What Is Gua Sha and What Does It Do?

The traditional mode of using a Gua Sha Tool was to apply deep, vigorous pressure along an area or areas, creating significant markings (or Sha), that look like bruising.  Using Gua Sha in this way creates "micro-trauma" to the area being treated, strongly invigorating circulation, releasing stagnant energy and pain and in some cases old emotional history.  Good, right?  If the tiny little needles used in Acupuncture could invoke healing in the nervous system, organs, brain and tissue, why couldn't this same theory apply to use a Gua Sha tool? By rejuvenating and invigorating stagnant areas of the body with intentional pressure on a daily basis you can get amazing results.  It's comparable to the practice of doing Yoga, or meditating, or boxed breathing, where sending the right messages to the body, the right energy to tissue and muscle, allows the body to release and heal.   

What is Gua Sha Good For?

• Facial rejuvenation, lifting and sculpting the cheeks, jawline, eyebrows and increasing collagen production

• Headaches, sinus and jaw pain and any condition affecting the face or head

• Muscle strain or sprain, pain

• Arthritis, bursitis, inflammation

• Injuries to bone, tissue and/or pain from overuse

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Numbness and tingling

• Neck, back, knee, hips, elbow or other joint pain

• Recovery from illness

• Supporting optimal functioning of organs and body systems

• Decreasing stress

• Decreasing inflammation

• Increasing movement, strength and range of motion

• Increasing focus and mental energy

• Invigorating muscle and skin

• Increasing circulation of energy throughout the body

• Opening the Yin and Yang channels of the hand and arm so there is smooth flow of Qi

This is not an exhaustive list by any means.  With some exceptions, Gua Sha is applicable to most physical conditions and many emotional health issues. 

Self-Care Practices for Living a Healthy Life

Several years ago I was suffering from daily pain in my heel and in the nerve on the bottom of my feet, also known as Plantar Fasciitis, and it was so painful to put my feet down on the floor.  I did not want to wear a bulky, rigid boot to bed each night, and thought to myself, "Well, I am an Acupuncturist, I should be able to fix this".  The thought of placing anything into or under my feet was daunting.  I read up on all of the treatments -- rolling your foot on a golf ball was my least favorite find -- and decided that I had all of the tools at my reach to deal with this.  After some contemplation, I came up with needling distally (away from the foot) and doing Gua Sha.  Up until this point, I had used Gua Sha minimally, and although it is historically known as the precursor to Acupuncture and as a powerful healing tool, I thought this could be a powerful self-care tool.  It prompted me to dig a little deeper into the wisdom of Chinese Medicine and experiment with this tool that fit in the palm of my hand.  

Every day for 30 days I used my Gua Sha Tool on the bottom, side and top of my foot, on my ankle and part of my leg.  And every day, it felt less and less painful and my flexibility and mobility improved.  After 30 days, my plantar fasciitis was gone. And it hasn't come back!  This experiment led me to understand how the use of this amazing tool was another way I could take ownership of my health, as I did with my diet, exercise and other daily self-care practices.