What is Gua Sha therapy and how does it work?
Feb 26, 2021 · People use gua sha to treat chronic pain all over their body. They often do it alongside other complementary treatments like herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, and heat therapy. What Happens To...
How do you do gua sha?
May 28, 2021 · Move the gua sha from your forehead and motion in an upwards direction, applying a gentle pressure as you go. Then, move the tool to your cheeks, moving the device outwards from the nose to the ear...
What are the risks of Gua Sha therapy?
Sep 15, 2020 · A Gua Sha is a facial tool either made from jade or quartz that promotes the lifting and smoothing of the skin, through massaging techniques and specific pressure application, leaving the face lifted and radiant after use. Shop the Mount Lai Gua Sha. Besides improving overall health and radiance of the skin, the practice of Gua Sha has a ...
Can you do gua sha on yourself every morning?
A gua sha facelift will become a permanent benefit of this practice once you start to honor your body as a whole. Give it nutrient rich foods, give it ample water, give it love, and your chi will start to glow from the inside out. Gua Sha Before and After (With Photos)
What should be avoided after guasha?
Do not massage swollen or infected areas. Do not massage areas of the body that have undergone treatment for cancer. Drink extra fluids, ideally 2–4 glasses of water, after each massage to help flush the body. During the massage, there should be no pain or skin reddening.
What should I put on my face after gua sha?
PRO TIP: If you're short on time, performing a gua sha facial for up to a minute can provide significant benefits. You can choose to massage your face for up to five minutes. Use a soothing mist, like pure rose water or aloe water, to calm any redness you might have after.Feb 5, 2020
Do you moisturize after gua sha?
"Gua sha is best done after both cleansing the face and applying a moisturizer or facial oil," says Lam, "as the gua massage not only gives your skin a 'workout,' but also helps products' nutrients absorb better into skin."Jun 17, 2021
How long does gua sha take to heal?
Up to the point where there's petechiae (bright red spots) is enough. With that in mind, the markings from Gua Sha typically subside in as quickly as 72 hours.Jul 15, 2016
Do I wash face after gua sha?
Cleaning your skincare and makeup tools is a must as a dirty tool can lead to an array of skincare woes. Make sure to clean your gua sha stone after every use. You can just wipe it using a soft towel or even dip it in lukewarm water for a deeper cleanse.Aug 18, 2021
Should I wash my face after gua sha?
Étape 4 - Should i wash my face after Gua Sha No, you do not have to wash your face after gua sha. Having gua sha is actually better than cleansing your face because cleansing your face will remove the natural oils on our skin and make it more oily.Sep 17, 2021
What oil should you use with gua sha?
The best facial oils for gua sha will be lightweight, non comedogenic, and will provide nourishment to you skin. Some common facial oils for gua sha are rosehip oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil.Aug 7, 2021
What moisturizer goes with gua sha?
Grapeseed oil has anti-aging, moisturizing, and rejuvenating properties that work well when coupled with gua sha. It's high in antioxidants, linoleic acid, and vitamin E, making this facial massage oil a good choice for fighting signs of aging such as wrinkles and age spots!
Are you supposed to use oil with a gua sha?
It's the golden rule of gua sha: Always apply facial oil before using your stone. You need enough slip so that the tool can easily glide across the contours of your face—without it, you can pull or tug at your delicate skin.Dec 21, 2021
Is it normal to feel sore after Gua?
Typically, gua sha is considered safe. However, you may have some bruising or discoloration of your skin. You could also be sore and tender for a short while after you have your treatment.Feb 26, 2021
Why does skin turn red after gua sha?
The tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under the skin will burst when a practitioner press-strokes the skin with a rounded edge during gua sha. This process causes red spots (petechiae) to appear in the skin which looks like a rash or bruise.Sep 19, 2020
How do you feel after gua sha?
How Will I Feel After Gua Sha?You may initially feel tired or you may feel “under the weather” from your body releasing and eliminating the toxins released from the gua sha session.You may have more energy, you may feel less muscle tightness, you may sleep better at night, and other beneficial outcomes.
What is gua sha massage?
Gua sha is intended to address stagnant energy, called chi, in the body that practitioners believe may be responsible for inflammation . Inflammation is the underlying cause of several conditions associated with chronic pain. ...
Where is Gua Sha performed?
Gua sha is generally performed on a person’s back, buttocks, neck, arms, and legs. A gentle version of it is even used on the face as a facial technique. Your technician may apply mild pressure, and gradually increase intensity to determine how much force you can handle.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation. This ancient Chinese healing technique may offer a unique approach to better health, addressing issues like chronic pain. In gua sha, a technician scrapes your skin with short or long strokes to stimulate microcirculation ...
What is breast engorgement?
Breast engorgement is a condition experienced by many breastfeeding women. This is when the breasts overfill with milk. It usually occurs in the first weeks of breastfeeding or if the mother is away from the infant for any reason. Breasts become swollen and painful, making it difficult for babies to latch.
What symptoms did the intervention group report?
Upon completion of the study, the intervention group reported greater reduction of symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, and hot flashes compared to the control group.
When do women get Gua Sha?
This is usually a temporary condition. , women were given gua sha from the second day after giving birth up until leaving the hospital. The hospital followed up with these women in the weeks after giving birth and found that many had fewer reports of engorgement, breast fullness, and discomfort.
Is Gua Sha safe?
As a natural healing remedy, gua sha is safe. It’s not supposed to be painful, but the procedure may change the appearance of your skin. Because it involves rubbing or scraping skin with a massage tool, tiny blood vessels known as capillaries near the surface of your skin can burst.
What is a gua sha?
Gua sha, or 刮痧, directly translates to “scratch” and “sand” (here, the sand refers to the raised redness on the skin instead of actual sand). “‘Sha’ is caused by the bacteria or virus toxins, which break the capillaries and form hyperemia areas, or spots in the skin or mucus, and form sand-like scattered or condensed areas,” said Wang.
What are the benefits of gua sha?
While records of gua sha usage started emerging in the Ming Dynasty, it is still a commonly used TCM technique today. Practitioners have found it helpful for alleviating pain as well as increasing circulation and energy flow.
Best gua sha tools
When considering a gua sha tool, experts recommend looking for something that fits well in your hand — something that is comfortable and not too overwhelming. Regarding the material the tool is made from, experts say it is completely up to you. In TCM, certain stones are related to specific goals.
Mount Lai Gua Sha
Mount Lai’s gua sha is one Lee’s favorites because it is a nice size and fits nicely in her hand. “They also have different edges for scraping larger and smaller areas,” she elaborated.
SUPVOX Natural Buffalo Horn Gua Sha
Wang prefers gua sha tools made of buffalo horn, which is an animal-derived product widely used in TCM. Known for dispelling heat and cooling blood, this one by SUPVOX has garnered a 4.4-star average rating from 10 Amazon shoppers. Buffalo horn “hardness is just in the range of need,” he said.
Pink Moon Over the Moon Duo
If you’re just getting into gua sha, consider this set by Pink Moon. Not only does the set come with a gua sha tool and facial oil, but for another $20, you can attend a gua sha workshop led by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
Sacheu Beauty Gua Sha
Sacheu Beauty is another AAPI-owned brand that carries gua sha tools. Unlike the Pink Moon version, however, this one is made of stainless steel. According to Sacheu, the tool has “self-cooling” capabilities, meaning it is naturally cold to the touch and users don’t have to put it in the fridge before each use.
What is a Gua Sha?
A Gua Sha is a facial tool either made from jade or quartz that promotes the lifting and smoothing of the skin, through massaging techniques and specific pressure application, leaving the face lifted and radiant after use.
How to Use a Gua Sha
A lot of people use the Gua Sha in different ways, and you can find videos and diagrams across the internet showing you. There is a proper and proven way of using the tool for the highest level of effectiveness so I will show a diagram below:
A Quick and Earnest Review
I want to start by saying I don’t use my Gua Sha every single day, but I do use it 3-4 times a week. The reason for this is because I usually either forget, or I put on makeup shortly after waking up thereby eliminating the ability to use the tool.
What happens after Gua Sha?
After receiving gua sha, each physical body has the chance to react to the treatment. This might be instantaneous, or it might manifest in the days following the procedure. Most people undergoing their first round of gua sha will start to exhibit what are known as ‘petechiae’ in different parts of the skin.
Where is Gua Sha performed?
While gua sha is primarily being used in the West as a method of training the skin of the face, traditionally gua sha is performed on a person’s back, buttocks, arms, legs and neck. The facial gua sha technique was introduced much later.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is an ancient form of massage that involves using some sort of tool to increase the circulation of fluids underneath the skin. The goal in gua sha is better health and relief from symptoms such as chronic pain, migraines, tension, and even viral infections such as hepatitis (amongst others).
What does brown petechiae mean?
Brown petechiae is a sign that the person lives in a generally dehydrated state. They likely do not consume enough water by day, leaving their body deficient of fluids in areas that need it most. Brown petechiae are a good sign because this is a problem that is easy to correct!
What is pink petechiae?
These tend to develop over areas where the individual in question is likely to be suffering from general deficiency of nutrient blood flow. Pink petechiae is also a sign that any illness that an individual suspects they are suffering from would only have developed very recently.
Does Gua Sha work?
Gua sha facial training has allowed certain acupuncturists and estheticians to target wrinkles through the ancient practice. As mentioned, it was the acupuncturists using pressure points in the face who first began to notice a gradual easing of deep lines over time.
Does Gua Sha help cellulite?
As gua sha increases the natural blood flow of the individual , the body’s lymphatic drainage system is able to kick in, the stagnant fluid living around the cellulite is flushed out with the chi, and nutritious new blood is delivered to these areas.
What Happens During Gua Sha
A gua sha session takes about 5 to 15 minutes. During a gua sha session, you’ll sit up or lay down either face up or face down. Your practitioner, who should be a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine or an acupuncture physician, will most likely apply an oil or balm to the skin to help the tool glide more easily.
Side Effects and Risks of Gua Sha
Overall, gua sha doesn’t have serious side effects. With the right practitioner, you shouldn't feel pain. Still, it’s good to know in advance about some skin changes it may create. These include:
DIY Gua Sha vs. Seeing a Trained Practitioner
If you’re having gua sha for medical reasons, it’s best to work with a trained practitioner to do it. That’s because that person will know the right points on the body to stimulate and make the treatment most effective, Snyder says.
Tips to Find the Right Facial Gua Sha Tool
If you've done your research and you want to start facial gua sha at home, here are a few tips to help you find the right gua sha tool:
