Gua Sha is a traditional East and Southeast Asian healing technique in which a smooth "board" the size of a credit card is pressed against the skin of the body and applied to the face and neck. The idea is that the light pressure releases tension in the fascia and muscles and moves the slow lymphatic fluid to align the face.
Gua Sha means 'scraping away disease' and involves using tools such as jade, horn or rose quartz, along with a lubricating ointment or facial oil, to repeatedly scrape the skin in one direction
What does Gua Sha do?
Gua Sha was originally used to relieve various body aches and pains. It is often used in Chinese medicine to scrape the skin, usually on the upper back, to stimulate blood flow, release heat toxins, stimulate lymphatic drainage, activate various acupuncture points in the body, and stimulate an immune response that brings beneficial cells to the area.
Now, the practice continues to evolve into a popular addition to people's beauty regimens to tone and tighten the skin.
Gua Sha works by promoting blood circulation. When you gently scrape the skin on your face, what you are doing is stimulating a certain meridian point that corresponds to the organ in the body responsible for the overall health of the skin. In turn, you are sending a signal to your body that the area needs more blood circulation.
Stimulating circulation helps reduce inflammation and promotes detoxification, which can lead to a clearer complexion and promote lymphatic drainage.
Lymphatic drainage can also be beneficial to the skin by eliminating toxins, fluid buildup and puffiness. Scraping helps to promote movement and circulation in the body to release stagnation. Depending on the amount of pressure used with the guasha tool, you can target different areas of the body. This is where proper technique is important. We recommend using gentle scraping movements to help activate lymphatic drainage and the flow of lymphatic fluid.
Gua Sha tools can help drain the lymphatic system by "stimulating the lymph nodes to help divert excess fluid from the swollen area to the drainage". This leads to an overall fresher, fitter and healthier complexion.
How do you use the Gua Sha tool?
While you can book a professional gua sha treatment at an acupuncture clinic or a choice of spas, it has become a very popular home remedy. So, if you want to do it yourself, for each step you will need to repeat all strokes five times, slowly and with gentle pressure.
Place the flat side of the board firmly against the base of the back of your neck, then stroke up your spine to your hairline. Then stroke up the sides of your spine, from the top of each shoulder to your hairline.
Place the flat side of the board on the top of your shoulders and stroke it upward to where your chin touches your ears. Repeat on the other side.
Place the curved notch of the board where the collarbones meet, then drag it upward along the midline of the throat to (but not over) the chin. Repeat on each side of the throat.
Position the notch of the plate so that it is close to the center point of your chin, and then slide it along the edge of your chin toward each ear.
Run the flat side of the plate from the corner of your mouth to your ear, under one cheekbone. Repeat on the other side.
