Gua Sha is an East Asian healing technique that intentionally raises Sha rash or petechiae for healing purposes. Gua means to scrape or rub, while Sha is a 'reddish, elevated, millet-like skin rash' (aka petechiae). Sha is the term used to describe blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae..

Gua Sha is used whenever a patient has pain, aching, tenderness and/or a knotty feeling in the muscles associated with an acute or chronic disorder. Sha is revealed when normal finger pressure or palpation on a patient's skin causes blanching that is slow to fade. Gua Sha is also used to treat and prevent the common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, as well as congestion of Qi and blood.

Sha is raised primarily on the back, neck, shoulders, buttocks, and limbs known as the Yang surface of the body. On occasion, Gua Sha is applied on the chest and abdomen.

The area being worked is lubricated with oil and the skin is rubbed with a round-edged instrument in a downward motion. The area is stroked until the petechiae that surface are completely raised. The skin will only turn pink if there is no blood stasis and the petechiae will not form.

A soupspoon, coin, or slice of water buffalo horn is used in Asia. At Cornerstone we use soupspoon and water buffalo horn.

The color of the Sha is both diagnostic and prognostic. Very light colored Sha can indicate deficiency of blood. If the Sha is fresh red, it is of recent penetration. If the Sha is purple or black, the blood stasis is long-standing. If brown, the blood may be dry. Dark red Sha can indicate heat.

The Sha petechiae should fade in 2-4 days. If it is slower to fade the practitioner must ascertain whether it is deficiency of blood, (poor circulation) Qi or yang. This could be a sign of deeper stagnation or organ deficiency at the root.

In most cases the patient feels an immediate shift in their condition particularly in their pain or sense of constraint. Gua Sha moves stuck Qi and blood, releases the exterior mimicking sweating, and moves fluids containing metabolic waste that congested the surface tissues and muscles. Gua Sha promotes circulation and normalizes metabolic processes. It is a valuable treatment for both external and internal pain, and facilitates the resolution of both acute and chronic disorders.

Gua Sha is a completely safe technique, but we recommend moderate activity or even rest after treatment. We also suggest that patients retrain from drugs, alcohol, sex, fasting, feasting or hard labor, including working out, for the rest of the day.