What Is Gua Sha, And How Do You Use It to Sculpt Your Skin?

Gua sha involves using a tool to scrape your skin. It has recently experienced a surge in popularity in the Western world, especially among beauty influencers. But it's actually an ancient practice with roots in traditional Chinese medicine.

 

Benefits of gua sha

1. Gua sha may increase circulation

Gua sha may boost blood flow in areas where it's used. In a very small study, gua sha treatments increased circulation in small blood vessels. Eleven healthy people received gua sha therapy on their backs. And they had better blood flow in the targeted area for 25 minutes after treatment.

If you need to soothe sore muscles, gua sha might be useful. In the same small study, people who received gua sha treatments reported an immediate reduction in muscle pain. Interestingly, they had less pain both in the targeted area and other parts of the body. The pain relief lasted beyond the gua sha sessions, though researchers didn’t specify how long.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, gua sha helps move lymph fluid in our bodies.

The lymphatic system plays an important role in immune function. And lymph fluid helps filter toxins from the body. In one animal study found that gua sha treatments expanded blood vessels. This helped increase blood and lymph circulation.

You have lots of options when selecting the best gua sha tool. Here are some key factors to consider:

The material: Gua sha tools can be made with a few materials, including rose quartz, jade, and stainless steel. According to the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, people often turn to jade because it's softer, whereas rose quartz is cooler. Don't use stainless steel if you have an allergy to it.

Edge thickness: The thickness of the tool's edge can make your gua sha massage more or less intense. The thicker the edge, the more intense the experience, Kim explains. Thinner edges are gentler.

This traditional Chinese medicine technique may offer health benefits like better circulation and less muscle pain. Though the research on gua sha is still very limited, experts say it can promote well-being.