How to Perform Gua Sha

Co-authored by Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM

Last Updated: April 15, 2022 References

Gua sha is an ancient holistic form of medicine from East Asia that involves scraping sore and stiff muscles to relieve pain. The therapy can reduce short-term neck pain in certain circumstances, but the results aren't totally conclusive. You should also keep in mind that performing gua sha to certain parts of your body, like your neck, could result in inflammation and injury.^{[1]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} If you want to try gua sha to soothe sore muscles, all you'll need is a gua sha tool and understanding of how to do it.^{[2]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Preparing the Sore Muscle

1
Purchase a gua sha tool. You can purchase a tool made specifically for gua sha therapy online or at alternative medicine stores. A gua sha tool is a rounded tool made of a smooth material like wood, stone, plastic, stainless steel, or jade. Some gua sha tools look like smooth stones, while others are more elaborate and have handles.^{[3]
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- If you don’t want to purchase a tool, you can use an edge of a spoon instead.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM
  Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist
  Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.}
2
Locate a stiff or sore part of your body. Find the parts of your body that are sore. Typically gua sha is performed on the back, shoulders, hips, or back of the neck, but you can perform it wherever you feel pain. Rub over your sore muscle with your fingers and locate the area where the muscle feels stiff or tense.^{[5]
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- Do not use gua sha to relieve pain in your joints or along your spine.
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3
Apply oil or therapeutic balm to the affected area before you scrape it. Apply coconut oil, olive oil, or a pain-relieving balm to the sore or stiff part of your body. Rub the balm or oil into your skin until the sore area on your body feels moist. Your muscle is now ready for the gua sha therapy.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Scraping the Muscle

1
Move the gua sha tool in one direction over the stiff muscle. Follow the contours of your muscle and continue scraping and applying pressure to the affected muscle. Rub in small 2-3 inch (5.08-7.62 cm) areas 6-8 times before moving onto another sore part in your muscle.^{[7]
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2
Continue scraping the sore muscle until it turns red. As you rub over the sore muscle, capillaries under your skin will break and create what's known as petechia, which looks like small red dots under your skin. Don’t be alarmed; this is normal and will go away in a couple of days.^{[8]
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Mayo Clinic
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- The average gua sha therapy session lasts around 10 minutes.
- This will be uncomfortable, but it shouldn't be extremely painful.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM
  Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist
  Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.}
- In Chinese medicine, this is said to expel the heat or external evils from the area.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM
  Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist
  Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.}
3
Have a friend help if you can’t reach your stiff muscles. To perform gua sha on yourself, you’ll need to be able to reach the spot that is tender or sore. Areas like the middle and lower back and back of the arms can be hard to reach. If these are the muscles that are sore, have a friend do the gua sha on you instead of doing it yourself.
4
Drink a glass of water and relax. Refrain from doing any strenuous activity or exercising for the rest of the day. You may feel a soreness where you performed the gua sha, but it will subside in a few days.^{[11]
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5
Clean off your gua sha tool after every use. Because there is a risk of spreading blood-borne pathogens, gua sha tools shouldn’t be used on more than one person. If you are using the same tool, make sure to disinfect the tools with an EPA-registered disinfectant solution, enzyme mold stain cleaner, or enzymatic cleaner.^{[12]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What can gua sha be used to treat?

Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM
Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist
Tracy Zollinger (she/her) is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and the Founder of Island Acupuncture in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of experience, Tracy specializes in a holistic approach to reproductive health, fertility, and pre and post-natal care. Tracy creates comprehensive treatment plans using acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and western labs. She holds a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences and is board certified in integrative reproductive medicine, with a focus on LGBTQIA specific needs.

Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM

Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist

Expert Answer

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Gua sha can be used for things like common colds, fevers, ailments like joint pain, and morning sickness for people who are pregnant.