Yesterday’s post focused on the concept of a Gua Sha in addition to its history and a general overview of some of the ways in which it is commonly used. As I said, I wasn’t too savvy on the use of a Gua Sha or the benefits it offers with consistent use, so I wanted to explore the topic to not only educate myself, but, hopefully, someone else out there reading this, too.
I will also stipulate that while I do not own a Gua Sha, nor have I ever used one, my sister does, and so do a few of my friends. I’m curious to learn more about it because I might be so inclined to give it a try myself.
Again, this information comes from goodrx.com.
“Gua sha may increase circulation
Gua sha may boost blood flow in areas where you use it. In a very small study, gua sha treatments increased circulation in small blood vessels. Eleven healthy people received gua sha therapy on their backs. They had better blood flow in the targeted area for 25 minutes after treatment. Interestingly, women responded better than men.
“Gua sha may relieve muscle pain
If you need to soothe sore muscles, gua sha might be useful. In the same small study, people who received gua sha treatments reported an immediate reduction in muscle pain. Interestingly, they had less pain both in the targeted area and other parts of their body. The pain relief lasted beyond the gua sha sessions, though researchers didn’t specify how long.
In another study, researchers looked at how different treatments affect chronic low back pain in older adults. Those who received gua sha had less back pain and better mobility than those who used a heating pad. The study concluded that gua sha may have a longer-lasting anti-inflammatory effect than heat therapy.
Gua sha may provide pain relief by changing how a person perceives pain. But this theory has yet to be proven.
“Gua sha may promote lymphatic drainage
According to traditional Chinese medicine, gua sha helps move lymph fluid in the body.
The lymphatic system plays an important role in immune function. And lymph fluid helps filter toxins from the body.
When the lymphatic system doesn’t function properly, it can cause fluid buildup. Massage therapy and manual lymphatic drainage have been used to reduce swelling and fluid buildup for people with musculoskeletal disorders, breast cancer, and other conditions.
There’s a need for more research on how gua sha affects the lymphatic system. But one animal study found that gua sha treatments expanded blood vessels. This helped increase blood and lymph circulation.
“Gua sha may have anti-aging benefits
People use gua sha for a range of skin care reasons, including smoothing wrinkles, reducing puffiness, and sculpting the face. But researchers have noted that these benefits aren’t backed by science.
However, there’s some evidence that facial massage may have anti-aging effects. In a small study, 20 women used an anti-aging cream and gave themselves daily facial massages. This combination lessened facial wrinkles. But the women used a massager and not a gua sha tool for their daily treatments,” the web page explains.
Now that we have established a thorough comprehension of the history behind a Gua Sha, as well as its benefits, check back tomorrow for some specific instructions pertaining to how to make use of one.
Photo by Viva Luna Studios on Unsplash
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