce inflammation in the body, although it’s best to receive treatment from a licensed acupuncturist or practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. It can be helpful for several aches and pains, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain.
