Understanding Gua Sha: An Ancient Approach to Healing

As expert as one may be about the massage therapies you offer, you cannot know all of them or at least not know all of them intimately. So, it would not be surprising if you were not completely up to date on Gua Sha, an ancient technique of Chinese massage that dates back over 2,000 years. The first recorded history of Gua Sha was found in texts of the Ming Dynasty, which ran from 368 to 1644, during which time the practice was used for joint pain, stiffness and tension.  Despite its long history throughout Eastern Asia, only in the last few decades has Gua Sha made its way to the West.

The rough translation of Gua Sha means “to scrape away fever.” Gua is the Chinese word for rub or scrape. Sha refers to the red, sand-like marks that result from scraping the skin and stimulating circulation. [1] The idea behind Gua Sha was that the use of tools and movements could rid the body of blocked “energies” to maintain harmony between its internal and external forces.

Gua Sha legacy in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

Gua Sha is part of what today we call instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). In fact, according to some. IASTM evolved from Gua Sha. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization uses “instruments generally made of stainless steel with bevel led edges and contours that can conform to different body anatomical locations and allows for deeper penetration. It is used for the detection and treatment of soft tissue disorders.”[2]

Soft tissues mobilization therapy is used to:

·         relax tense muscles

·         reduce scar tissue

·         stretch fascia

·         lengthen fascia

Common soft tissue injuries include:

·         sprains

·         strains

·         contusions

·         tendonitis

·         bursitis

·         stress injuries

Research on soft tissue mobilization therapy is limited. However, there are case studies that support the use of mobilization therapies for soft-tissue injuries. One study involved 198 people who had tennis elbows. Participants were divided into three treatment groups: the first group received mobilization with movement therapy; the second group received corticosteroid injections, and the third group received no treatment. The group that received mobilization with movement treatment saw the most improvement overall.[3]

Use of Gua Sha today

As an alternative therapy massage technique today, Gua Sha typically is performed with a flat tool generally made of jade, amethyst or stainless steel. The target area is oiled. The tool is then used, specifically at a 45-degree angle, to rub a combination of long and short downward strokes across the skin. This is done to bring the heat to the surface of the skin, with the aim of releasing it from the body. [4] During a Gua Sha session, the upward motion of the instrument helps to stimulate soft tissue to boost circulation, which may help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.

Common Gau Sha treatment areas include the back, neck, arms, legs, and buttocks. Gua Sha also is sometimes performed (in a gentler way) on the chest and face.

Benefits of Gua Sha

Research indicates the benefits of Gua Sha in the following areas:

Reduces inflammation and swelling: In one research study, Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) was used to make sequential measurements of the microcirculation of surface tissue before and after Gua Sha treatment in 11 healthy subjects. Gua Sha caused a fourfold increase in microcirculation perfusion units (Perfusion is the passage of fluid through the circulatory system or lymphatic system to an organ or a tissue.) at the treatment area for the first 7.5 minutes following treatment and a significant increase in surface microcirculation during the entire 25 minutes of the study period following treatment.[5]

Relieves shoulder, neck and back pain: A small 2014 study found Gua Sha reduced neck and shoulder pain in participants who regularly used a computer. Participants also reported a wider range of motion after Gua Sha. [6]  A 2011 study found that folks with neck pain reported less pain than the heating pad group after a week of Gua Sha sessions. People treated with Gua Sha also had less pain when they moved.[7]

Aids muscle recovery and pain relief: Gua sha may help muscle recovery and prevent injury after fatigue. In a 2019 study of 44 male weightlifters, people who had 16 Gua Sha sessions over eight weeks improved their weightlifting abilities.[8]

Relief from headaches: While more research is needed, there is some indication Gua Sha may help with headaches. In 2007, a 72-year-old woman was treated for two weeks with Gua Sha for chronic headaches. Her symptoms improved during this time, suggesting the massage technique may have helped. [9]

Research on Gua Sha is limited but based on some studies, the ancient technique of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization is taking its place among the many natural ways of healing the body.