Gua Sha

Gua Sha is a fabulously effective way to help muscle aches and pains.  It works by moving stagnation (of blood, lymph, interstitial fluid and extra-cellular debris) out of the tissues and up into the skin where is can be eliminated by the body.

Gua sha involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation. This ancient Chinese healing technique may offer a unique approach to better health, addressing issues like chronic pain.  The benefits of Gua Sha are usually felt instantly and are long-lasting in the majority of cases.

Gua Sha is often used as a way to improve the complexion and is considered a great anti-ageing tool.  Note that Gua Sha on the face does not produce the temporary marks seen when this technique is applied to other parts of the body.

What Happens During Treatment

Our therapists use a special Gua Sha tool to scrape the skin to stimulate the micro circulation.  Very typically red marks appear during Gua Sha (known as petechia); these marks – which disappear completely within a week – give the therapist a good idea of the degree of stagnation and provide valuable steer on how many treatments you may need.  Gua Sha is very relaxing to receive and the benefits can be felt straightaway with reduced pain and inflammation and increased range of movement.  We can show you how to Gua Sha on yourself at home.

Your Gua Sha Therapists

Gua Sha is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is offered in the clinic by our acupuncturists Samantha Hamilton Stent and Netta Murray.  It can be combined with acupuncture (and other TCM modalities such as Cupping Therapy) or as a stand alone treatment in its own right.