Gua Sha
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a technique used in traditional Asian medicine to treat muscle pain and tension. Gua Sha also helps with chronic pain, boosts circulation, and can also help with lymphatic drainage.
What is Gua Sha? Gua Sha, the term for Chinese scraping method, has been known for hundreds of years as a healing modality. “Gua” refers to rub, or massage and “Sha” refers to heat and moving energy. First recorded in practice during the ming Dynasty between 1368 – 1644, the terms coining, scraping and spooning have also been used to describe this work
Hua Sha helps to break down scar tissue and connective tissue, improving movements in joints and increasing flexibility in muscles.
The treatment involves using a tool to rub against the skin in long strokes, applying enough pressure to create small injuries to the body, such as the bruises caused by Gua Sha, sometimes known as microtrauma. The microtrauma create conditions for the body to begin a new healing process and lay down new healthy tissue with increased circulation.
The treatment do not have any serious side effects but is not suitable for those with certain medical conditions (see list below)
FAQs About Gua Sha
Side Effects and Risks
Gua sha is not suitable for everybody. People who should not have Gua Sha include those:
- who have had any type of surgery in the last 6 weeks
- who have clotting disorders
- who have medical conditions affecting the skin or veins
- who bleed easily
- who take medication to thin their blood
- who have deep vein thrombosis.
- who have an infection, tumor, or wound that has not healed fully
- who have an implant, such as a pacemaker or internal defibrillator
Treatment is not supposed to be painful, but Gua sha deliberately causes bruising, which may cause discomfort for some people.
Why Does Gua Sha Cause Bruising?
Gua Sha causes tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin called capillaries to burst. This creates the distinctive red or purple bruises, known as Sha. The bruises usually take a few days up to a week or two to heal and can be tender while healing but are generally a non issue for most people. The increased flexibility and decrease in pain and tension that were previously felt in the area out weighs the soreness that may be felt after a Gua Sha session. Much like going to the gym, working out and having muscle soreness in the following days.
Caring for the bruises:
You should protect the bruised area and take care not to bump it.
Increasing your water intake and stretching the area that was treated will assist the healing process and can further improve the result of the session.
Applying an ice pack can help to reduce inflammation and ease any discomfort.
COVID-19 safety procedures
- Medical-grade True Hepa filters with a virus-killing UV light, in every treatment room, lobby and in break rooms
- All employees and guests must wear masks (masks can be removed for private salt and infrared sauna sessions). Together, with your LMT, you will evaluate your breathing comfort during the “face down” positioning portion of your massage session.
- Sauna and Salt therapy rooms will be regularly sanitized with a full room UV sanitizer
- Hospital grade disinfectant will be used throughout with extra team training for proper use, safety, and cross contamination
- Clients will text upon arrival then enter when the provider is ready
Gua Sha Massage Add-on
Gua Sha at Sage Blossom is only available as a massage add-on.
$17 per session or 10% off for members!
