What Is Gua Sha and What Is it Used For?
Gua sha, also known as scraping therapy, is generally performed on the back, buttocks, arms, and legs. A gentle version of it is used on the face and neck.
The practice is believed to release stagnant energy, called chi or qi, which practitioners believe may be responsible for inflammation in the body. This may support both improved blood flow and lymphatic drainage, a process by which the body maintains its fluid levels and removes cellular debris and harmful substances.
You can use gua sha massage on your own or have a licensed acupuncturist perform it.
Keep reading to learn how to use gua sha massage and the potential benefits and risks.
Gua sha is not a substitute for medical care. Readers should consult healthcare providers before trying, especially if they have medical conditions. Expand contraindications to include pregnancy, active skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, rosacea), recent cosmetic procedures (Botox/fillers), and sunburned skin.
How to perform gua sha massage
Gua sha massage requires using a smooth-edged tool. Gua sha tools can vary in size and shape depending on the area of the body they're intended for. Tools for the face are usually smaller and handheld, while tools for the body can sometimes be larger.
You can usually find a gua sha tool online. You can find facial gua sha tools at some beauty retailers.
To perform gua sha:
Before performing gua sha massage, wash your tool with soap and warm water.
Then, apply oil or serum to the area you want to work on. This helps the tool glide across the skin.
Finally, scrape or sweep the tool upward and outward across your skin at a 15- to 30-degree angle. If you're trying gua sha for the first time, avoid applying excessive pressure until you know how your body reacts.
The amount of pressure you use when scraping the tool typically varies depending on where you are applying it. The pressure should be gentle enough for comfort but firm enough to create slight tension.
When used on the body, the gua sha tool is scraped in long strokes across the skin and can leave petechiae, tiny red or purple spots caused by broken capillaries just beneath the skin's surface. Mild bruises are also possible.
On the face, the tool should be gently swept upward and outward across the face with light pressure. It should not be enough pressure to leave petechiae. You can also use a jade roller on your face.
Licensed acupuncturists can use gua sha on different areas of the body to relieve inflammation and pain. They may determine where to use gua sha based on where you're experiencing symptoms and on acupressure points. These specific points on the body are believed to stimulate qi in Chinese traditional medicine. They correspond to specific ailments, like headaches or anxiety.
What material works best for gua sha massage?
Gua sha massage tools are often made from natural materials like polished jade or rose quartz or plastic. You can choose whichever material you prefer, based on feel and aesthetics, but common materials include:
Jade: Denser, smoother, and cooler, with benefits for working out tight muscles
Rose quartz: Softer, more porous, which may provide a lighter massage
Natural horn: Durable and stronger
Stainless steel or metal: Durable, stronger, and easier to clean
Bian stone: Durable, stronger, and able to be heated
Wood: Softest and most porous
Plastic: Inexpensive and softer
What are the potential health benefits of gua sha?
Gua sha may improve blood flow in the areas where it's applied.
Benefits may include:
improving circulation
reducing inflammation
relieving pain sensations elsewhere in the body
relaxation
A 2024 randomized controlled trial in people with Parkinson's disease suggests that gua sha may improve pain severity, motor function, affective disorder, and sleep quality.
Researchers also found the participants who underwent gua sha had increased blood levels of a hormone precursor to serotonin (5-HT), which is involved in regulating mood, and a protein (IL-10) involved in anti-inflammatory processes in the body. These participants also had reduced levels of a protein (IL-8) responsible for promoting inflammation in the body.
According to a 2023 non-randomized control trial, gua sha may also have benefits for pain and breast engorgement due to breastfeeding. Participants performed gua sha on their engorged breasts for 30 minute sessions that involved scraping each site three times for 2 minutes each over a gua sha supportive bra with arrows directing them on each scraping pattern.
A 2011 study with 48 participants compared the effects of gua sha with thermal heat pads on adults with chronic neck pain. One group received gua sha, and the control group received heat therapy. Researchers found that neck pain severity and mobility after one week were significantly better in the gua sha group compared to the control group.
A small 2017 study with 12 participants compared the effects of gua sha with hydrocollator (moist heat) packs on older adults with chronic lower back pain. One group received gua sha, and the control group received heat therapy.
Although both methods decreased pain and improved flexion, extension, and bending movement of the lower back, researchers concluded that gua sha may have a longer-lasting anti-inflammatory effect. At the one-week follow-up, more people who received gua sha experienced pain relief and improved mobility than in the control group.
More research is still needed to further evaluate these potential benefits with larger studies.
Does gua sha have side effects?
Gua sha is generally considered safe. It's not supposed to be painful, but the procedure may temporarily change the appearance of your skin.
Gua sha it involves rubbing or scraping the skin with a massage tool so that tiny blood vessels known as capillaries near the surface of your skin burst. This is believed to support blood flow.
This can result in petechiae and minor bleeding. These marks usually disappear within a couple of days and should not be painful. Some people also experience temporary indentation of the skin or mild bruising.
Cleaning the tool after each use can help reduce the risk of infection if the skin tears or bleeds. Avoid using the tool on open wounds and other areas of the skin that are irritated.
If you have a chronic health condition, take blood thinners, have a blood clotting disorder, or are taking medication that affects your blood cell production (such as chemotherapy) consult with a healthcare professional before use.
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