Gua Sha

Gua sha is a healing technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Sometimes called ‘coining, spooning or scraping’, Gua Sha (pronounced 'Gwah Sah') is a technique that involves palpation and cutaneous stimulation where the skin is pressured or scraped in strokes with a round-edged instrument.  This results in the appearance of small red petechiae called 'sha', that will fade in 2 to 3 days. 
Gua Sha releases fluids that contain metabolic waste and congest the surface tissues and muscles.  Gua Sha promotes circulation and normalizes metabolic processes.  It is a valuable treatment for both external and internal pain, and facilitates the resolution of both acute and chronic disorders.

WHAT CAN GUA SHA TREAT

Gua Sha is stimulating to the immune system, detoxifies, increases circulation, regulates organ function, normalizes metabolic processes, removes stagnation and eases pain.  Modern research has confirmed Gua Sha reduces pain and inflammation while stimulating an immune protective response that can persist for days following treatment.
Gua Sha treatment can result in immediate relief that patients feel from:

•    Pain
•    Stiffness
•    Fever and Chill
•    Cough and wheezing
•    Nausea and vomiting

 

Gua Sha is effective for acute and chronic internal organ disorders including liver inflammation from hepatitis.  Gua Sha revitalizes, rejuvenates, helps diminish stress, fatigue and severe exhaustion.  It helps to release emotions, relaxes the body and helps to clear the mind and senses.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GUA SHA

In most cases the patient feels an immediate shift in their condition, particularly in their pain, sense of constraint or range of motion (movement).  There is often sweating which is the body’s way of releasing toxins that have been inside the body. 

Gua Sha leaves marks but does not cause bruising.  Bruising represents traumatic bleeding and injury to the tissue.  The red marks seen after Gua Sha treatment represent the flight of red blood cells in the surface tissue.

 

Because these techniques open the skin’s pores to facilitate the release of heat, wind, or toxins, the areas we have worked on should be considered vulnerable to “invasion” by wind, cold, dampness, and other elements that can create stagnation and pain.  Therefore, please make sure to keep the areas worked on covered and away from coldness or wind for several days.

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