Guasha

Guasha is an unusual treatment where the skin is scraped using a smooth-edged flat ‘scraper’ until a rash or spots appear on the skin surface.

As a therapeutic tool, Guasha is similar to cupping in that it stimulates the flow of Qi and Blood, and so is used in those conditions similar to those benefitted by cupping. 

Guasha is carried out by light massage oil being rubbed into the skin and then 'scraped' with a Guasha tool..

It is never painful and checks are always made to ensure the patient is comfortable with the treatment. The rash or ‘sha’ that appears indicates that the Qi and Blood stagnation are being cleared from the body. The appearance of the sha is always a positive sign, when no sha appears it usually indicates there is no stagnation present.

The sha will last from 3-7 days and can look quite unsightly during that time, but it does fade. Subsequent treatments are carried out once the sha has faded and on each following treatment the sha will be less and less.