Gua Sha ... "to scrape away illness"
Gua Sha has long been a folk therapy widely used by Chinese culture, as well as in Indonesia and in Vietnam and can be traced back as early as the Paleolithic times. It was first performed on the body with scraping motions that caused redness and bruising. This body version of Gua Sha is used to relieve pain and tension as well as break up fascia and connective tissue.
Facial Gua Sha is different. It is not meant to create bruising and the tool is held more parallel to the skin at a 15°degree angle (with some exceptions). It works to stimulate and move lymph and facial fluids as well as retraining muscles to create a lifting effect.
Done regularly, Gua Sha helps to improve skin's function by relieving tension in the face muscles, boost circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage. It can soften deep lines and wrinkles, lift sagging skin, lessen scarring and pigmentation as well as treat inflammatory skin conditions (by working around inflamed areas, not on them).
Here are some basic pointers
1. Always begin on the chest and neck. This area is worked WITHOUT oil which allows the lymphatic system to open, break up any fascial adhesions and create open pathways for lymph to flow. This makes space and movement for fluids and detoxification to move and will help your Gua Sha treatment as you move fluids from the face. In addition, it can reduce puffiness and help flush skin of impurities.
2. Apply oil to freshly cleansed face as you want a clean surface (you do not want to work dirt and debris into the skin).
3. Hold your tool parallel to the skin at about a 15°degree angle. Using a mirror as you start so you can correct the stone's placement for smooth glide.
3. Apply light pressure when you are working chest and neck, as well as the eye area. You are moving fluid and lymph this is a surface connection. Medium pressure can be used on more fleshy areas and muscle, of course avoiding bone.
Note ☆ If you are pregnant avoid the trapezeus muscles (the area between the neck and shoulders) with anything but very light pressure. It can induce labour or miscarriage.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Kimberly xx