What is Gua Sha and does it really work?
Traditionally, Gua sha is the practice of using a tool to apply pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension, increasing blood circulation to the area. It has been popular for pain relief in the context of Eastern medicine practitioners, but we’ve also seen guasha entering the world of beauty, over the last couple of years.
Does gua sha really work?
Some studies have found that traditional body gua sha may help with muscle recovery. However, little research has been done on the effectiveness of facial gua sha. Still, the flat pieces of stone...
Is Gua Sha better than botox?
Gua Sha can be an at-home practice that can provide you with a boost that could be even better than botox and complement chosen cosmetic treatments. Collagen is the hero of the show when it comes ...
Are there side effects of Gua Sha?
There are no serious side effects for Gua sha treatments when provided by a medical professional that specializes in this treatment. The most common side effect is bruising, which tends to heal quickly and disappear within a few days after treatment. Infrequent side effects include minor bleeding or skin indentation at the treatment site.
Does a gua sha actually do anything?
Gua sha has been proven to help relieve tension in the face, reduce puffiness and inflammation, and it can even help reduce sinus pressure. However, since the musculature of the face is much thinner, you'll want to avoid applying too much pressure as you're working on this area.
Should you use a gua sha every day?
“As you start to familiarize yourself with it and get more comfortable with your techniques, you should aim to use gua sha at least two to three times per week,” recommends Tobia. “Once you get into a routine of performing gua sha on yourself… you'll achieve the best results doing it daily.”
What does a gua sha do for your skin?
Gua Sha increases circulation and improves lymphatic function, resulting in a naturally dewy, glowing complexion. The action of gently scraping the Gua Sha tool across the skin aids in serum/moisturizer product penetration, so those juicy phytonutrients go deeper into the layers of skin to feed us even more hydration.
Does gua sha work for double chin?
In short, yes. Gua sha can be effective in removing your double chin (via Inspire Uplift). Just make sure that you're practicing it on a regular basis for a number of weeks; it's not something that you can do just once for instant magical results. All you need is a gua sha tool.
What are the do's and don'ts of gua sha?
THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF GUA SHAAlways use a facial serum/ oil when using a gua sha tool. ... Stay relaxed. ... Hold the gua sha tool at a 15 degree angle. ... Light touch is the best. ... Always make sure you are draining after working any major sections. ... Stay hydrated after.More items...•
Does gua sha give you a jawline?
Gua Sha Cannot Give You A Sharper Jawline: Common Misconceptions Debunked. Gua Sha can assist in lymphatic drainage and improve blood flow on the face.
How long does it take to see results from gua sha?
Over the course of about 2 months, we slowly but surely saw some really great results. Puffiness in his face went down, helping his nose appear smaller. His skin overall also looked smoother and felt firmer. For the past 15 months, I've been incorporating gua sha into my skincare routine about once a week.
Does gua sha help sagging skin?
“Done consistently, Gua sha helps to improve the function of the skin which helps with many skin conditions; Deep lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, rosacea, acne, acne scars, pigmentation, dark circles, puffiness.
How to use Gua Sha?
With gua sha on the face, you don’t want to drag your tool from the outside edges of your face. Instead, divide your face in half and use your nose as the middle point. If you’re working under your eyes, you’d start at your nose and work your gua sha tool outward. Keep your tool moving in a smooth, straight line.
What is Gua Sha?
Gua sha is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to the principles of TCM, your qi (pronounced “chi”), or energy, must flow throughout your body so you can feel your best. When qi becomes stagnant in certain areas, it’s believed that health problems can occur.
Does Gua Sha help with sinus pressure?
Gua sha has been proven to help relieve tension in the face, reduce puffiness and inflammation, and it can even help reduce sinus pressure. However, since the musculature of the face is much thinner, you’ll want to avoid applying too much pressure as you’re working on this area.
Does Gua Sha help with headaches?
It can also help alleviate tension headaches, migraines, neck pain or swelling in your body. Sobo adds that gua sha can even help with anxiety, fatigue, insomnia and perimenopausal symptoms when done in addition to acupuncture. “We’re just promoting that flow of qi through the body.
Does Sobo work on acupuncture?
Sobo gives us a better idea of how it works. “Gua sha tools have smooth, rounded edges. They’re not going to cut, stab or pinch you. Before your acupuncturist starts, they’ll massage the treatment area with cream or lotion first and then take things to your comfort level.
Is Gua Sha gentle?
However, a practitioner won’t be scraping your body like a car windshield in the middle of winter. Gua sha is gentle overall, and the intensity can build depending on the types of knots that your acupuncturist encounters. Sobo gives us a better idea of how it works. “Gua sha tools have smooth, rounded edges.
Is Gua Sha the same as Qi?
In 1990, David Graston, an amateur athlete, introduced his version of gua sha to the United States. Sobo says that while qi is associated more with gua sha, both muscle scraping methods are about the same.
How to use gua sha?
They’ll then use the stone-like gua sha massage tool to scrape to your skin in long, downward strokes . This is when you’ll notice areas of petechiae on your skin. At first, they'll gently use the tool on your skin.
What is Gua Sha?
Potential Risks. Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a trained professional uses a smooth-edged tool to stroke your skin while they press on it. This motion raises small, red, rash -like dots that show under your skin called petechiae. People use gua sha to treat chronic pain all over their body.
Can Gua Sha help with menopause?
Women nearing menopause can have things like abnormal periods, hot flashes, sleep issues, and mood changes. In one study, women who used gua sha once a week for 8 weeks saw those symptoms improve. Researchers are still trying to understand how it works. Breast fullness.
Does Gua Sha help with neck pain?
After a week, the people that had gua sha treatment saw their pain ease significantly for a short time. Experts are undecided about the long-term effects of gua sha on neck pain. Perimenopausal symptoms. Women nearing menopause can have things like abnormal periods, hot flashes, sleep issues, and mood changes.
Does Gua Sha work on face?
This process is believed to help blood flow and create a “lifting” effect on your skin, which some say may help lessen toxins in your body and promote healing. You might also have gua sha done on your face, but that process would be gentler.
Is Gua Sha safe for breast feeding?
Those women saw their pain ease and they were eventually able to breastfeed more easily. Typically, gua sha is considered safe. However, you may have some bruising or discoloration of your skin. You could also be sore and tender for a short while after you have your treatment.
What Happens During Gua Sha
A gua sha session takes about 5 to 15 minutes. During a gua sha session, you’ll sit up or lay down either face up or face down. Your practitioner, who should be a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine or an acupuncture physician, will most likely apply an oil or balm to the skin to help the tool glide more easily.
Side Effects and Risks of Gua Sha
Overall, gua sha doesn’t have serious side effects. With the right practitioner, you shouldn't feel pain. Still, it’s good to know in advance about some skin changes it may create. These include:
DIY Gua Sha vs. Seeing a Trained Practitioner
If you’re having gua sha for medical reasons, it’s best to work with a trained practitioner to do it. That’s because that person will know the right points on the body to stimulate and make the treatment most effective, Snyder says.
Tips to Find the Right Facial Gua Sha Tool
If you've done your research and you want to start facial gua sha at home, here are a few tips to help you find the right gua sha tool:
Why do we need Gua Sha?
Gua Sha can be used to clear blockages in meridian channels, which connect our organs together and transport both blood and chi (life force). Our channels need to be clear in order to work harmoniously and for chi to flow well throughout the body.
How does Gua Sha work?
The unique edges of various Gua Sha stones work perfectly to lift, sculpt and tighten the skin. Regular use can prevent the signs of aging such as sagging, dull and wrinkled skin. Since Gua Sha helps stimulate circulation, the technique itself oxygenates and carries nutrients to the skin cells.
Does Gua Sha help with skin?
Gua Sha increases circulation and improves lymphatic function, resulting in a naturally dewy, glowing complexion. The action of gently scraping the Gua Sha tool across the skin aids in serum/moisturizer product penetration, so those juicy phytonutrients go deeper into the layers of skin to feed us even more hydration.
What is a gua sha?
Gua sha, or 刮痧, directly translates to “scratch” and “sand” (here, the sand refers to the raised redness on the skin instead of actual sand). “‘Sha’ is caused by the bacteria or virus toxins, which break the capillaries and form hyperemia areas, or spots in the skin or mucus, and form sand-like scattered or condensed areas,” said Wang.
What are the benefits of gua sha?
While records of gua sha usage started emerging in the Ming Dynasty, it is still a commonly used TCM technique today. Practitioners have found it helpful for alleviating pain as well as increasing circulation and energy flow.
Best gua sha tools
When considering a gua sha tool, experts recommend looking for something that fits well in your hand — something that is comfortable and not too overwhelming. Regarding the material the tool is made from, experts say it is completely up to you. In TCM, certain stones are related to specific goals.
Mount Lai Gua Sha
Mount Lai’s gua sha is one Lee’s favorites because it is a nice size and fits nicely in her hand. “They also have different edges for scraping larger and smaller areas,” she elaborated.
SUPVOX Natural Buffalo Horn Gua Sha
Wang prefers gua sha tools made of buffalo horn, which is an animal-derived product widely used in TCM. Known for dispelling heat and cooling blood, this one by SUPVOX has garnered a 4.4-star average rating from 10 Amazon shoppers. Buffalo horn “hardness is just in the range of need,” he said.
Pink Moon Over the Moon Duo
If you’re just getting into gua sha, consider this set by Pink Moon. Not only does the set come with a gua sha tool and facial oil, but for another $20, you can attend a gua sha workshop led by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
Sacheu Beauty Gua Sha
Sacheu Beauty is another AAPI-owned brand that carries gua sha tools. Unlike the Pink Moon version, however, this one is made of stainless steel. According to Sacheu, the tool has “self-cooling” capabilities, meaning it is naturally cold to the touch and users don’t have to put it in the fridge before each use.
Gua Sha Facial Benefits
It goes without saying but regular facial treatments create clearer skin. Acne-prone skin benefits from the stimulation of lymphatic drainage and blood circulation when done regularly.
How To Use A Gua Sha Tool On Your Face
The gua sha facial massage technique is easy to learn and perform at home. For best results, invest in a quality gua sha tool—you can find it on any number of websites, both locally and abroad. For the full facial treatment, you’ll need to follow these steps: