Gua Sha is a healing technique also known as “scraping” or “spooning”. Physiotherapists refer to this modality as instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization.  Unidirectional press stroking against an oiled area of the body is repeated bringing “Sha” to the surface. Sha is intentionally created, temporary therapeutic petechiae that reaches the skins surface through specific movements. Thus light to dark marks can be seen on the body after treatment, lasting 2 to 7 days.

 

Bringing Sha to the surface removes blood stagnation and moves stagnant Qi. It can alleviate acute and chronic pain, stiffness, fever, chills, cough, wheezing, and nausea! It is also utilized to reduce inflammatory symptoms in chronic illness, to break down scar tissue, address fibrosis, and perimenopausal symptoms. Modern research has shown that incorporating Gua Sha into treatment can even lower liver inflammation, in addition decreased levels of ALT and AST have been noted in Hepatitis B patients pursuing more holistic avenues of treatment.