About Gua Sha

Gua Sha is a traditional healing technique that originated in China and has been practiced for centuries. It involves scraping a smooth-edged tool—typically made of jade, rose quartz, or other materials—across the skin to promote circulation, reduce tension, and help with various skin and muscle concerns.

How Gua Sha Works?

Gua Sha (pronounced "gwah-shah") means "to scrape bruises" in Chinese. The treatment involves using a smooth, flat-edged tool to scrape or gently massage the skin, usually on the face, neck, or back. The scraping motion helps to stimulate blood flow, release muscle tightness, and encourage the body's natural healing processes.
When the tool is scraped across the skin, it creates light pressure and friction that encourages better circulation. In some cases, you might notice light redness or "sha" (small raised areas of the skin), which is completely normal and temporary. This redness is a sign that the blood is flowing more freely, which can promote healing and rejuvenation.


Common Conditions:

  • Beauty-related features such as wrinkles, lines, folds, and selling; tension in the masseter muscle; discomfort in the temporomandibiular jpint (TMJ); and bruxism (teeth grinding).

  • Symptoms

    Mild to sever head pain,: migrains; nausea; dizziness;vision changes; and sensitivity to light

  • Sneezing; stuffy, drippy or blocked nose; postnasal drips; rhinitis (inflammation of the nose); allergic rhinitis (hay fever); sinusitis (inflamation of the lining of the sinus); reduced sense of smell and taste; and soreness or sweling around the eyes and nose.

  • Excessive worry; restlessness; muscular tension; low self-esteem; self-doubt and uncertainty; withdrawal; fatigue; constant tiredness; disrupted sleep patterns; appetite changes; iritability; persistant sadness; and difficulty in concentrating.

  • Difficulty in falling asleep; waking up during the night; waking up early and unable to go back to sleep; feeling tired during the day; unable to concentrate; irritability; and not sleeping enough hours (ideally, adult should sleep 7 - 9 hours, children 9 - 13 hours, and babies 12 - 17 hours).

  • Pain; aching; stiffness; muscle tightness or spasms in the neck area; gradual or sudden onsset; constant or intermittent duration; exacerbated by certain moements, such as sneezing or coughing; pins and needles or numbness in the hand; headaches; andrestriction of moement of the head.

  • Pain in the shoulder area that is dull or aching, sharp or severe, gradual or sudden; shoulder immobilization; pain with certainarm movements; shoulder muscle spasms; numbness, tingling, stiffness or swelling in the shoulder and arm.

  • Persistant cough, especially at night; wheezing; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; chest soreness or tightness; and sore throat.

  • Feer; aertion to cold; mild headache; nasal conjestion; runny nosse; sneezing; cough; sore throat, and body aches.

  • Heat rising to the head; profuse sweating; headache; thirst; weakness; dizziness; vertigo; tinnitus; nausea; heart palpitations; inability to concentrate.

  • Most people with hypertension will experience no symptoms at all, but if symptoms are present, they may include the following:

    Mild vision changes; early morning headaches; shortness of breath; nosebleeds; irregular heart rhythms; vision changes and buzzing in the ears.

    Sever chest pain; fatigue; anxiety; nausea; vomiting, and confusion.

  • Long-term fatigue; frequent infections; insomnia; depression; anxiety; body aches and pains; gastrointestinal problems (acid reflux, diarrhea, or constipation); headaches, and other related symptoms.

  • Constant or intermittent pain in the back area; muscle aches; shooting, burning or stabbing sensation; pain on lifting, twisting and bending; pain worse when resting, sitting or standing; stiffness in the morning and pain radiating into the buttocks, legs or hip.

  • Pain at the medial epicondyle of the humerus (golfer’s elbow), lateral epiondylitis (tenis elbow) are common conditions that appear on or around the elbow joint.

  • Wrist discomfort often involves the overuse of the joint with repetetive strain injuries, sprains, sports injuries, and pinched nerves, and ccan include conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tendinitis, arthritis, bursitis, and ganglion cysts. Despite its bony appearence, the wrist is a major junction, close to the beginning and end of all of the arm meridians pathways, making it important in any treatment.

  • Cold hands and/or feet, unrelated to the ambient teperature, numbness in the fingers or pale hands, discoloured fingers such as Raynauld`s syndrome or hypothyroidism.

  • Abdominal or epigasric discomfort; bloating; indigestion; constipation; diarrhea.

  • Pain in the lower abdomen and/or lower back pain before, during or after a period; headaches; nausea; diarrhea; general weakness

  • Pain or discomfort, swelling, redness or stifness in the knee area; popping or crunching noises on movement; and inability to fully straighten the knee.

  • Ankle pain, acute sprain or discomfort and/or swelling with restricted movement.

  • Heel pain; pain when standing after getting out of bed; plantar fasciitis; Achilles tendonitis, bursitis; and bunions.

Benefits of Gua Sha

Boosts Circulation:
The scraping motion helps improve blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which may give it a natural glow.

Relieves Tension:
It can help loosen tight muscles, especially in areas like the neck, shoulders, and back, making it great for stress relief.

Reduces Puffiness:
Gua Sha is often used on the face to help drain excess fluid, reducing puffiness, especially under the eyes.

Promotes Lymphatic Drainage:
It helps encourage the lymphatic system to remove toxins from the body, which can support overall health.

Improves Skin Tone and Texture:
Regular use of Gua Sha may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promote collagen production, and improve the overall texture of your skin.

What to Expect During a Session?

A typical Gua Sha session starts with a consultation where your practitioner will assess your skin or muscle concerns. You’ll then lie back comfortably while they apply a special oil or serum to your skin. The practitioner will then gently scrape the tool across your skin in long, smooth strokes. The sensation should feel relaxing, like a gentle massage, though some pressure may be applied to release muscle knots.

Side Effects:

The primary side effect of Gua Sha is temporary redness or bruising. A reddish or purple mark, sometimes called "sha," can appear on the skin after the scraping. This is a common and normal reaction due to increased blood circulation. The scraping motion breaks up blood vessels just under the skin, which is what causes the redness or slight bruising. It usually fades within a few hours to a couple of days. If you're concerned, try using a cooling gel or soothing product. Avoid scrubbing or harsh treatments until the skin has fully recovered.