Gua Sha & Our Body

Gua Sha - Scrapping

The release of the movie, "Gua Sha/The Treatment" unveiled a Chinese medical practice that astounded many westerners. In Chinese medicine, Gua Sha is an effective method of detoxifying. At Meridian Workz, we use this technique, to effectively relieves of chronic pain.

Is Gua Sha Scientific?
Gua Sha therapy is closely related to the theory of meridians, one of the most important Chinese medical theories.

The meridians (经 jing) and collaterals (络 luo) are pathways in which Qi and blood circulate. They form a specific network that communicates with the internal organs and limbs and connects the upper to the lower and the exterior to the interior portions of the body. In the ancient Chinese medical book The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine it recorded the six meridians (六经 liu jing), namely, the Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians. The principle of Gua sha is similar to that of acupuncture in which different points in the patient's body are stimulated.

According to Chinese medicine, Gua sha can stimulate blood flow and remove coldness, negative energy, toxic-heat and lymphatic fluid from the body through the skin. Through the process, more blood serum is produced, thus improving the body's immune system.

However, western medicine and Chinese medicine have contrasting views on the origin of diseases, hence leading to different treatments. Western medicine emphasizes exterior factors like viruses and microbes that lead to disease where as Chinese medicine places more emphasis on the internal human body. In other words, if the body is strong and healthy the organs will naturally protect themselves from diseases. Chinese physicians have tried to find treatments to improve the function of the six meridians. Western physicians, quite differently, tried to make effective for eliminating bacteria in the body. Chinese medicine physiology is based on the activity of Qi throughout the body, while Western medicine physiology is based on anatomy.

What is Gua Sha?
"Sha" refers to the sudden attack of illness such as sunstroke and dry cholera during the summer and autumn seasons. It also refers to rashes. The term "Gua" means, "to scrape."

How is Gua Sha done at Meridian Workz?
Before the actual Gua Sha treatment begins, Vital Meridian Essence is rubbed on the painful area or acupressure points to stimulate blood circulation in the body. Then scrapes the skin with horn blade from top to bottom according to the direction of blood flow. Some blood capillaries break and release the red blood cell, hemoglobin. Such stimulation can promote blood circulation and remove obstruction in the collateral and toxins from the body, which then relieves pain. Though red, purple or black bruises appear after the scraping, during the session, the patient rarely feels any pain.

What does Gua Sha Relieves?
Gua Sha can provide drug-free relief from back, neck, leg and shoulder pain. At Meridian Workz, we recommend avita natural TCM Herbal oils, eg Magnolia oil for Lung and Large Intestine Meridians, etc., for daily meridian maintenance and/or to relieve any discomfort along the meridians points.