Gua sha is a kind of therapeutic massage technique used in many parts of East Asia that involves gently scraping the skin to improve blood flow, circulate lymph, and revitalize the body. In Chinese medicine, gua sha is used to address stagnant energy, or chi, which is thought to be the cause of inflammation and discomfort. Gua sha tools are specifically designed to gently and effectively recirculate energy and blood to areas of the body that just feel tight or blocked.
Gua sha is an easy practice to incorporate into your self-care ritual. If being used on the body, lightly apply a body oil, such as Force Field, and use an edge of the tool to gently scrape the skin towards your heart. If you'd like to experience the radiant after-glow of facial gua sha, apply a facial oil such as Golden Hour, and softly scrape from the midline of your face towards the hair-line down to the neck.
Who would benefit from gua sha? This is a fantastic practice for anyone wanting to reduce facial puffiness, dullness, and inflammation or anyone who just wants to add a boost of vibrancy.