Sometimes you do not need to look for advanced technology and complex machinery to identify and solve body issues. There is a good chance that your problem has already been identified by someone in the past and a cure has been derived for it. We believe that Chinese medicine worked on this very principle when researchers looked for ways to solve different health problems. That experimentation and study led to some revolutionary procedures, many of which are still being used today. We must give them credit for figuring out how the body works and how energy flows through it. This discovery has led to several techniques that heal people by realigning their body’s energy and connection points.
What is Gua Sha?
Speaking of energy, the Chinese term used to define it is qi or chi. Gua sha is a treatment that involves the movement of this energy in your body using some sort of tool. This tool is usually a special stone that the person performing the treatment would run on the patient’s skin while applying pressure. The amount of pressure is enough to cause light bruising on the skin. This process leads to the connective tissue and scar tissue breaking down. Doing so helps improve the movement of your joints. Except for a few medical conditions, this practice is suitable for practically everyone out there.
The term gua sha is also derived from the Chinese word used to describe scraping. Chinese medicine describes it as a process of freeing the movement of chi in your body, letting it flow smoothly and improving your body’s overall health. The studies also show that this energy can be blocked which can lead to muscle tension and pain in your joints. This healing process can reinstate the flow of chi and heal those problems.
Applications of Gua Sha
There are several conditions that people treat using gua sha. However, the most common problems are muscle and joint-related. Any form of a musculoskeletal disorder can also be treated using gua sha. Typical treatments involve problems like tendon strains, back pain, and even things like carpal tunnel syndrome.
In addition to such problems, masters of gua sha also say that this treatment can help with other ailments like inflammation, fever, cold, lung problems, and even small injuries. The bruises caused by gua sha induce a response from the body that breaks down scar tissue. It is beneficial for the current situation since gua sha is also believed to boost the body’s immune system.
Testing the Science
Like any other popular traditional treatment, gua sha also went under the microscope with different groups tested for specific issues. Women who were going through menopause found that using this treatment reduced typical symptoms like headaches, insomnia, sweating, etc. Similarly, people with excessive use of computers also said that gua sha helped them increase their cranial movement range and reduce pain caused from sitting in front of computers for long hours. Even weightlifters were tested, and they felt that their job became noticeably easier, pointing towards accelerated muscle healing. Generally, the treatment was found to increase the flexibility in body muscles and improve the movement in joints. Gua sha has also shown a boost in the body’s collagen production and improved detoxification.
Conclusion
While you could go to a trained professional who has studied the art, the lockdowns and social distancing would make it quite difficult. However, thanks to some amazing gua sha kits available now, you can do it yourself as well. The process is easy to learn and you can start self-healing in no time at all.