Guasha is a method of disease prevention and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. We all know that it is not recommended to do guasha immediately after a meal. So, how long should you wait after a meal to do guasha?
How long should you wait after a meal to do guasha?
It is generally recommended to wait about one hour after a meal before doing guasha.
After a meal, the blood sugar level in the body rises, the blood circulation speeds up, and the intestines continue to move. The organs in the body are in a busy state, and the nervous system is tense, so it is not suitable to do guasha immediately after a meal. Therefore, it is generally recommended to wait for one hour after a meal before doing guasha.
In addition, it is not recommended to do guasha when the stomach is too full or too hungry. Patients who are excessively fatigued or have consumed alcohol should also avoid guasha.
Can you take a shower after guasha?
After doing guasha, you should wait 1 to 6 hours before taking a shower, depending on the severity of the guasha marks. If the marks are mild, you can shower after 1 hour; if they are moderate, you can shower after 3 hours; if they are severe, you should wait 6 hours before showering.
In addition, it is recommended to use hot water for showering after guasha, and avoid using cold water. Also, do not scrub the body vigorously, a light shower is enough to avoid damaging the skin in the guasha area.
Can you eat spicy food after guasha?
It is not recommended to eat spicy food, or at least reduce the intake.
Guasha opens the body's pores and consumes the body's qi. Therefore, after guasha, the body may be deficient in qi, and it is best to avoid eating spicy, cold, and tonifying foods. Spicy foods, in particular, can easily cause internal heat after guasha and also affect the effectiveness of guasha.
Can guasha help reduce internal heat in the back?
Guasha has the effect of reducing internal heat.
Guasha is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, such as the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary vessels, and follows the principle of "treating the symptoms in emergencies." It uses strong stimulation on the meridians to make the local skin turn red and congested, thereby providing the effects of refreshing the mind, detoxification, dispelling evil, clearing heat, promoting qi circulation, relieving pain, invigorating the spleen, and strengthening the stomach.
The benefits and drawbacks of guasha
Benefits and drawbacks of guasha
1. Benefits
(1) Promotes metabolic waste elimination. The human body undergoes continuous metabolic activities every day, and the waste produced during the metabolism needs to be excreted in a timely manner. Guasha can effectively scrape the "garbage" from the body's metabolism to the surface of the skin and deposit it in the pores, making the blood flow smooth and restoring the body's natural vitality.
(2) Relieves muscle tension. More and more people suffer from cervical spondylosis, shoulder periarthritis, and back pain. This is because when the "soft tissues" (joint capsules, ligaments, fascia, etc.) of the body are injured, the muscles will be in a state of tension, contraction, or even spasm, causing pain. If not treated in time, it can lead to adhesion, fibrosis, or scar formation, aggravating the condition. Guasha can help relax muscles, relieve pain, and promote the recovery of the affected area.
(3) Adjusts the balance of yin and yang. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the balance of yin and yang in the body. Guasha has a bidirectional regulatory effect on the body's functions, improving and adjusting the functions of the organs to restore balance.
2. Drawbacks
The drawbacks of guasha are usually caused by not paying attention to contraindications and improper operation.
(1) Long-term guasha without moderation can cause damage to the tissues outside the skin, which is not helpful for relieving fatigue and can increase the burden on the body.
(2) For people with skin ulcers or other skin diseases, guasha is not a pleasurable experience, but a torture that can cause more damage to already fragile skin tissues and even lead to infection and worsen the condition.
(3) Guasha should be avoided for people with certain blood disorders or problems with heart and liver functions, as it can cause greater harm to the body.
Correct technique for guasha on the back
1. Choose the right tool
Generally, any tool with a blunt and smooth edge can be used, such as a comb, porcelain spoon, or guasha board (the material should also be considered). However, attention should be paid to the thickness and size of the tool. If it is too thick, it cannot create guasha marks, while if it is too thin, it can easily damage the skin. The size should generally be smaller than an adult's palm for easy grip and application of force. In addition to the guasha board, you should also have medicinal water or lubricating oil to avoid injuring the skin. Lubricating substances can be special guasha medicinal water, or products like green oil, medicated guasha ointment containing ingredients such as safflower, chuanxiong, and danggui, or simply use safflower oil, sesame oil, or even water.
2. Areas and order of guasha
Different practitioners have different guasha techniques and operating orders. Generally, only the corresponding areas that feel discomfort are guasha-ed, such as when experiencing heatstroke or discomfort in the stomach or intestines, the corresponding areas are guasha-ed. However, most people guasha the back and limbs, especially women rarely guasha the front chest; other areas such as the head and neck, abdomen and waist can also be guasha-ed. The guasha direction is usually from top to bottom, from inside to outside, in a single direction without repeating. When guasha-ing the back, it is advisable to start from the most prominent occipital bone at the back of the head and go down towards the large vertebrae point. The gallbladder meridian and bladder meridian, which are mainly affected by wind and cold, are guasha-ed from the high bone on the back of both ears to the shoulders. The kidney meridian is guasha-ed on the waist, the upper back is guasha-ed for heart and lung function, and the lower back is guasha-ed for liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach.
3. Guasha angle
Hold the guasha board in your hand, with the thick edge close to the palm and the thin edge at a 45-degree angle to the skin, lightly scrape in a single direction without pushing or cutting. If deeper stimulation is needed, press it perpendicular to the skin at a 90-degree angle, but the pressure should not be applied for too long.
4. Guasha strength
The strength of guasha is like the dosage in a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, too light or too heavy is not good. Too light has no effect, while too heavy can easily injure the muscle tissue. Generally, the force should be even, moderate, gradually increasing, and limited to a level that is tolerable. The distance for each scrape should be about five to ten centimeters, and you can stop when the color no longer changes.
Note that the strength of guasha is not better if it is heavier, and it is not more effective if it is more painful. The strength also has a tonic or purging effect: generally, light force and slow speed are "tonic", while heavy force and fast speed are "purging". Moderate force and speed, or light force and fast speed, or heavy force and slow speed are "balanced tonic and purging".
5. Guasha frequency
The frequency of guasha varies depending on the individual's needs and constitution, with each session lasting about twenty to thirty minutes. The first guasha session should not be too long or too heavy, and the second session should be scheduled one to two weeks apart.
Interpreting the color of guasha marks on the back
1. Scattered guasha marks
Guasha marks: Light red or red scattered guasha marks or spots that are at the same level as other skin areas.
Health tip: Indicates good health. This mild microcirculation disorder can be self-regulated by the body and will heal without treatment.
2. Mild guasha marks
Guasha marks: Multiple light red or red patches of guasha marks with a diameter of 1-2 centimeters, not higher than the skin.
Health tip: Mild microcirculation disorder, indicating mild oxygen deficiency in the meridians for a short period of time. It is seen in suboptimal health conditions without apparent symptoms.
3. Moderate guasha marks
Guasha marks: Multiple purple-red or blue patches of guasha marks with a diameter larger than 2 centimeters, level with or slightly higher than the skin.
Health tip: Moderate microcirculation disorder, indicating moderate oxygen deficiency in the meridians for a longer period of time. It can be seen in suboptimal or diseased conditions and may be accompanied by symptoms.
4. Severe guasha marks
Guasha marks: Dark blue or dark green lumps or patches of guasha marks with a diameter larger than 2 centimeters, significantly higher than other areas.
Health tip: Severe microcirculation disorder, severe oxygen deficiency in the meridians for a longer period of time. It can be seen in more severe suboptimal or diseased conditions, often accompanied by symptoms.
