Gua sha is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to the principles of TCM, your qi (pronounced “chi”), or energy, must flow throughout your body so you can feel your best. When qi becomes stagnant in certain areas, it’s believed that health problems can occur. With gua sha, a practitioner (an acupuncturist in many cases) will use a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape areas of your body where there is inflammation or stagnant qi to help improve circulation and promote healing. In a 2017 study, weightlifters who had gua sha felt that lifting weights took less effort after treatment. This could suggest that the treatment speeds up muscle recovery. There are some types of gua sha approaches which give great importance to the design/shape of the gua sha tool. A gua sha stone can be shaped and polished to resemble anything from a soft-edged lightning bolt, to a shark's tooth, to ‘pac-man’ type symbol. If you're a fan of skincare rollers and tools, there's no doubt that you've heard of gua sha, the little flat pebble loved for its ability to chisel out cheekbones you didn't know existed. Pronounced "gwah-sha," it's an ancient Chinese practice that's meant to improve circulation, relax your muscles, and improve blood flow. In that sense, you can think of it as a trifecta of skincare, massage, and self-care—not unlike using a scalp massager for hair care.

Gua sha, when done correctly, has the ability to re-sculpt and almost train the lines of the face to sit in more appealing positions. One can see this quite clearly during their first session, when only one side of the jaw has been sculpted and the other remains its normal, puffy self. This month: Why now is a perfect time to try facial Gua Sha, the Chinese massage technique said to boost your glow.Stone quality, design, and craftsmanship matter when choosing a tool," Chiu has told Cosmo . "As with any product you use on your face, do your research, and don't be afraid to ask questions." Dr. Lal agrees: You want to find a tool that is ergonomic for you—it shouldn’t be awkward or painful, he explains. Anyone who grew up receiving gua sha from their Chinese grandparents will probably recall not having the most fun time. The traditional techniques are pressure-intense, and children tend to experience this kind of pressure as pain. Gua Sha for Face

To finish the routine, I used the smaller roller once more down my nose, moving it in a horizontal motion. We’re just promoting that flow of qi through the body. We’re helping to ensure a better blood supply and proper nerve conduction so that everything is moving through your body as it should. In doing gua sha, the hope is that any symptoms you’re experiencing will subside. That’s the overall goal.” Jade rollers provide an effective method of self-massage, helping to boost circulation and flush out toxins simultaneously while combating puffiness and increasing that always-coveted radiance. Jade also tends to feel consistently cool to the touch, making the rolling experience soothing and refreshing. Then there are the energetic benefits of the stone itself; jade is known for promoting prosperity, abundance, and wisdom.Over time, they began to notice that there were facial rejuvenation benefits that seemed to arise as a result of the applied pressure. Gua sha was then implemented as a way of moving the fluid and muscles in a more regulated manner. Pink petechiae are the most common. These tend to develop over areas where the individual in question is likely to be suffering from general deficiency of nutrient blood flow. Pink petechiae is also a sign that any illness that an individual suspects they are suffering from would only have developed very recently. Brown Although gua sha tools can be used all over the body, they're especially beneficial for the face. They feel cooling and soothing—plus, they can help boost lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and inflammation, says Wasfie. While those are pretty much instantaneous benefits, there’s also a long-term play: Gua sha can help stimulate collagen production to fill in fine lines and boost skin elasticity. It's also just a darn nice moment of self-care, Wasfie says. (And we agree.)

Brown petechiae is a sign that the person lives in a generally dehydrated state. They likely do not consume enough water by day, leaving their body deficient of fluids in areas that need it most. Brown petechiae are a good sign because this is a problem that is easy to correct! Deep Red Not that long ago Gua Sha hung on the wellness periphery. But Chinese medicine-based skincare has been gaining traction thanks to its natural approach with the added oomph of thousands of years of practice behind it. In this post, we reveal everything you need to know about gua sha, including how to use gua sha for your face and body, gua sha benefits, and the best gua sha tools. Let's get started! IntroductionI couldn’t believe the difference considering the treatment was only half an hour long. The wrinkle above my eye virtually disappeared, my forehead looked smooth and my face felt and looked less puffy. It also had an incredible glow meaning I didn't need to bother with a highlighter for a few days. We love the pink quartz crystal for its restorative and calming benefits and know this will look incredible on your vanity when not in use. On my forehead I repeated the vertical roll, starting from the middle of my face and moving outward toward my temples. Generally speaking, you need a smaller tool for smaller areas and a bigger tool for bigger areas’ she confirms. How to Gua Sha your face: your 6 step guide 1. Oil up Gua sha practitioners should not break the skin during the treatment, but there is a risk it could happen. Broken skin increases the possibility of infection, so a gua sha practitioner should always sterilize their tools between treatments.