Use of a Gua Sha on the body

Gua Sha is an ancient healing technique that is originally coming from China but also used in Japan Korea and many other Asian countries. Chinese people started to use Gua Sha thousands of years ago to eliminate toxins, waste products, tension and pain from the body.

Gua sha therapy is the practice of using a tool to apply pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. Using a Gua Sha on the body can cause light bruising, often purple or red. These spots are called as petechiae or sha.

Using the Gua Sha therapy on the body is perfect for cellulite, tension and fluid retention. The tool releases the tensions and breaks up facia adhesions and the blood flow increases in the skin. It’s through blood that collagen and elastic is delivered to the skin, which firms and tightens skin over time.

Benefits of regular Gua Sha Body Massage

Facial Gua Sha is a common therapy but full body gua sha can have a lot of benefits.

It promotes circulation in the muscles and other deep tissues so it can help for treating injuries, muscle spasms, inflammation, increasing mobility, and help with long-standing chronic tensions.

Similar to foam rolling, it can increase flexibility and joint mobility, but with a gua sha it is easier to reach both smaller and larger joints that aren't as easily accessible otherwise.

Gua Sha therapy on the body also has a lot of benefits as it helps to reduces cellulite, it improves blood circulation and supports lymphatic drainage, it promotes skin renewal, improves muscle tone, gives a softer, smoother and firmer skin.

This magic tool can also have effect on pain by reducing tensions and promoting deep relaxation sensation.

Women found that perimenopause symptoms, such as sweating, insomnia, and headaches, were reduced after gua sha treatments.

A 2014 study showed that gua sha can improve the range of movement but also reduce pain in the neck and shoulders for people who are working all day on computers.

In 2017, another study explained that weightlifters who had gua sha therapy felt that lifting weights took less effort after treatment.

This result could suggest that the treatment increases muscle recovery.

Some practitioners claim that gua sha can also benefit the immune system and reduce inflammation that is why sometimes, gua sha is used to treat a cold, fever, or lungs problems.

Small injuries to the body caused by gua sha, such as bruises or redness, are called micro trauma. They create a response in the body that may help to break up scar tissue.

Side effects and risks

Gua sha causes capillaries, the tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin, to burst. This red or purple bruises, known as sha creates the distinctive effect of the gua sha use on the skin.

The bruises usually take a few days or up to a week depending on the people to heal. It shouldn’t be too painful but in case it is, it is possible to take some paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with pain and reduce swelling. It is also possible to apply an ice pack to reduce inflammation and ease any pain.

Gua sha is generally harmless to most people however, gua sha is not suitable for everybody. In case you have one of the following conditions, you should avoid gua sha treatments:

• medical conditions affecting the skin or veins
• bleed easily
• take medication to thin the blood
• have deep vein thrombosis
• have an infection, tumor, or wound that has not healed fully
• have an implant, such as a pacemaker or internal defibrillator

Is gua sha painful?

Gua sha is a very deep and intense treatment but it is not supposed to be painful. Using gua sha on the body deliberately causes bruising or redness, which may cause discomfort for some people. However the bruises should heal quickly and the pain should be light and totally bearable.

Is Gua Sha body treatment for me?

If you're looking to ease out tensions in the back, shoulders, neck, legs, and arms muscles, then this therapy will likely help you to recover and heal.

Because it differs from a traditional massage, it will help also with mobility issues.

But if you're looking for relaxation or an anxiety reducer then it is better to go for acupuncture or a traditional massage treatment.

Mijep Beauty has amazing Gua Sha tools that are perfect to be used both for body therapy and facial daily massage.