The Benefits of Gua Sha

The Benefits of Gua Sha

A popular health practice, gua sha involves repeatedly scraping lubricated skin with a smooth-edged tool. It's often paired with massage. And it can have a surprising range of benefits, from clearing congestion to improving the immune system. It can even help you avoid the common cold.

The ancient Chinese technique involves rubbing or scraping the skin—usually with a tool like a spoon, coin, or water buffalo horn—to stimulate blood flow and release stagnation. It's a form of friction massage known as tribo-effleurage, which is similar to the way your hands massage muscles during a handshake or hug. "The goal is to break up stagnation in the body, whether that's blockages in the meridians or in the lymphatic system," says acupuncturist and massage therapist Lee Wilcher of Five Star Therapeutic Massage in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In traditional Chinese medicine, many ailments are considered to be due to stuck or stagnant qi and blood, per Johns Hopkins Medicine. When done in the proper fashion, gua sha can create petechiae, or tiny pinpoint red spots caused by broken capillaries, which appear on the surface of the skin and disappear within a few days. Bruising can also occur, but it's usually less dramatic than the bruises you see on athletes after a hard workout.

Gua sha is primarily used on the neck, back, and shoulders because research points to benefits for musculoskeletal pain in those areas, Minichiello explains. It's also a common treatment for headaches, he adds. It can also be used on the abdominal area to treat digestive issues, and on the knees to address osteoarthritis.

Another potential benefit is its ability to reduce diabetic neuropathy, a common condition that occurs when high levels of glucose damage nerves in the feet and legs. A 2019 study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that gua sha was associated with improvement in sensory function, balance, and nighttime burning sensations in the legs and feet in people with diabetes who underwent 12 weekly gua sha sessions.

But there's less evidence of the lymphatic drainage gua sha advocates talk about. And if the technique isn't performed correctly, it can cause severe muscle soreness, skin discoloration, and bruising. "It's important to communicate with your practitioner, as well as be mindful of the amount of pressure you apply," Kim says. "If you use too much force, you can cause injuries."

Choosing the right tool is key. The thickness of the edge determines how intense your gua sha session will be, she adds. Thicker edges can be more intense, while thinner ones are gentler. It's also important to clean the tool thoroughly between uses.

Generally speaking, gua sha is safe for most healthy adults—although it's not recommended for those with sensitive skin, open wounds, or sunburns. It's also not advised for those who are taking blood thinners or for those with psoriasis, eczema, or other conditions that can be made worse by irritation. For those who are new to gua sha, Minichiello suggests starting slowly and working up to more intense sessions.

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