Gua Sha

Gua Sha is an traditional Chinese therapy for natural heal. "Gua" means to scrape or rub and "Sha" means a "reddish, elevated, millet-like skin rash". Sha is the term used to describe Blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae.

• What is Gua Sha?
• How is Gua Sha applied?
• Benefits for managing kidney disease
• Is Gua Sha a safe treatment? Will it hurt me?
• Dos and Don'ts

What is Gua Sha?

Gua Sha is one technique that intentionally raises a Sha rash or petechiae. It is a traditional ancient Chinese healing technique that dates back over two thousand years. The maxim about this healing method is on the basis of Chinese oriental medicine theory that uses potent guides to energize the meridians. The meridians are essential as it is where energy flows in the body.

Gua Sha is used whenever a patient has pain whether associated with an acute or chronic disorder. There may be aching, tenderness and/or a knotty feeling in the muscles. Palpation reveals Sha when normal finger pressure on a patient's skin causes blanching that is slow to fade. In addition to resolving musculo skeletal pain, Gua Sha is used to treat as well as prevent common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, as well as any chronic disorder involving pain, congestion of Qi and Blood.

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How is Gua Sha applied?

Sha is raised primarily at the Yang surface of the body: the back, neck, shoulders, buttocks, and limbs. On occasion, Gua Sha is applied at the chest and abdomen.

Sha is the term used to describe blood in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as a small red bump. It is raised primarily at the Yang surface of the body, such as neck, limbs, shoulders, buttocks and the back. Usually, Gua Sha happens in these areas, or occasionally, it is applied at abdomen and chest. Usually, the practitioner daubs a a layer of special oil on experiencer's skin. The oil is enhanced either with healing herbs or essential oils chosen to aid the extraction of toxic waste. Then, the skin is scraped in the area of discomfort or at times on the entire body using a specific Gua Sha tool depending on whether the treatment is for physical or emotional healing.

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Benefits for managing kidney disease

Usually, the practitioner prefers to scrap the back--nearby the kidneys. After it passes, it leaves an indention or vacuum behind which draws toxic fluid out to the surface of the skin from deep within the tissue.

The toxic fluid (Sha) around the kidney, floods to the surface and can be seen in small red, deep purple or green pools of blood, it is also often hot on the area that the toxic heat is extracted. Red spots are an indication that toxins are being released. Where the area is deep purple the blood is old and extremely stagnant. A dark green discoloration is a sign that stagnant blood and toxic "qi" are being released from the system.

In addition, some additional effects usually follows as the kidney condition improvements. Frequently, the aliments, such as fatigue, fever, headaches, back pain will leave away after several days.

Other disorders that pertain to physical strength like injuries of muscle, joints and tendons can be eased with this healing method. It can also effectively heal myofascial pain syndrome, and stiffness of the neck or shoulders. Whether one is suffering from cold or heat stroke, this technique can used to significantly ease the pain. Problems with digestive system can be treated as well. Indeed, even urinary disease, Gua Sha can be a good tool for healing.

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Is Gua Sha a safe treatment? Will it hurt me?

Surely, it is. Almost patients feels an immediate better shift after Gua Sha. At first, the scraping is really hurt for most people. As practitioner scraped areas were in pain or tense, the scraping did not hurt. Toward the end of the scraping, people usually feel not a pain at all, but just the firm stroking motions.

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Dos and Don'ts

We recommend rest after cupping, but if you must be active we suggest keeping it to a minimum. We also ask that patients refrain from alcohol, drugs, sex, feasting, fasting or hard labor (including working out) for the rest of the day.

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