Gua sha is the ancient healing modality of scraping the skin with a metal tool or, traditionally, with a buffalo horn to improve microcirculation in the soft tissues. As a natural therapy, it is perfectly safe, and tools are sanitized after each use. It is especially indicated for chronic pain in the neck area as well as migraine headaches and even in perimenopausal syndrome. Usually, 20 or so short strokes bring the sha out, which means sand in Chinese. Sha is referred to as the stuck energy or any stagnancy that needs to be expelled by opening up the pores and breaking up the subcutaneous capillaries, thus inducing a local inflammation to initiate the body’s response to cure itself. The only downside is that you cannot shower that day..!
