People today have many options when it comes to massage therapies. There are conventional therapies, and there are also natural alternatives. Unfortunately, there are some symptoms that conventional treatments cannot improve, which is why natural options may be your best bet. If you are looking for a natural therapeutic massage that helps relieve chronic pain and inflammation, Gua Sha is a technique that you should try.
What Is a Gua Sha?
Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese healing technique that helps address chronic pain in the body. This natural therapy utilizes a tool used to massage the skin through a scraping process that improves blood circulation.
The ancient Chinese created this treatment to address chi, the stagnant energy in the body, which is believed to cause inflammation. The process of strategically rubbing the skin’s surface is also believed to cause the breakdown of this stagnant energy to promote eventual healing.
Because of the pressure applied onto the skin, this procedure is not advisable for people with blood conditions or blood disorders.
Some Facts You Should Know About Gua Sha
On Tool: The massaging tools that therapists use depends on the type of therapy you would experience. If you are set to undergo the traditional treatment, you can expect to see jade or bone as the scraping massage tool. However, in modern Gua Sha, therapists use a different Gua massage tool.
On Duration: Compared to other massage or therapy sessions, Gua Sha is quicker and more straightforward. The whole process would only take around ten minutes.
On Process: Aside from the massage tool, your therapist will also use a lubricant on your body, usually in the form of oil. It helps minimize any abrasion that the tool may incur on your skin. The oil also helps therapists identify the problem areas in your body.
What to Expect: Once the session is complete, you can expect to see red marks on your body caused by the pressure from the tool, but they generally go away after two days.
On Therapist: Although the process may appear simple, only licensed acupuncture practitioners or Chinese medicine practitioners can perform it.
How Gua Sha Benefits Your Health
Like other traditional Chinese practices, Gua Sha brings many positive effects to the body. Here are some of the benefits worth knowing about:
- It increases the production of heme oxygenase-1: Heme oxygenase-1 or HO-1 is a gene that plays a vital role in preventing vascular inflammation. According to a study, Gua Sha’s procedure of scraping the skin causes microvascular blood extravasation and bruises. As a result, there is an increased rate of a biochemical process in the body, causing more heme oxygenase-1. The more your body produces this gene, the faster the reduction of inflammation.
- It alleviates chronic pain: The therapeutic process also increases blood flow in the body. When applied in the target troubled areas, the force can significantly reduce these areas’ discomfort, providing relief from the chronic pain. It can help patients suffering from neck or back pain and even migraines.
- It helps relieve symptoms of hepatitis B: One study also suggests that Gua Sha helps reduce the inflammatory markers of a subject’s liver injury. While it cannot cure hepatitis B, it can successfully alleviate the symptoms it brings.
Conclusion
For people looking for a natural massage treatment that provides a wide range of health benefits, Gua Sha is an ancient healing practice that they must try. If you find the health problems enumerated above as issues you have been enduring for a long time, then this traditional treatment can help you improve your condition and relieve your symptoms!
If you are looking for more therapeutic massage in Calgary, AB, visit us at Centre Street Physiotherapy. We offer various services from physiotherapy, manual therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and more. We care about you and your health, so we make sure your treatment and recovery are successful. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services or book an appointment!
