Guasha is a common health care treatment in traditional Chinese medicine that is convenient, fast, and safe. However, sometimes there may be some abnormal reactions after guasha, such as sore throat and body weakness. So, why does the throat feel sore after guasha?
What causes a sore throat after guasha?
1. Normal reaction after guasha
If you feel dry and sore throat after guasha, and have a strong desire to drink water, this may be a normal reaction after guasha.
Because guasha can promote the circulation of meridians, stimulate metabolism, many people may feel the need to urinate after guasha, which is a sign of detoxification. As the body loses water, it naturally feels thirsty and has a sore throat. It is recommended to drink a cup of warm water before and after guasha to replenish the body's water.
2. Excessive guasha
If you guasha around the neck, especially the front side of the neck, excessive guasha can easily cause muscle damage and pain in the neck due to the delicate skin in that area.
3. Catching a cold after guasha
If you have a sore throat after guasha, accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose, it may be because you caught a cold after guasha.
During the first three hours after guasha, the pores of the body are fully open, making it very susceptible to catching a cold. Especially if you turn on the air conditioning or take a shower immediately after guasha, it is easy to catch a cold, which can lead to a sore throat.
Why does it hurt a lot after guasha?
1. Severe illness
If you experience severe pain after guasha, it may be a sign of a more serious illness. Check the appearance of the sha on the back. If the color of the sha is deep, it indicates a more serious illness with excessive accumulation of toxins. The more severe the illness, the deeper the appearance of the sha and the stronger the pain on the surface of the body.
2. Heavy technique
If you feel a lot of pain after guasha, but the appearance of the sha on the back is not very deep, it may be due to the heavy technique used by the therapist, causing slight bruising and increased pain on the skin and soft tissues.
3. Excessive stimulation
The pain and excessive stimulation after guasha are also related. When guasha repeatedly stimulates various acupuncture points and tender points on the back, it can cause strong stimulation to the muscles. This can lead to muscle contraction, and if the muscles do not relax after contraction, long-term tension can cause local ischemia and abnormal pain.
4. Sensitivity to pain
Some people are more sensitive to pain. Even if there is no problem during the guasha process, they may feel a lot of pain after guasha. After all, everyone's perception of pain varies. The same pain can be felt differently due to different tolerance levels. People who are more sensitive to pain may feel more pain even with mild discomfort.
What to do
(1) For severe illness, seek medical attention, get a clear diagnosis, and receive targeted treatment. Under the guidance of a doctor, continue guasha to remove all the sha as much as possible.
(2) For heavy technique, supplement nutrition to promote tissue metabolism and accelerate recovery.
(3) For excessive stimulation, local hot compress and relaxing massage can be used to promote local blood circulation and relieve muscle pain.
(4) For pain sensitivity, no special treatment is generally needed. It is a personal sensory difference. It is recommended to train and improve one's tolerance to pain.
Why do you feel weak all over after guasha?
1. Insufficient Qi and Blood
People with insufficient Qi and Blood may feel weak all over the body the day after guasha.
Guasha uses a specific scraping board on specific acupuncture points of the body to repeatedly scrape and rub, causing the body to develop sha. While promoting blood circulation and detoxification, it also opens the pores in the local area, which consumes the body's positive Qi. If there is already insufficient Qi and Blood, guasha can worsen the symptoms, causing dizziness, fatigue, and other symptoms in a short period of time.
In addition, if a woman is menstruating, it is easier to experience insufficient Qi and Blood during guasha. Excessive guasha can also lead to excessive Qi consumption.
2. Bathing immediately after guasha
Feeling weak all over the body the day after guasha may also be due to immediately taking a shower after guasha.
It is generally not recommended to touch cold water or take a shower within 3 hours after guasha, as the pores of the body are open at this time. If you take a shower, it is likely to cause invasion of dampness and lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, limb soreness, and fatigue.
In addition, guasha breaks the capillaries on the surface of the body, and when exposed to hot water, it can temporarily cause insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in dizziness, fatigue, and other discomfort.
3. Guasha on a rainy day
Guasha on a rainy day can also cause weakness all over the body the day after guasha.
Guasha is used to promote blood circulation, dispel wind, eliminate swelling and pain. Combined with the opening of the pores during guasha, it is usually recommended to be performed on sunny days. If guasha is performed on a rainy day, it is easy to increase humidity, resulting in muscle weakness, pain, and other symptoms.
4. Underlying diseases
Feeling weak all over the body the day after guasha does not necessarily mean that guasha is the cause.
If you already have a cold or have conditions such as low blood pressure, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, cervical spondylosis, anemia, cerebrovascular disease, Meniere's syndrome, etc., you may experience symptoms such as weakness all over the body. If there is a medical history or if the symptoms do not improve after rest, it is advisable to seek medical treatment in a timely manner to avoid delaying treatment.
How to guasha when you have a sore throat due to a cold?
1. Guasha points
Qu Chi, Chi Ze, Waiguan, Hegu, Feng Chi, Da Zhui.
Simplified method for locating the acupuncture points:
(1) Qu Chi: Bend the elbow and find the depression on the inner side of the outer upper condyle of the humerus, which is where the elbow transverse lines end.
(2) Chi Ze: Located at the elbow of the human arm, when locating the acupuncture point, raise the arm and there is a thick tendon on the inner side of the arm, which is the acupuncture point.
(3) Waiguan: Located on the back side of the forearm, between the ulna and radius bones, three finger widths up from the wrist transverse lines.
(4) Hegu: Place the thumb of one hand on the joint of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the other hand, and the point is located on the edge of the interdigital web.
(5) Feng Chi: Located at the back of the neck, below the occipital bone, in the depression between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper end of the trapezius muscle.
(6) Da Zhui: Sit upright with the head lowered, and the point is located at the depression below the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra.
2. Guasha method
The scraping method uses the pinching technique, the hand technique uses the flushing method, and the medium uses sesame oil. Start by guasha on the Feng Chi point of the head, then guasha on the Da Zhui point of the neck, followed by guasha on the Qu Chi and Chi Ze points on the inner side of the upper limbs, and finally guasha on the Waiguan and Hegu points.
Specific operation method:
(1) Apply guasha medium (sesame oil) to the treatment area.
(2) The guasha practitioner bends their five fingers and uses the second knuckle of the index and middle fingers to align with the treatment area. Pinch and lift the skin and muscles, then slide and release with force.
(3) Repeat the pinching and releasing process and make a "ba ba" sound continuously.
(4) Repeat the operation 6-7 times in the same area until sha appears on the skin.
3. Indications
The above guasha method has the effect of dispelling wind and heat, and is suitable for symptoms caused by wind-heat cold, such as heavy fever, mild chills, sweating, turbid nasal discharge, thirst, sore throat, headache, body pain, yellow phlegm, thin yellow tongue coating, etc.
Note: Drink a small amount of water before the procedure, guasha more during the procedure, and drink a small amount of warm water after the procedure.
