Gua sha refers to the process of using a jade stone to promote circulation, reducing inflammation, and encourage lymph flow to clear congestion in the face. Gua means “to scratch”, and sha refers to what the skin looks like after the scratching occurs. Gua sha has the advantages of wide adaptability, obvious therapeutic effect, convenient use and cost-effective and safe. It’s deeply preferred by the majority of patients.
According to legend, in ancient times, people found that piercing an abscess with hot Bian stones could play a therapeutic role, and warm stones would also make the skin feel very comfortable. gradually, human beings at that time felt that hot stones could cure some diseases. This is the embryonic form of “scraping” treatment.
Chinese scraping technique has gone through three stages of development from folk gua sha, meridian gua sha to holographic meridian gua sha. The holographic gua sha is a treatment that selects to scrape relevant meridian and holographic acupuncture points. Skin is not only the defensive organs of body, but the outer expression of internal organs. TCM meridian theory and modern holographic theory have identified and summarized specific areas on the skin where each internal organ and organ manifests itself. Scraping these areas can not only treat common diseases, but has unique features for timely detection and early treatment of latent diseases and improve sub-health.
Here are some helpful methods to be recommended to you.
Facial Gua Sha Technique
Gua sha is aimed at slowly scraping the acupuncture point and the body from shallow to deep with the strength of the wrist arm. With a steady force and then gradually strengthen, you should stop and relax 5-10 minutes when coming to a certain depth.
According to different gua sha boards, you should use different gua sha techniques.
- When performing gua sha, the thick edge of the gua sha plate is close to your palm.
- When you need to use thick edges and thick ones prism to scrape, he thin edge of the gua sha plate is close to your palm.
- When you need to scrape with the concaved parts, your thumb and the remaining four fingers are close to the middle of gua sha plates.
Gua Sha Angle
Maintain an angle of 45-90°between the gua sha direction and your skin.
Gua Sha Pressure And Speed
Whenever your pressure and speed is large and fast, or small and slow, gua sha should be maintained even speed and force.
Gua Sha Length
Gua sha is centered on acupuncture points, and shouldn’t scrape up and down, just one direction gua sha.
Gua Sha Time
- You scrape every parts within 1 minute and 10 times when scraping large force and fast speed.
- Every parts are scraped within 2-3 minutes when scraping small force and slow speed.
- Usually, a patient only can select gua sha 3-5 parts.
- Gua sha time is depending on patients’age, body health, illness, and gua sha parts.
- For routine health care gua sha, there is no strict time limit for the operation. In order that your feelings as a principle.
