Scrape away the pain with Gua Sha – by Melissa McConnell, Acupuncturist
We’ve all had a moment (or maybe you are like me and have had many moments), when our body tells us “loud and clear,” it is time for a rest. Sometimes, we listen and take a rest, but more often than not, we push through the discomfort and continue with our normal routine. If we are lucky, we may not suffer any lingering symptoms or issues. But, there are times, when we may have pushed too hard and our body will send us a very clear signal that it needs a break. That “loud and clear” moment may be muscular pain and stiffness, fatigue or a sore joint, whatever the symptom is, it deserves your full attention – your body deserves your full attention. Rest, proper hydration, clean & healthy eating, relaxation, a change in your activity, perhaps a medical evaluation and acupuncture are all great ways of addressing your body’s “needs” to ensure that it is running smoothly and efficiently. And, you can add one more thing to the list of “ways to care for my body” – Gua Sha.
When our body becomes sore, our natural response is to “rub” the area of pain/soreness/discomfort to lessen the intensity of symptoms. The “rubbing” encourages an increase in local blood to flow (micro-perfusion) to the injured area to remove “toxins” and increase oxygen and nutrients to initiate the healing process. Pain, whether it is chronic or acute, is the most common indicator that Gua Sha will benefit the patient.
Gua sha is an acupuncture technique that is instrumental in increasing the blood
flow to the injured area, and is successful in decreasing one’s pain level and has a profound effect on improving an individual’s overall general sense of well being. Studies have found that one session of Gua Sha immediately increases the surface micro-perfusion by 400% (for about 7 minutes), with continued evidence of increased micro-perfusion for a full 25 minutes after the initial treatment. A Doppler scan found that the patient’s micro-perfusion returned to baseline 2 days later. The same study found that the majority of patients felt an immediate decrease or complete resolution of pain/discomfort and had an increased sense of well being.
Gua Sha is an ancient healing technique used by many acupuncturists to help alleviate pain. In this procedure, a lubricating oil/liniment is applied to the skin of the area to be treated. A smooth-edged tool is used to apply a combination of short & long strokes against the skin where the muscles are tight and sore. I typically find that the majority of patients have tight, tender muscular areas that resonate with their daily activities & repetitive motions, such as the low back, upper traps, anterior shoulders, neck and lateral elbows. The stroking action creates a “reddened” area, an almost bruise-like area (Sha), that defines where the muscle was congested (TCM term for blood stagnation) and the (Sha) represents the release of the stagnation. The “release” is almost always followed by a patient’s sigh of relief; the majority of patients feel immediate relief, while a few feel relief the next day.
So, if you are suffering from chronic muscular pain and discomfort and are looking for a way to lessen your symptoms, why not give a Gua Sha treatment a try. I personally receive Gua Sha treatments, at least twice a month, and it has made the world of difference in my daily activities and athletic endeavors. If you’re curious, just ask Dave and I, and we’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have in regards to Gua Sha.