Gua Sha is an ancient medical practice that dates back to early Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves the practice of scraping a jade or quartz tool over the skin. But what are the benefits of Gua Sha? Gua Sha releases tension in the muscles, but unlike a traditional massage it creates friction on the skin. This friction allows the Gua Sha tool to penetrate deep beyond the skin, to the muscles and soft tissue.
Too often people think of skincare as something that only involves the superficial parts of the skin. In reality the appearance of your skin is determined by a number of things including the muscles and tissues that lay beneath. Gua Sha can help with a lot more than just skincare though. Here is a list of just a few of the benefits of Gua Sha.
Clear Complexion
If you have a set skincare routine you probably think about your complexion a lot. An entire industry of creams, lotions, and serums exists promising to help promote clear skin. All of these are great, but they can only work from the top down. The skin, like any other organ, requires proper blood flow and drainage to work properly. Gua Sha promotes circulation to the skin which helps get rid of blackheads and acne breakouts. With extended use it can also help promote skin firmness. By activating the muscles and deep tissues under the skin Gua Sha firms up the complexion and reduces the effects of aging.
Migraine Headaches
Many people have come to us asking “What are the benefits of Gua Sha?”. To their surprise one of the biggest is the relief of migraine headaches. Those who suffer from migraine headaches know just how debilitating they can be. Intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and even nausea are all common symptoms. Even worse, standard painkillers aren’t usually effective for migraine relief. Many people have reported that regular use of Gua Sha helps reduce their migraines. By relaxing the muscles and tissues in the face Gua Sha helps reduce tension. Gua Sha also helps promote blood circulation, something that is often thought of as essential to migraine relief. OTC painkillers like Excedrin are often combined with caffeine to increase blood flow to the head to improve migraine symptoms. Gua Sha accomplishes this more efficiently without any of the stimulant side effects.
TMJ
TMJ is a condition characterized by pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. It commonly affects people with high levels of stress who respond by clenching their jaw subconsciously. TMJ can cause chronic pain, clicking of the jaw, and general headaches. The contours of the Gua Sha tool allow it to apply deep, sustained pressure to the jaw muscles. This increases blood flow to the muscles and allows them to relax. With continued use this can significantly decrease the symptoms of TMJ and bring great relief.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is becoming more and more common, even among young people. Hours a day spent staring at a screen can promote bad posture and in turn create chronic neck problems. Luckily Gua Sha has been shown in clinical settings to be effective for the treatment of neck pain. Sweeping the Gua Sha tool along the long muscles of the neck promotes deep relaxation and relief. Increased circulation helps with neck mobility and reduces overall pain.
Eye Puffiness
Nobody likes having bags around their eyes after a long day of work (or a long night of partying!). The smaller end of a Gua Sha tool can be used to gently massage the areas around the eyes helping to reduce puffiness and inflammation. The cold stone of the Gua Sha tool firms up the skin around the eyes, firming up the skin and eliminating bags.
Bottom Line
There are a number of benefits to Gua Sha. Whether you’re looking to improve the appearance of your facial skin or find relief from chronic pain there is sure to be a use case for you. There is a reason that Gua Sha has remained in use for hundreds of years while other parts of Chinese medicine have been lost to time. If you want to learn more about how to use a Gua Sha check out our guide here. To purchase a high quality quality Gua Sha tool without the luxury price, check here!