Gua Sha (a gentle scraping of the skin) has a similar effect to cupping but is more versatile for certain areas of the body. It is often used in combination with acupuncture or massage and is used primarily over the back, neck, shoulder, and chest but can also be applied to arms, legs, and joints. A lubricant is massaged into the area and a scarping tool is then used to apply long gentle strokes to the skin until a light reddening appears thereby releasing any stagnation that may be present and restoring the flow of blood and qi to the area. Gua Sha only brings to the surface what is trapped below, if there is no stagnation there will be no surface marks. You know there is stagnation if you press the skin and quickly take your fingers away and the blanched skin takes a while to color. Gua Sha is useful for the type of pain that is helped by massage but immediately returns, for chronic pain, sudden stiff neck, awakening with a kink in the body, and pains that come and go.
