6 Benefits of Gua Sha & Why You Should Do It
Pronounced “gwashah,” this traditional Chinese medicine technique has been around for 700 years—with good reason. Gua Sha uses tools that apply pressure to the skin in a scraping motion to help move blocked qi (or energy) in your body. Gua Sha rollers (for the face) or scrapers (for the face or body) that are usually made from polished jade or quartz so they glide easily along your skin.
6 Benefits of Gua Sha & Why You Should Do It
Pronounced “gwashah,” this traditional Chinese medicine technique has been around for 700 years—with good reason. Gua Sha uses tools that apply pressure to the skin in a scraping motion to help move blocked qi (or energy) in your body. Gua Sha rollers (for the face) or scrapers (for the face or body) that are usually made from polished jade or quartz so they glide easily along your skin.
Gua Sha also has a variety of fantastic health benefits that include reducing stiffness in the body, encouraging circulation by promoting blood flow, and is a prominent step in the Korean Beauty skin care process. Check out these other benefits of Gua Sha to see why so many people are promoting this Chinese medicinal technique.
1. Chronic Pain Relief
Individuals who suffer from chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other joint and muscle pain may benefit from the regular use of Gua Sha. This is because Gua Sha is believed to break up the chi or energy in the body and therefore promote healing.
2. Improved Lymph Circulation
For many, using a Gua Sha roller is part of an effective everyday skincare routine. Using a Gua Sha roller on the face helps improve lymph circulation and blood circulation in the face. Because of this, it’s often used to help sculpt the face and is believed to aid in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Reduced Liver Inflammation
Although the evidence is slim, some people believe that Gua Sha can have a significant impact on reduces inflammation—particularly in the liver. Liver inflammation is a chronic condition, often associated with Hep B. Liver Inflammation is signaled by a high presence of liver enzymes and some studies have shown that Gua Sha may be connected to reduced liver enzymes and therefore liver inflammation.
4. Improved Migraine Recovery
If you suffer from chronic migraines, Gua Sha may help you recover faster and have more migraine-free days. One study found that using Gua Sha over a two-week period helped improve migraines in a 72-year-old woman with chronic headaches.
5. Neck Pain Relief
Chronic neck pain can be terrible to live with, but studies have shown that Gua Sha is more effective than using heat treatments for treating chronic neck pain. If you’re looking for chronic neck pain relief, Gua Sha might be a great option to relieve your pain.
6. Reduce Symptoms of Perimenopausal Syndrome
If you’re a woman, the closer you get the menopause the more likely you are to experience hot flashes, irregular periods, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and more. One study of 80 women found that using Gua Sha helped reduce perimenopausal symptoms including reduced headaches, fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, and more.
Should You Use Gua Sha?
Gua Sha is a safe and natural healing remedy with many benefits; however, you should still consider whether it’s the right treatment for you. While using a Gua Sha stone on the face is a gentle, daily treatment, It’s important to be aware that professional Gua Sha treatments on the body often cause bruising (or sha) and minor bleeding. Because of this, it’s not suitable if you’ve just had surgery, take blood thinners, or have any blood clotting disorder.
If you’ve had a Gua Sha treatment it’s recommended that you ice any bruising and take mild painkillers until your bruises heal. While the bruises might sound intimidating, they are actually a form of microtrauma meant to improve healing and recovery. Using Gua Sha is an excellent way to use your body’s natural healing abilities and get relief from chronic pain.