Gua sha is a suitable method of health preservation for people of all ages. It involves using the thin edge, thick edge, and corners of a gua sha board to repeatedly scrape the skin in straight or horizontal lines. Below, we will introduce some commonly used gua sha techniques and corresponding precautions.
Adjust the gua sha technique according to the changes in the body's position in order to fully scrape every part of the body. Common gua sha techniques include edge rubbing and resolution rubbing. Gua sha is a suitable method of health preservation for people of all ages. It involves using the thin edge, thick edge, and corners of a gua sha board to repeatedly scrape the skin in straight or horizontal lines. Below, we will introduce some commonly used gua sha techniques and corresponding precautions.
Corner pushing method
Apply slight pressure with the thick edge corners of the gua sha board on a certain part of the body's surface (acupoints or lesion points), and perform a unidirectional linear pushing motion, known as the corner pushing method.
Procedure: Hold the gua sha board in your hand, with the thick edge corners as the point of force, apply force to the acupoints or lesion points on the body's surface. The practitioner's upper limbs should be relaxed, shoulders lowered, elbows hanging, and wrists suspended. Focus the force on the thick edge corners of the gua sha board, and rhythmically move it forward in a straight line. Pay attention to the movement of the wrist to drive the swinging of the thick edge corners of the gua sha board, creating continuous and even pushing force and pressure on the meridians, acupoints, and lesion points.
Precautions: Apply the force from the thick edge corners of the gua sha board to the surface of the body. During the pushing process, the wrist should move freely and flexibly without skipping or passing over. This method can be used as a complementary technique after scraping. It can also be used alone (but the gua sha oil or lotion should be applied first).
Edge rubbing method
Use the thick edge of the gua sha board to perform forward, backward, left and right, internal rotation, or external rotation rubbing movements on the treated skin or the area where scraping has been done, with a focus on the "lesion point". This is called the edge rubbing method.
Procedure: Hold the gua sha board in your hand, with the thin edge against your palm and the thick edge as the point of force. Apply force to the patient's skin, relax your wrist and arm, and rotate your wrist flexibly. The movement should be continuous, gradually increasing and then gradually decreasing the force, with uniform and gentle rotation. The specific thickness of the local soft tissue and muscles of the treated area determines the degree of force applied.
Precautions: Apply the force from the thick edge of the gua sha board to the affected area, and move it with the rotation of the wrist, avoiding hitting or jumping. This method is suitable for all parts of the body, and the duration of local operation is appropriate at 20-30 times or 5-10 minutes.
Corner rubbing method
Use the thick edge corners of the gua sha board to perform rotating swinging movements near the acupoints or lesion points on the body's surface, known as the corner rubbing method.
Procedure: Hold the gua sha board in your hand, with the thick edge corners or the side of the thick corners as the point of force, and apply force to the patient's skin (acupoints or lesion points). Attach it to the skin surface without moving, but causing the tissue below the skin to rub and move. The force can be light or heavy. Perform continuous rotational movements.
Precautions: Apply the force from the thick edge corners of the gua sha board to the acupoints on the patient's skin or the lesion points after scraping or cupping.
Patting method
Using the surface of the gua sha board as a tool to pat and strike the acupoints or areas that need treatment is called the patting method.
Procedure: The practitioner tightly grips one end of the gua sha board with one hand, and uses the surface of the gua sha board as the point of force, patting and striking in a rhythmic manner under the natural flexion and extension of the wrist joint. The force should be light when the wrist is the center of movement, and moderate when the elbow is the center of movement. During the patting process, the arm should be relaxed, and the force should be maintained evenly and moderately, avoiding sudden changes in speed. This method is commonly used on the shoulders, back, waist, and upper and lower limbs such as the elbow and knee pits.
Precautions: Avoid using excessive force during the operation, and use caution when treating children or elderly individuals with extreme weakness.
Point method
Use the corners of the gua sha board (both the thick and thin sides can be used) to apply force to the acupoints or areas that need treatment, using a hand technique to press and press the deep tissues. This is called the point method.
Procedure: Hold the gua sha board in your hand, and apply force from the thick edge corners or the side of the thin edge corners of the gua sha board to a certain acupoint on the body's surface. This method is a stronger technique, and the force should gradually increase to produce a strong sensation of qi (a feeling of soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain) in the patient. In treatment, the point method is generally used for acupoints or lesion points with thicker muscles, as well as small spaces between joint crevices and bones. For example, the thick edge corners of the gua sha board can be used for Duanzhu points, and the thin edge corners of the gua sha board can be used for Xiyan points.
Precautions: When using this method on the human body, the stimulation is very strong. Generally, the force is mainly applied from the thick edge corners of the gua sha board, and the thin edge corners are used less frequently (only for certain acupoints such as Xiyan). Avoid using excessive force during the operation, and gradually apply pressure and gradually reduce it, repeating the process. Slight shaking can also be added during use to increase the therapeutic effect.
