Gua sha is a Chinese Medicine practice using edged tools. These tools were traditionally made out of water buffalo horn but can be made out of anything (ceramic, wood, plastic, stone and crystal) as long as the surface is clean and smooth.
Gua translates as ‘to scrape’ and Sha translates as ‘sand’ - referring to the little red dots (petechia) that can come up on the skin when using this edge tool.
The tool is scraped repeatedly over the skin sometimes with the intention to bring up ‘sha’ or little red dots.
Pointed edges of the tool are used with the intention to disperse stagnation in the tissues and broader more rounded edged are used to encourage circulation of blood. The intention isn’t to cause pain but to create movement in the tissues.
It is a brilliant and simple way to support pain in the muscles and a wonderful way to enliven the tissues of the face (where you wouldn’t intentionally bring out any ‘sha’- red spots). Usually the tool is worked from the direction of mid line out towards the peripheries and from head towards the feet. It shouldn’t be used over bone or open wounds.
Gua sha can also be an effective way to work with the breast and chest tissue. See this article published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information about Gua sha for breast engorgement in postpartum women, ‘Effects of Gua-Sha therapy on breast engorgement: a randomized controlled trial’ by Chiu et al.