Gua Sha
Lymphatic congestion? Inflammation? Pain? Fatigue? Infections? Physical or emotional stress? If so, then you will greatly benefit from Gua Sha treatment
Gua Sha (pronounced “gwa shaw”) is an healing technique originating in Eastern Asia which involves scrapping and rubbing of the skin. As a result a rash appears on the skin. The coloring (reddish, blackish, purplish, or brownish) of the rash is an indicator of the overall health of the individual’s blood flow. Prior to the treatment oil is applied to the skin. Downward strokes are used with a round-edged scraping tool. Areas of the body Gua Sha is generally applied to is the back, neck, shoulders, buttocks, arms and legs.
It is a healing technique that intentionally raises Sha or petechiae to aid in the movement of Qi, blood and other fluids containing metabolic waste that congests surface tissues and muscles. Gua means to scrape or rub, while Sha is the reddish, elevated skin rash used to describe blood stasis or toxins in the tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae.
Sha is raised primarily on the neck, shoulders, back, buttocks, and limbs. Only occasionally is Gua Sha is applied on the abdomen and chest.
If a patient has aches, pain, tenderness and/or knotty feeling muscles associated with an acute or chronic disorder, Gua Sha can be applied. Gua Sha is also used to prevent and treat flu, bronchitis, asthma and the common cold.
If Sha is purple or black, the blood stasis is long standing. If brown, the blood may be dry. Dark red Sha can indicate heat, while very light Sha can suggest deficiency of blood. Shaw that is fresh red indicates recent penetration.
Petechiae should fade in 2-4 days. If it is slower to fade this could be a sign of deeper stagnation or organ deficiency. The practitioner must ascertain whether the deficiency is of the blood, Qi or yang.
Gua Sha is a completely safe technique. In many cases the patient feels an immediate shift in their condition for the better. Gua Sha promotes circulation and normalizes metabolic processes. It is a valuable treatment for both external and internal pain, and is an excellent treatment for acute and chronic disorders.
Chronic Disease is extremely prevalent today in our nation. More often than not, individuals everywhere are both sick and tired or experiencing some degree of severe pain either physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. Just in my office alone the amount of circulatory insufficiency and oxidative stress I am seeing on a daily basis greatly concerns me. I am quite impressed with the results that I achieve when I use gua sha. This technique may not apply to every patient and I only perform the procedure when I feel it is necessary. It is, I believe, a vital, restorative therapy that can lead us on the path to DISCOVERING WELLNESS.