Gua Sha

Gua Sha is also known as scrapping. It isn’t as bad as it sounds or looks. Gua means rubbing, sha can be translated as toxins, but also include heat and even dampness. When there is excess heat inside the body that is trapped, it needs to escape. So the TCM doctor only helps the heat escape by simply using a straight piece tool, like what’s in the picture, to open the pores on the patients back. Gua sha is used for pain related to acute or chronic disorders. The patient may feel aching, tenderness and/or a knotted feeling in the muscles. Gua sha is used to treat illnesses such as common cold or flu, asthma, bronchitis, vertigo as well as chronic problems involving headache, neck/shoulder pain and stagnation of the qi and blood. It is especially useful when a person has or is recovering from a fever. Sometimes gua sha is useful to heal a lingering illness even if it has been a long time since the patient has believed to be over the problem.

After the treatment the patient will have “bruises” on the back. The color of the bruises will vary depending on the illness. THIS IS GOOD. It means that whatever was trapped in the body now is coming out. It looks bad, but it only lasts a few days.