Guasha is a method of treating diseases by repeatedly scraping the skin of a patient with a guasha board dipped in guasha oil. Guasha is based on the principles of the twelve meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians in traditional Chinese medicine, following the principle of "treating the symptoms when they are acute." It uses strong stimulation of the meridians to make the local skin turn red and congested, thereby awakening the spirit, detoxifying and expelling evil, clearing heat and resolving the surface, promoting qi circulation and relieving pain, and strengthening the spleen and stomach.
Guasha is effective for treating conditions such as colds, fever, heat stroke, headaches, gastrointestinal diseases, stiff neck, shoulder periarthritis, lumbar muscle strain, muscle spasms, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Although guasha is beneficial, there are some precautions to be aware of before and after the treatment to avoid catching a cold or causing new troubles during the treatment.
1. Pay attention to keeping the room warm during guasha treatment, especially in winter, avoid cold and drafts. When guasha is performed in summer, avoid having the fan blow directly on the area being scraped.
2. Avoid taking a cold shower within 30 minutes after guasha treatment.
3. Do not perform guasha on the same area until the sha marks from the previous treatment have subsided. The interval between guasha treatments should be 3-6 days, based on the disappearance of sha marks on the skin.
4. It is recommended to drink a cup of warm water and rest for 15-20 minutes after guasha treatment to replenish qi and yin.
5. The following individuals should use guasha with caution or avoid it: pregnant women; individuals with leukemia or thrombocytopenia; people with highly sensitive skin or skin diseases; individuals with heart failure, renal failure, ascites due to liver cirrhosis, or severe systemic edema; individuals who are intoxicated, excessively hungry, overeating, excessively thirsty, or overly fatigued.
