Gua Sha

Gua Sha, literally “to scrape away fever” in Chinese, is an ancient medical treatment. It is believed that this treatment is for almost any ailment.

Gua Sha is abrading the skin with pieces of smooth jade, bone, animal tusks or horns or smooth stones. The smooth edge is placed against the pre-oiled skin surface, pressed down firmly, and then moved down the muscles or along the pathway of the acupuncture meridians, along the surface of the skin until red spots then bruising cover the area to which it is done. This causes extravasation of blood from the peripheral capillaries and may result in sub-cutaneous blemishing, which usually takes 2-4 days to fade.

It is believed that most people can tolerate the pain of treatment, but there is often some soreness in the area that has been treated. Gua Sha rash does not represent capillary rupture as in bruising. Although the marks on the skin look painful, they are not. Patients typically feel immediate sense of relief and change.