New Delhi
Gua sha, a traditional Chinese healing method, involves gently massaging the skin with a smooth-edged tool to enhance blood flow. Practitioners typically apply this technique to the back, buttocks, arms, and legs, with a gentler version used on the face and neck. The process begins by applying oil or serum to the target area, allowing the tool to glide smoothly as it is moved in upward or downward strokes. According to traditional beliefs, this practice disrupts stagnant energy (chi), which some claim may cause inflammation.
It may not always be good
While generally considered safe and not intended to cause pain, gua sha may temporarily alter skin appearance. The scraping action can cause tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface to burst.
Facial gua sha has gained popularity in skincare, with proponents claiming it can improve skin clarity, reduce wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. Many skincare brands now offer facial gua sha tools alongside their products.
What do experts think?
Katie Brindle, a Five Elements Chinese medical practitioner, describes facial gua sha as a gentle technique that boosts facial circulation and lymphatic flow. Quality tools are typically made from jade or rose quartz, shaped to complement facial contours. Brindle suggests gua sha may be beneficial for those experiencing facial tension, particularly around the jaw or between the eyebrows.
However, Dr. Nyla Raja, an aesthetic doctor, is slightly unsure about gua sha's ability to reduce wrinkles or lift the face. She doubts the tool can penetrate deeply enough to affect the skin's elastin production.
“Using a jade gua sha tool at home essentially gives your face a mini workout ― you are stimulating blood circulation, which increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which can improve skin health,” Raja said according to HuffPost.
She added, “However, it is unlikely that the effects of gua sha are able to reach this layer, and so does probably not stimulate or strengthen elastin production.”
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“Gua sha is such a holistic treatment, there is no wrong way to do it,” Brindle said. She recommends using a stone for one minute daily, which is enough to start seeing benefits. But it’s also important to follow your intuition on how much or how little feels good.