Gua Sha
What is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese massage therapy which dates back over 700 years to the Ming Dynasty.
In Chinese, Gua means ‘scraping’. Sha means ‘an energy in the body that causes excess heat’
Practitioners use gua sha to move stagnant energy known as ‘qi’ across the face and body to improve blood and lymph circulation. It helps remove toxic compounds from the body.
How is Gua Sha performed?
Unlike most massages, Gua Sha is performed with a Gua Sha tool.
After a facial oil or moisturiser is applied to the face, the Gua Sha tool is used at a 45 degree angle or less to lightly scrap in long strokes across the skin.
The idea behind Gua Sha is the motion and light pressure of the Gua Sha tool applies heat to the surface of the skin with the intention of releasing the lymphatic buildup from the body.
When is Gua Sha used?
Gua Sha is used to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system.
Gua Sha massage is integral as a healing tool to practice mindfulness whilst lowering stress and anxiety.
The light massage strokes ease muscle tension, stress and act as a self- soothing tool, strengthening the mind muscle connection.
The Gua Sha massage technique activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for our body’s rest. When the body is in the parasympathetic system, our breath is slow, our heart rate is lower and the body is in a state of feeling relaxed and calm.
People use Gua Sha to treat chronic pain all over their body.
What are the benefits of Gua Sha?
There are so many wonderful benefits of Gua Sha including lower levels of stress and muscle tension relief.
Unveil the many benefits that await:
- Lymphatic Drainage
- Pain Relief
- Boosts Immune System
- Renewed Radiance
- Increased Circulation
- Anti-aging Properties
Is Gua Sha safe?
Gua Sha is a safe technique and it’s been used for years.
However, Gua Sha should be avoided if any of the following are applicable to you:
· If you are under the age of 16 or over the age of 60, we do not recommend practicing gua sha until you have consulted with a medical practitioner.
· If you feel weak, are on medication or have had surgery in the last year, we do not recommend practicing gua sha until you have consulted with a medical practitioner.
· At no point should Gua Sha feel painful. Should you experience any pain during the use of our products, you should cease use immediately.
·Do not practice Gua Sha on broken skin, broken veins or thread veins, moles, cuts or bruises.
Is Gua Sha for you?
Gua Sha is an amazing natural treatment which is beneficial in lowering stress, increasing blood circulation and has anti-aging benefits.
Gua Sha is instrumental in healing the skin and a daily practice of Gua Sha can soothe skin, alleviate stress, relax muscles and encourage the practice of daily mindfulness if used regularly.
How does Gua Sha work?
Gua Sha ‘moves the lymph’.
The lymph is a colourless fluid which is made up of white blood cells and lymphocytes and transports white blood cells into the bloodstream. The lymph is responsible for getting rid of cellular waste that we produce.
Different massage pressures using Gua Sha moves the lymph
· Light pressure – stimulates muscles and slowly moves the lymph
· Medium pressure – releases muscle tension and naturally lifts the face
· Strong pressure (take caution with this pressure) – sculpts the face and stimulates hair growth in the hairline
How does Gua Sha work? How often is a treatment with Gua Sha recommended?
Gua Sha can be used every single day for 5-10 minutes.
At SHANTI³, we recommend a ritual of 5-10 minutes every morning as part of a daily practice.
Using the Freedom Facial Oil and Gua Sha tool can:
- enhance the skin
- relieve stress and
- improve overall wellbeing by practicing ‘me time’ and mindfulness.
Daily mindfulness is proven to reduce stress levels in the body.
Do I need to use a Gua Sha product with any skin care product?
It is recommended that a Gua Sha tool be used on clean skin and with a facial oil or moisturiser in order to reduce too much pulling on the skin.
We prefer using gua sha with our freedom facial oil, which has been perfectly formulated for the right glideability for the gua sha to move across the skin.
Approximately, 5 drops of our freedom facial oil is sufficient for the Gua Sha tool to glide effortlessly on the skin.
Will the Gua Sha tool pull my skin?
The Gua Sha tool is designed to be used on the face, together with a facial oil or moisturiser. Gua Sha should never be used on dry skin.
This provides the skin with enough glide for the Gua Sha to massage the skin without pulling too hard.
If the skin is particularly dry or for mature skin - add more facial oil drops to the skin before using the Gua Sha tool.
Can I practice Gua Sha with acne?
Yes, you can use Gua Sha treatment if you have acne or rosacea. We would advise to be tread carefully on active, open areas of the skin with rosacea and acne.
In cases such as above, the jawline and hairline and a light pressure used under the eyes is preferred.
Is my skin supposed to go red with using the Gua Sha tool?
With Gua Sha it is normal for the skin to go slightly red and pink.
In Chinese, Gua means ‘scraping’. Sha means ‘an energy in the body that causes excess heat’
Gua Sha is used to move stagnant energy known as ‘qi’ across the face and body to improve blood and lymph circulation. It helps remove toxic compounds from the body and therefore slight redness is common.
The redness should fade away after 24 hours. Gua Sha massage is not damaging to the skin and means the lymphatic drainage is working.
How much pressure should I use?
The perfect amount of Gua Sha pressure should always be light to light medium.
To determine the strength of application of pressure – Gua Sha should not feel painful to the skin, the sensation is lightly moving the skin upwards
It’s important to use long gentle strokes across the face. The only areas which can handle a stronger pressure are the hairline and back of the neck
How do I clean my Gua Sha tool?
It’s extremely important to sanitise your Gua Sha tool.
First, wipe the tool of any excess facial oil and wash in hot (not boiling) soapy water and allow to air dry on kitchen towel.
Wash your hands before applying the Facial Oil and Gua Sha tool to your face.
Is it better to use Gua Sha in the morning or at night?
This is up to you! I recommend using gua sha twice a day, both morning and evening for 5-10 minutes for maximum effects.
If time is of the essence, using Gua Sha in the morning would be preferable if you have a stressful or hectic schedule. To start the day unlocking the jaw of any built up tension and practicing 5-10 minutes of mindfulness in the morning is a great way to balances and calm your nerves before the day has begun.
How long does it take to see the effects of Gua Sha?
Within a couple of days of practicing Gua Sha, you’re likely to see and feel an overall improvement to your skin and sense of wellbeing.
The jaw line appears more defined and the puffiness around the under eye area is reduced.
With greater Gua Sha practice comes greater benefit. One week results include a reduction in your stress levels and one month results in less wrinkles, glowy skin and lower stress levels.