Gua Sha, also know as scraping, spooning, coining and Graston, has been used for centuries to help clear heat accumulation from the body. It can be used for external heat, such as sun burn or heat stroke and fever as well as internal heat, such as hot flashes and systemic inflammation.
A rat study published in Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine confirmed gua sha reduced the inflammatory response to heat stroke and improved survival rates (Tu, et al, 2015). A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found Gua Sha to improve perimenopasual and menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and escessive sweating (Ren et all, 2018).
You can have GuaSha performed for you during a 60 min and 90 minute Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine treatment @ Yin Rising. Gua Sha can also be easily done @ home, even on yourself. Gua Sha is what is considered folk medicine, or something that grandmothers have doen on their families for many generations. If you want to continue the folk tradition, here is guide
What tools to use to do Gua Sha?
While you can buy special Gua Sha tools, there are common household items that work
well. A porcelain Chinese soup spoon works very well, hence why it’s sometimes called spooning. A coin can also work, but make sure you disinfect it first by soaking it in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes first. A smooth lid from a juice bottle can also work; ditto disinfecting first. I have also used a sea shell, a butter knife, etc - basically anything with a smooth surface that allows a firm grip. It's very improtant to lightly oil the part of the body being treated: to relieve symptoms of heat.
How & Why to properly use your Gua Sha tools!
Remember to always disinfect tools before and after use: wash with soap and water or in dishwasher and then soaking/submerging in 71% alcohol for 30 min.
Warning: Do not share tools. Failing properly disinfecting tools can introduce pathogens into the body. Using alcohol is considered intermediate level disinfection and is adequate for home use.
However the best practice for disinfecting Gua Sha tools (and Cupping tools) is a High Level Disinection process. Yin Rising Acupuncture uses Sporox II, which is 7.5% hydrogen peroxide solution. Sporox is clear, odorless liquid, (requires no mixing). Most impotantly, it is the only non-toxic high level disinfection available. However is does requires special handling and precautions. Can you recall the stinging feel of hydorgen peroxide 3% on a cut? Well, at 7.5% is can really sting too! This is why Dr. Anna Lunaria developed a special protocol to safely use this product. You can learn Dr. Anna's process for safely handling Sporox II and all about Low, Medium, High Level of disinfection as well as the difference between sanitation to sterilization: click to sign up for Dr. Anna Lunaria's online on demand class! NCCAOM Approved
Why is this important? You can transmit blood born pathogens such as MRSA and Hepatitis C by not disinfecting Gua Sha tools because once it's in contact with the human body with Gua Sha it is considered a 'reusable medical device'. Other surfaces don't require HLD/sterilization, such as floors and countertops: so don't be fooled by a product labeled "hospital grade" it may just mean they use it on floors,countertops, door knobs etc but NOT on reusable medical devices. Most products you will find on the market are either consider low level or intermediate level disinfectant. Why does level of disinfection matter? A maxim in blood born pathogen prevention: if there can be blood, there will be blood. Meaning that blood can be present at the microscopic level on used medical devices. Therefore to prevent the spread of infection, properly disinfect tools before and after use. Want to learn more? Take Dr. Anna Lunaria's online class!
How to do Gua Sha?
Scrape downward with firm, moderate pressure for about 3-5 minutes. The area will turn red quickly and may develop speckled red spots (petechia). Warning: Do not rub so hard or so long that the skin breaks. There are lots of examples of over zealous scraping on the internet. Please be gentle, do not overdo it.
Do not practice a technique that hurts!
Do not press too hard!
The aim is to releases what is in the most superficial level of tissues of the body, pressing too hard can cause bruising which is not the goal.
Where to do GuaSha to clear heat?
1) Scrape the back of the neck/sholder region between scalp/neck hairline to just below the neck to where the shoulderblades begin (occiput- T3). Or simply focus on the lower cervicals and upper thoracic from (mid neck to where the shoulder blades begin(C5-T3).
2) Behind the knee is the Acupuncture point: UB40 Clears symptoms of heat by moving Qi and blood down the Bladder meridian from the eyes/head/brain and where heat tends to accumulate downward, directing Yang Qi downward.
3) Bend the elbow:At the end of the elbow crease is a hollow space when you press into it @ crook of the elbow lies Acupuncture point Li11. Large intestine is considered the preiminent heat clearing point. When you do Gua Sha here start just above the elbow and the bottom of the bicep to the upper third of the outer forearm (bracioradialis).
How to do Gua Sha: scrape downward with firm, moderate pressure for about 3-5 minutes. The area will turn red quickly and may develop speckled red spots (petechia).
Warning:
Do not rub so hard or so long that the skin breaks or the body brusies! Less is more!
Please be gentle, do not overdo it.
Seek out a professional licensed Acupuncturist for a professional experience along with Acupuncture: a powerful combination to rebalance the body! Book a 60-90 Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine session with Dr. Anna Lunaria!
Resources
Ren, Q., Yu, X., Liao, F., Chen, X., Yan, D., Nie, H., Fang, J., Yang, M., & Zhou, X. (2018). Effects of Gua Sha therapy on perimenopausal syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 31, 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.03.012
Tu, W. Z., Cheng, R. D., Hu, J., Wang, J. Z., Lin, H. Y., Zou, E. M., Wang, W. S., Lou, X. F., & Jiang, S. H. (2015). Combination treatment with Gua Sha and Blood-letting causes attenuation of systemic inflammation, activated coagulation, tissue ischemia and injury during heatstroke in rats. Chinese journal of integrative medicine, 21(8), 610–617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1816-4
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