Tired and stressed from long days at work or school? Maybe a massage is all you need! Don’t deprive yourself of a soothing and relaxing body massage like no other. You’ve been working your fingers to the bone, so don’t feel guilty about indulging and rewarding yourself every once in a while. You are very much deserving of a full-body massage! When it comes to relaxation and de-stressing, nothing beats a gua sha massage!
What exactly is gua sha massage? It is an alternative therapy derived from traditional Chinese medicine. This ancient Chinese healing technique involves scraping your skin with a massage tool such as a "healing" stone, to improve your circulation. Gua sha massage, also called scraping, spooning, or coining, offers an extraordinary approach to better health and addressing issues like chronic pain. Generally, this type of massage is performed on a person’s back, neck, arms, legs, and buttocks. There is also a more gentle version of gua sha that can be used on the face. The gua sha technician scrapes the skin with short or long strokes and gradually increases the intensity of the pressure to determine how much force you can handle. This technique stimulates the microcirculation of the soft tissue, which increases the blood flow in the body. They use smooth-edged instruments as massage tools and apply massage oil to your skin as they scrape in a downward motion.
Practitioners believe that stagnant energy called chi may be the cause of inflammation, which leads to several conditions associated with chronic pain. The purpose of the healing technique of gua sha massage is to address this problem in the body by moving chi energy around the body. The process of rubbing the skin’s surface is believed to help break down chi energy in the body and reduce inflammation. Indeed, gua sha massage promotes healing like no other massage ever did. But wait, there’s more! Here are some more benefits of gua sha massage that prove it’s worth trying.
Further studies are still necessary to prove some of the health benefits of gua sha massage. However, according to some studies, gua sha massage helps lower the inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Some researchers have also suggested that it helps ease migraine pain. Another study shows that gua sha massage is also effective in improving the symptoms of patients with Tourette’s syndrome. In another clinical trial, using gua sha massage as part of their treatment, some patients saw significant improvement in their necks in a short period of time.
It is important to note that more clinical trials are needed to prove these benefits of gua sha massage, but there’s no harm in using it as a treatment if you are experiencing such conditions.
Gua sha massage is also good for perimenopausal symptoms. When a woman is nearing the menopausal stage, she may experience abnormal periods, sleep issues, hot flashes, and mood swings. Some studies show how gua sha massage can help alleviate pain and stress during this period in a woman’s life.
The healing technique of gua sha tcm can also be beneficial for breastfeeding mothers, who usually experience breast engorgement. Since the breast is full of milk, it may feel uncomfortable and painful for the mother. Gua sha massage can help relieve such discomfort and pain.
In one study involving weightlifters, it was shown that the participants who underwent gua sha massage put in less effort lifting weights after their treatment. Thus, the researchers concluded that gua sha massage can help speed up muscle recovery and can be used as an alternative to some types of sports training recovery.
To sum it up, gua sha massage has many potential benefits, especially for our health and wellness.