Gua Sha Massage Therapy

Gua Sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve circulation. This ancient Chinese healing technique may offer a unique approach to better health, addressing issues such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and muscle and joint pain.

’Gua’ is translated as tool, whilst ‘Sha’ describes the temporary redness called petechiae. This is a scraping technique which causes microtraumas to reset the healing processes, and increase blood flow and qi. This treatment is not painful but you will have some marks left on you which will last a few days.

In Gua Sha, your therapist will scrape your skin with short or long strokes to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue, which results in an increase of blood flow. These strokes are used with a smooth-edged instrument known as a Gua Sha massage tool. Massage oil will be applied to the body and then uses a tool to repeatedly scrape the skin in a downward motion. Gua Sha is intended to address stagnant energy which is called qi, in the body which is believed may be responsible for inflammation. Inflammation is the underlying cause of several conditions associated with chronic pain. Rubbing the skin's surface is thought to break this energy up to reduce inflammation and to promote healing.

Gua Sha is generally performed on the back, neck, shoulders, arms, buttocks and legs. There is a gentle version of this is even used on the face for a facial technique. Your therapist may apply mild pressure and gradually increase the intensity to determine how much force you can handle.

 

The benefits of having Gua Sha may reduce inflammation and is often used to treat ailments which causes chronic pain such as fibromyalgia and arthritis, as well as those trigger points in the muscles as well as joint pain, and pain relief. It can also help with lymphatic drainage. Gua

 

Gua Sha may also relieve symptoms of other conditions such as headaches, repetitive strain injury, reduce stiffness and improve flexibility, chronic neck pain, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints etc.

 

Here at Cotswold Sports & Beauty Therapy, Gua Sha will be carried out on the body. The Gua Sha tools to be used are Ached Away Scraper, Jade or Rose Quartz and metal tools. Upon consultation, I will use whichever tool to help you achieve your goal. This is not a full body massage and only working on areas where treatment is needed.