How does it work?

The main treatment technique used in Gua Sha Therapy is the dragging of a smooth, round object against the oiled skin: often a smooth coin or a spoon, or sometimes a specially designed jade or horn tool. The scraping of the skin is considered to be both healing and diagnostic. During Gua sha, the scraping device is drawn firmly against oiled skin at about a 30-degree angle. The therapist will perform consistent 4”-8” strokes on the skin either on a meridian pathway or a particular area of the skin.  The purpose of the scraping is to allow slow blood and blocked qi to flow. When small red dots appear, it means that “sha” (fever or illness) is freed and that qi now flows freely again. If the area is unblocked, then the skin will turn pink but no dots will appear.

Benefits of Gua Sha Treatment

Raising “sha” removes blood stagnation, which is considered pathogenic, promoting normal circulation and metabolic processes.  In many treatments, immediate relief from pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, and nausea is achieved.  Gua Sha is valuable in the prevention and treatment of acute, infectious illness, upper respiratory and digestive problems and many other acute or chronic disorders.

Gua Sha treatment is normally performed in conjunction with a massage or acupuncture treatment.  The area of treatment is not painful and redness often significantly improves directly after a session.