Chinese Medicine Gua Sha Video Tutorial
Nov 07, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
The patient should assume a comfortable position, and scraping oil should be evenly applied to the skin. The practitioner holds the scraping tool and primarily uses gentle and slow techniques, generally scraping in a downward direction. When encountering painful spots or acupoints, increased pressure should be applied until petechiae (sha) appear. After scraping, wipe the patient's skin dry and have them drink plain water or ginger-sugar water. It is important to note that the patient should not bathe within three hours after scraping to facilitate the body's detoxification and elimination of pathogenic factors.
Gua sha is guided by the theories of traditional Chinese medicine regarding meridians and acupoints. It involves using specially designed gua sha tools and specific techniques, along with a suitable medium, to repeatedly scrape and rub the skin surface. This process causes localized skin changes such as red, grain-like spots or dark red petechiae—known as "sha"—and helps promote blood circulation and eliminate pathogenic factors through the skin. The specific procedure is as follows:
1. Prepare the gua sha tools and inspect the edges and corners of the scraper to ensure they are smooth and free of cracks to avoid skin damage.
2. Position the patient comfortably, fully expose the treatment area, and clean the local skin with warm water. Evenly apply a medium such as gua sha oil to the skin.
3. Hold the scraper firmly in hand. Begin with gentle, slow strokes at a 45-degree angle to the skin. Once the patient adjusts, gradually increase pressure and speed according to the patient’s tolerance.
4. Gua sha is generally performed from top to bottom, from the center of the body outward toward the sides, or always moving inward to outward—never back and forth. Each area should be scraped about 20 times. Pay extra attention to painful areas or acupoints, scraping until sha appears.
5. After scraping, dry the patient's skin and encourage them to drink plain warm water or ginger-sugar water.
Note: The patient should avoid bathing for three hours after gua sha to support the body’s detoxification and expulsion of pathogenic factors.
