Gua Sha
Gua means ‘to rub’ or ‘friction’ and is yet another ancient home remedy. Oils with special blends of Chinese herbs are applied to the area to be treated and a small tool is used (often I use a spoon or jar lid) to gently rub or scrape the skin, creating friction. This produces the same red/purple marks (sha) produced by the cupping technique but doesn’t take as long to fade.
What is It Good For?
- Pain, stiffness and muscle tension (and may be used to treat areas that are difficult to access with cups, such as the cervical neck)
- Colds, allergies and flu’s
- Sore throats and ear infections
- Paralysis
- Upper respiratory problems
- Digestive issues
Gua Sha is considered to be an ‘adaptogenic’ technique in that it warms if cold, mimics sweating and cools if hot, strengthens deficiency, and releases excesses.
* With both cupping and gua sha techniques, the color noted on the skin and rate of fading are diagnostic.