THE TOOL: Gua Sha Stones are ancient Chinese medicine tools used to scrape the skin on the body.

WHO IT MIGHT HELP:

• People with muscular tension — especially in the neck and face.
• To flush the lymph nodes.
• Women with perimenopausal symptoms.
• People with migraine and/or tension headaches.
• To reduce inflammation.

RESEARCH & REASONS TO BELIEVE:

• Understanding Gua Sha
• Gua Sha Scraping Therapy in Chinese Medicine

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

I personally carry a lot of muscular tension in my body. So I was curious to try a professional gua sha massage when I was traveling for work. Like most massages, my skin was rubbed with oil (I believe it was sesame oil) then scraped with vigorous strokes by a gua sha tool—a flat stone shaped like a human heart. It was somewhat painful, and I had considerable bruising for days after; however, it made my muscles warm and pliable and relaxed in a way they hadn’t been before.

After that experience, I purchased my own gua sha stone set and learned how to give myself a facial gua sha massage (which does not use pressure enough to mar the skin and blood vessels)—a practice I continue every night before I go to bed. I also use this massage for tension headaches and sometimes for migraines.

After strong workouts, I use my gu sha stones to massage my meridian lines in both arms and legs, but not to the point of bruising. (This practice works better for me than foam rolling massage.)

TIPS & THINGS TO KNOW:

• Gua sha stones can be purchased at a number of places concerned with beauty and skin care.
• Most experts will recommend you use Jade, but I personally prefer Bian Stones. It’s worth trying different types, or using a guide to find the stone that works best for you.
• In addition, it’s useful to find the best shape for what you want to achieve or what works best for you.
• I always keep one gua sha stone in the fridge during summer or on my windowsill at night during winter. The cold stone is soothing when I have a tension headache and sometimes I just lay the stone on my eyes or forehead for relief.
• There are a lot of tutorials on how to give yourself a gua sha massage on YouTube and elsewhere online. Different techniques have different effects for different people. Be curious and try them out to learn which techniques work best for you.

Not only do I continue using gua sha stone massage nightly, I always have a gua sha stone on hand (while working, in my gym bag, in my car, when I travel, etc.) and use it frequently. It is one of my essentials.