Gua sha is intended to address stagnant energy, called chi, in the body that practitioners believe may be responsible for inflammation. Gua sha is a practice in traditional Chinese medicine that dates back roughly 1,800 years. More research is needed. Ed Montgomery uses both Gua Sha & Voodoo Floss techniques at MONTGOMERY … So, how can gua sha’s effects be understood from a western point of view? The term gua sha is comprised of two Chinese words: gua, meaning to rub or scrape, and sha, a type of stagnant energy that causes excess heat to build within the body. Gua Sha is an Eastern Asian healing technique used to treat colds, flu, stasis of chi, sluggishness, migraines, poor circulation, etc. Symptoms include: One study, however, found that gua sha may reduce symptoms of perimenopause in some women. Whoever you choose, make sure that person has a certification in gua sha. The control group only received conventional therapy. ⭐2 Modes: Blue light mode ensures vibrating massage in normal temp and red light mode ensures vibrating massage in warm temp. Gua sha strokes are always performed in the same direction, usually downward, from the head towards the feet. | TrainedTo - Reduce Pain, Increase Mobility, Your email address will not be published. Heel-Toe Walking. When used gently, gua sha is very effective in elimminating swelling and edema in the face and body. BEST FOR: Releasing Tension HOW TO USE IT: This smooth tool has won countless awards for alleviating tight, tired muscles. A gentle version of it is even used on the face as a facial technique. 'S-Shaped' Gua Sha Tool , is a medium sized tool. Very convenient for travel and easy to store! HealthAndYoga offers a collection of 3 types of Gua Sha Tools- B-Shaped Gua Sha Tool , is small in size and especially good for use on face and neck. Occasionally, it is applied to the chest or abdomen. Avoid this technique if you’ve had any surgery in the last six weeks. Decreased pain perception also calms your nervous system, reduces the stress and anxiety that arises from pain and allows the body’s inherent healing mechanisms to be expressed. Check out our full tutorial and be sure to avoid these very common gua sha mistakes. The reason gua sha works is because it moves the lymph! Made from 100% stainless steel, it offers antibacterial properties, while the smooth surface is ideal for gliding across your skin and muscles without any tugging. Required fields are marked *. Level Up Massage in Seattle, WA uses Gua Sha tools to treat the body. Gua sha has been used to treat a wide range of both acute and chronic health conditions including headache, fever, digestive disorders, asthma, and respiratory infections as well as women’s health issues, insomnia, and general fatigue. Perimenopause occurs as women move closer to menopause. When it … Be the first to know about product releases, news, and updates from Sidekick. Baby gua sha is gentle, short, and tender. Gua sha. He received acupuncture, herbs, gua sha, and modified his lifestyle. Breasts become swollen and painful, making it difficult for babies to latch. Timothy Lyman, certified personal trainer and director of training programs at FleetFeet Pittsburgh, recommends doing dynamic calf muscle stretches before exercising. The gua sha technique can be used on several parts of the body from the head to toe. While gua sha can yield holistic benefits when performed on the body, it can also yield cosmetic benefits for the face. Learn how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can help. Those can be used to soothe specific pressure points in smaller areas such as the neck or calves that are hard to reach. FDA Gives Emergency Authorization for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 Vaccine, What Family Caregivers Need to Know About Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Injections for Men. If the marks take longer to fade this may indicate poor circulation. The more you take care of your feet simply the better you are going to feel . Breast engorgement is a condition experienced by many breastfeeding women. The hospital followed up with these women in the weeks after giving birth and found that many had fewer reports of engorgement, breast fullness, and discomfort. This ensures a safe, proper treatment. Get it now. The Sidekick Curve is a great introductory tool at an affordable price. People who are taking blood thinners or have clotting disorders aren’t good candidates for gua sha. A gua sha treatment for adults is very different than what you’ll do for your baby. This made it easier for them to breastfeed. Between a dozen and 3 dozen strokes about 6-7 inches long are administered in the same spot before moving to the next section. Best Set Hana Emi Gua Sha Scraping Massage Tools. When the treatment ceases the fluid recedes, leaving an indentation. He was given gua sha, and after 48 hours of treatment he experienced a decline in liver enzymes. Gua Sha vs. For centuries, the Chinese Gua sha technique has been used to promote healing by scraping muscle tissue to stimulate blood flow.In the early '90s, amateur athlete David Graston introduced a variation of this technique in the United States. Upon completion of the study, the intervention group reported greater reduction of symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, and hot flashes compared to the control group. We know! Overview: Best gift for your loved one. The study involved a 33-year-old male who had Tourette syndrome since the age of 9. What is gua sha? Signs of these metabolic waste products being released into the tissue become evident in the form of sha. Using a professional improves the effectiveness of the treatment and reduces the risk of pain or severe bruising from excessive force. They make these strokes with a smooth-edged instrument known as a gua massage tool. But we stand by it. as well as aching and tenderness in the muscles. Chi commands the blood and blood is the mother of Chi. | TrainedTo - Reduce Pain, Increase Mobility, Pingback: The Evidence and Science Behind Gua Sha | TrainedTo - Reduce Pain, Increase Mobility, Pingback: Gua Sha vs. Cupping – Which one is better? Weaker individuals should receive lighter, slower strokes, known as tonifying therapy, while stronger individuals are more able to withstand faster, deeper pressure, often referred to as purging therapy. Gua Sha glides a tool stimulating blood flow causing redness and may decrease pain. We recommend massaging with the curved side first – the small indentations in the stone reduce tension and work particularly effectively on calves, thighs, buttocks and upper arms. The technician applies massage oil to your skin, and then uses the tool to repeatedly scrape your skin in a downward motion. Unlike gua sha for the body, a gua sha facial won’t leave the same aggressive skin markings. All rights reserved. The following two tabs change content below. Gua Sha is a new, different and fun way to engage in that connection and that relationship that adds an entirely new element. Apply body oil, body balm or another oil-rich product on clean skin.. Massage the body with deep, gentle strokes in the direction of the heart. Some think of gua sha facials as a natural facelift. Gua means to scrape or rub. Treatments are safe and effective for breaking up fascial adhesions in the calf. As a natural healing remedy, gua sha is safe. Discover its rules and why you should avoid…. After one week, participants who received gua sha reported less pain compared to the group that didn’t receive gua sha. Marked increase in local circulation occurs for about half an hour after a gua sha session. More research is underway. Gua sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation. Western science calls this type of stroke “tribo-effleurage”, which means friction-stroking. According to a single case study, gua sha combined with other therapies may have helped to reduce symptoms of Tourette syndrome in the study participant. HAYO’U Body Restorer Gua Sha Massage Tool, £38. Gua sha is the practice of using a tool to apply pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. Even though this man had positive results, further research is needed. Body Gua Sha. In one study, women were given gua sha from the second day after giving birth up until leaving the hospital. The first written records of gua sha date back 700 years, to the era of the Ming Dynasty, though,  the practice is thought to be much older than that, perhaps having been discovered in prehistoric times as the simple reflex of rubbing a painful area to make the pain go away. Certification confirms they have basic knowledge of this healing practice. No need to worry about broken of Gua Sha Scraping Massage Tool, it is tougher than the stone, jade, buffalo horn scraping massage tool. Rubbing the skin’s surface is thought to help break up this energy, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Repeat each stroke 5-10 times. The urge to rub or shake a painful body part to stop it from hurting is universal. Gua sha may reduce inflammation, so it’s often used to treat ailments that cause chronic pain, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as those that trigger muscle and joint pain. Gua sha is a tool-assisted derma abrasion therapy that produces petechiae on the skin and is of therapeutic value. Tourette syndrome involves involuntary movements such as facial tics, throat clearing, and vocal outbursts. Sha is a reddish skin rash with petechiae (looks like tiny blood spots) raised by the rubbing. Lymphatic massage. When conventional therapies don’t improve your symptoms, research suggests that gua sha may be able to provide relief. Traditionally applied in accordance with the meridians, or energy channels of the body, many patients in China and other parts of Asia also use gua sha as a form of preventive medicine and a first line of defense against illness. When performed properly, gua sha does not cause the capillaries to rupture so no bruising should occur and the redness normally disappears within 2-4 days. In gua sha, a technician scrapes your skin with short or long strokes to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue, which increases blood flow. One Chiropractors Professional Recommendations for Muscle Soreness Relief, 4 Home Exercises To Relieve Shoulder Pain. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, by bringing heat to the skin surface, gua sha, releases the blocked energy and heat. Mhm, we’re biased. This gua sha tool can be used on yourself (Thigh, Feet, Knee, Calves, Forearm) as well as on others (Shoulder, Back, Neck, Tennis Elbow Massage Tool). This can result in skin bruising and minor bleeding. Gua Sha is a scraping or gliding technique that is thousands of years old. This is when the breasts overfill with milk. Tracey Roizman, DC is a wholistic chiropractor and health writer. resulting appearance of the skin after a treatment can be dramatic and alarming Gua sha technique may also prove effective for remedying chronic neck pain. ⭐4 In 1 Function: This guasha facial massager can be used for face lifting & body slimming, lifting & firming, nutrition absorption, and acupoint massage. Reflexology and massage Our feet and calves have loads of command points that control the Chi (energy) of your body. Gua Sha (pronounced Gwa-saah and loosely translates to scrape sand) Is a Eastern healing technique that falls under Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Gua sha should not be painful. Want to achieve your New Year’s resolutions? How does gua sha … Gua sha is generally performed on a person’s back, buttocks, neck, arms, and legs. Researchers believe gua sha therapy might be a safe, effective remedy for this syndrome. Gua sha is an excellent tool for activating the immune system in order to recover from the common cold or illness more quickly. When you have that whole wide surface from the stone to work with, it gives a different feeling and experience than what fingers can do. Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. It's used to treat pain, stiffness, fever, and deep systemic inflammation. If you have moles, varicose veins or open wounds you can receive gua sha, but take care to avoid those areas. Your email address will not be published. More research is needed, but there are few risks associated with this massage technique. Research suggests that gua sha may reduce chronic liver inflammation. After 35 once-a-week treatments, his symptoms improved by 70 percent. To determine the effectiveness of this therapy, 48 study participants were split into two groups. During and immediately after a gua sha treatment you may begin to sweat and/or feel an energetic shift. The study examined 80 women with perimenopausal symptoms.