While you might think that gua sha would be too much for someone who has peripheral neuropathy, Sobo says it’s not. He adds that when done in conjunction with acupuncture, gua sha can help promote blood flow for those with peripheral neuropathy. But if you’re on blood thinners, your practitioner should either avoid doing gua sha or do it very gently so they don’t break up too many blood vessels. And like with most things, speak up if you’re uncomfortable Pronounced ‘gwa sha’, it translates to ‘scrape wind, as the treatment involves scraping or pulling a flat jade or rose quartz stone along oiled skin. You’d be forgiven for thinking the tool looks a little bit like the footprint of a baby dinosaur. Gua sha is a very standard kind of treatment modality that most acupuncturists will use. Its meaning loosely translates to ‘scraping, rubbing or pushing.’ Essentially, gua sha is just a tool-assisted type of massage,” explains Sobo. The difference between gua sha and the Graston Technique I flipped the tool over to use the smaller attachment under my eyes—in a horizontal motion toward my temple. This is easier to do with a double-sided jade roller, like Herbivore's. A 2014 study found that gua sha improved the range of movement and reduced pain in people who used computers frequently compared with a control group that had no treatment.

The closest English translation we have for gua sha would be the act of scraping. This offers a very limited perception of the practice, and we encourage everyone to investigate far beyond this before drawing any conclusions about what these techniques entail. The literal translation of 'gua' means 'scrape' and 'sha' means 'sand,' which refers to the sandy dark spots that look like light bruising on the skin that comes up after a gua sha body treatment," explains Patricia San Pedro, an esthetician, founder of Sunina Skin, and author of Face Fitness. As for the mental benefits, San Pedro says, "To me, any type of self-care practice can be a ritual for you. Performing gua sha feels grounding to my spirit and inner self-care. I feel balanced when I include the ritual as a part of my skincare regime; I am breathing through the techniques and clearing [my mind]." How to Use Gua Sha If you're a beginner, I recommend starting at the jawline, it’s a good place to begin to get comfortable with your tool' says Laloy. ‘Angle the tool at 45 degrees, making sure it’s hugging your jawline then work the Gua Sha tool from the chin to the ear.This tool is also easy to hold, clean, and store. It’s the perfect travel tool for those who like to take the magic wherever they go. It can be used all over the body, and it is suitable for facial massage. Buy yours here. Rose Quartz ​ is known as the stone of love. ​ It is known to promote self-love and inner healing and feelings of peace. It is balancing on the tissues and promotes regeneration. This is a great option for ageing skin concerns. Jade-rolling can theoretically improve lymphatic or vascular flow temporarily," says dermatologist Jeaneen Chappell, MD, meaning it can temporarily increase circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage in your face—which, in turn, can help reduce some puffiness. (Though, FWIW, you can also get the same results by gently massaging your face and slathering on a good under-eye cream.) Gua sha is many things, but an instant facelift is not one of them. Gua sha has the ability to give the illusion of a facelift, and with regular repetition this illusion can be maintained long term, but this is never guaranteed.

Want to learn more about about gua sha and its benefits? Here’s everything you need to know: Are there different kinds of gua sha tools? Gua sha, when done correctly, has the ability to re-sculpt and almost train the lines of the face to sit in more appealing positions. One can see this quite clearly during their first session, when only one side of the jaw has been sculpted and the other remains its normal, puffy self.

How to use gua sha tools

Gua sha is concerned with all things flow! Flow of chi, flow of blood, flow of good health… just flow.

Jawline and chin: Glide your tool upwards from the center of the chin out to the earlobe to contour the jaw. Many ancient civilizations practiced some sort of rolling of the face using egg-shaped crystals. Their technique wasn’t necessary gua sha specific, but the goal was the same: move out unwanted lymphatic build up. A gua sha facelift will become a permanent benefit of this practice once you start to honor your body as a whole. Give it nutrient rich foods, give it ample water, give it love, and your chi will start to glow from the inside out. Gua Sha Before and After (With Photos) PR consultant Holly Hope Harper tried the FaceGym signature sculpt facial workout that includes gua sha, EMS technology and their new prep, train and recover skincare range. Here’s her honest review and before and after shots. Researchers have carried out small studies on the following groups of people to see if gua sha works:Facial gua sha is less intense. There is only so much tissue in the face, thus only so much pressure that can be applied to move the lymphatic fluid. This technique was actually discovered by mistake, when traditional acupuncturists began using pressure points in the face to cure ailments in the rest of the body. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

To finish the routine, I used the smaller roller once more down my nose, moving it in a horizontal motion. Rose quartz is known as the stone of love. Those who work with it believe that the crystal is able to amplify the amount of love one experiences in personal relationships, in their work life, and within themselves. Gua Sha Jade Stone What this practice doesn’t take into consideration is chi, or the flow of the energy field of the human body. This is why gua sha has shown to be more effective at treating cellulite compared to regular massage techniques. Gua sha tools in rose quartz are a popular new-age way of practicing gua sha from the comfort of one’s own home.

Gua sha practitioners should not break the skin during the treatment, but there is a risk it could happen. Broken skin increases the possibility of infection, so a gua sha practitioner should always sterilize their tools between treatments. I’d heard really great things about FaceGym so was excited when I booked myself in for the treatment. I opted for the signature sculpt, which began with a ten-minute consultation so the facialist could assess my skin and talk me through the treatment. Reading that gua sha involves “scraping,” might make you cringe. However, a practitioner won’t be scraping your body like a car windshield in the middle of winter. Gua sha is gentle overall, and the intensity can build depending on the types of knots that your acupuncturist encounters. If you’re not confident in your abilities to perform this kind of massage on your own face, that’s okay! The gua sha community is growing, and trained practitioners are becoming more of an abundant resource in many parts of the globe. Estheticians were amongst the first individuals to get clued up in gua sha for the face; they recognized the undeniable benefits of the technique early on. You may also have a traditional practitioner running a private establishment somewhere near your place of residence; start putting some feelers out and see what you have access to. Gua Sha for Body