What is gua sha? Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that stimulates and scrapes the skin through the use of gua sha tools to promote blood circulation and the lymphatic system. The purpose of gua sha is to adjust and restore the body’s health by stimulating the skin on the surface of the body. So, how to gua sha science?
The science behind gua sha
1. Improvement of blood circulation
Blood circulation is a vital physiological process in the human body, which ensures that oxygen and nutrients are transported to all parts of the body while waste and carbon dioxide are brought back to the heart and lungs for disposal. Gua sha promotes an increase in localized blood circulation by stimulating the surface of the skin.
This stimulation dilates blood vessels and increases the rate of blood flow, thereby improving the delivery of oxygen and nutrients and helping to repair and regenerate body tissues.
2. Unclogging the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is an important component of the body’s immune system, helping to remove waste products and toxins from the body, maintain fluid balance, and participate in the immune response. Gua sha can accelerate the elimination of waste and toxins by stimulating the skin and promoting the flow of lymphatic fluid.
This helps to reduce the body’s burden of toxins and improves the functioning of the immune system, thereby increasing the body’s resistance and health.
3. Stimulating the nervous system
The stimulating effect of gua sha can stimulate the nerve endings on the surface of the skin, thus conveying signals to the central nervous system. This stimulation can activate the nervous system, increase the threshold for pain, and reduce pain. In addition, gua sha promotes the release of endogenous hormones, such as endorphins and tryptophan, which can enhance emotional and psychological states and increase feelings of well-being and relaxation.
Gua sha can therefore be regarded as a natural healing method that can improve physical and mental health by stimulating the nervous system.
4. Improving the body’s immune system
The immune system is the body’s vital defense against external pathogens and diseases, and it helps to keep the body healthy and balanced. Gua sha can enhance the body’s immune system by stimulating the skin and activating immune cells, such as macrophages and T cells. This stimulation promotes the activity of immune cells and increases the release of immune mediators, thereby strengthening the body’s defenses.
Gua sha also improves immune regulation, balances immune function, and reduces inflammatory responses. By improving the body’s immune system, Gua sha helps prevent disease and improves the overall health of the body.
Benefits and effects of gua sha
- Relieves pain
- Improves skin quality
- Reduces inflammation
- Increase muscle flexibility
How to perform gua sha science?
1. Tool selection and preparation
1.1. Tool selection
There are many kinds of gua sha tools, such as jade gua sha board, cow horn gua sha board, jadeite gua sha board, and so on. When choosing tools, the following factors should be considered:
- Material: Gua sha tools should be made of natural, smooth materials to avoid overstimulation of the skin when scraping.
- Size: Choose the right size according to the user’s needs and the size of the scraping area. Smaller tools are suitable for the face and hands, while larger tools are suitable for back and large area scraping.
- Design: The design of the tool should be ergonomic and easy to hold and operate. Smooth edges and suitable shapes can provide a more comfortable scraping experience.
1.2. Preparation
Several preparations need to be completed before performing gua sha:
- Clean skin: Use warm water and cleansing products to clean the area being scraped to remove dirt and oil and keep the skin clean.
- Lubricant: Apply an appropriate amount of lubricant to the skin before scraping. The lubricant helps to reduce skin friction and irritation, making the gua sha process smoother. You can choose vegetable oil, massage oil, or specialized gua sha oil.
- Adjust the strength: Gua sha needs to master moderate strength to avoid overstimulation of the skin. Before carrying out gua sha, you can use your fingers to gently press the area being scraped to feel the appropriate degree of stimulation.
2. Scraping skills and techniques
Gua sha techniques and maneuvers are essential to achieve the desired results. When carrying out gua sha, you need to choose suitable scraping tools, such as a jade scraping board or cow horn scraping board, and apply a certain amount of lubricant on the skin surface to reduce friction and irritation.
Keep the proper angle and strength when scraping to avoid overstimulating the skin. The direction of Gua sha is usually along the muscle texture or lymphatic flow to promote the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid. The speed of gua sha should be moderate, not too fast or too slow, to ensure the effect of stimulation and comfort.
3. Gua sha methods for different parts of the body
Different parts and problems require different gua sha methods.
For neck and shoulder pain, gentle gua sha techniques can be used to relieve muscle tension and pain. For facial skin quality improvement, you can choose delicate gua sha tools and gently scrape the skin surface to promote blood circulation and skin metabolism.
For leg edema and lymphatic drainage, you can use stronger gua sha techniques to scrape along the lymphatic flow to promote lymphatic fluid flow and detoxification.
Therefore, for different parts and problems, appropriate gua sha methods and techniques need to be selected to achieve the best efficacy and results.
Conclusion
Gua sha is a scientific and effective method of Chinese medicine, that stimulates and adjusts the skin on the surface of the body to promote blood circulation, unblock the lymphatic system, activate the nervous system, and enhance the immune system. Mastering the science of gua sha will help amplify the benefits of gua sha, are you ready?
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