GUA SHA / SCRAPING THERAPY

In Chinese medicine, gua sha is an ancient technique that can be used to relieve acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain, improve circulation and reduce inflammation, support the immune system and address upper respiratory illnesses, and release tension in areas where there is restricted movement. Western sports medicine therapists have adopted gua sha with their own scraping version, called the Graston Technique.

During a gua sha treatment, the acupuncturist isolates the area of skin where there is an injury or imbalance and creates a therapeutic rash using a technique called “press-stroking,” which involves rubbing a smooth-edged instrument across the surface of the skin several times for five to 15 minutes in a downward direction away from the head. The rash is believed to alleviate pain and other conditions attributed to congestion of blood and qi by increasing the surface circulation of blood. 

Gua sha is most often used on the back, neck and shoulders. For some, gua sha can cause discomfort and leave temporary marking or petechiae (the end of blood vessels opening up below the skin of the treated area). 

Gua Sha is a service that is offered as part of your Acupuncture Appointment.

Gua sha treatment is performed by our skilled acupuncture practitioners to help heal both acute and chronic conditions, including:

• Inflammation
• Muscle pain related to spasms and other musculoskeletal conditions
• Respiratory issues including the common cold, bronchitis, asthma and other conditions
• Scar tissue

The benefits of gua sha have been long known in alternative medicine, and have been researched in clinical trials in Western medicine. These trials showed positive initial results for patients with neck and lower back pain.