The term Gua Sha, pronounces “Gwah-Sha”, comes from the Chinese word means “scraping”, and is a technique which involves using a tool, usually a bone or piece of jade, to scrape the skin in long strokes with significant pressure to elicit redness and minor bruising, which appear as purple or red spots known as petechiae, or “sha”.  The treatment is used to move qi, energy, in and around the body, break down scar tissue and connective tissue, improve circulation, and increase joint motility.

Since it is understood in TCM that one’s health is dependent on the free flow of qi in the body, Gua Sha is a helpful tool to utilize in areas where qi may be stuck. Blockage of qi in the body can elicit pain, tension, or numbness in the muscles and joints, where the Gua Sha tools are mainly applied. Moreover, in TCM, blood stagnation is equated with sharp, stabbing pain in specific areas in the body. In order to decrease or eliminate this kind of pain, the area of blockage must be addressed, and the blood moved. Gua Sha serves to move the stuck blood, and bring new blood vessels to the area by breaking up stagnation and eliciting an immune response.

Gua sha is mostly used for musculoskeletal issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, or muscle tension, but can also reduce inflammation and be used to treat a cold, fever, or lung problems. The small bruises which gua sha elicits, called microtrauma, elicit an internal response within the body that helps break up scar tissue, and is therefore helpful for individuals suffering from fibrosis, caused by a buildup of excessive connection tissue during the body’s healing process.

Although the treatment does not have any major side effects, it is not indicated for individuals with certain medical or health conditions, including some bleeding disorders and immunocompromised patients suffering from decreased or inadequate healing mechanisms.

* People who should not have gua sha include those:

who have medical conditions affecting the skin or veins

who bleed easily

who take medication to thin their blood

who have deep vein thrombosis

who have an infection, tumor, or wound that has not healed fully

who have an implant, such as a pacemaker or internal defibrillator