Gua Sha facial
Key highlights
- This is a Chinese beauty aid and relaxing treatment.
- Gua SHa can be used all over the body to relax and relieve pain.
- Facial Gua Sha is a gentler variant and promises smoother facial skin.
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a trained professional rubs a smooth-edged tool over your skin while you press it. Not only is it used to treat chronic pain all over the body, but it is also used as a relaxing facial that rejuvenates the skin.
In Chinese, ‘Gua’ means to scratch and ‘Sha’ means to sand. It’s a treatment that involves scraping a flat jade or rose quartz stone over the skin in upward motions to relax stiff muscles and promote tissue drainage. It is a treatment that is often done along with other complementary treatments such as herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, and heat therapy.
(Gua Sha: Jade facial roller for beauty facial massage therapy)
Body Gua Sha:
The person doing the treatment will put oil on your body. Then they scratch your skin with the stone-like Gua Sha massage tool in long downward movements. First of all, you will notice redness and bruising. But that will heal soon. The parts of the body that can benefit from Gua Sha are the back, neck, arms and legs, etc. It is said to remove toxins and only apply as much pressure as you are comfortable with.
According to a report in WebMD, people are using it to treat migraines, hepatitis B, Tourette’s syndrome, neck pain, etc.
(Gua Sha neck massage)
Facial Gua Sha:
But Gua Sha facial has caught up as a trend on social media, promising an aesthetic treatment to improve the look and feel of your skin. Some claim that it helps relieve tension in the facial muscles, improve blood circulation, and promote lymphatic drainage. Some say that all of this taken together helped them get rid of water / fluid buildup on the face and double chin as well.
Are there any risks with Gua Sha treatment?
Gua Sha is usually considered safe. But avoid it if you are taking medication for blood clots. Your doctor is your best judge. There is still no scientific study that supports all of the above health and beauty claims by Gua Sha practitioners. Talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s right for you.
Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions mentioned in this article are for general information only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or nutritionist before starting any fitness program or changing your diet.
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