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Gua sha being performed on a woman's shoulder to relieve stress and tension


Gua Sha

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine healing method in which an acupuncturist uses a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape the skin in long, downward strokes. This motion creates small, red freckles (also known as petechia) on the skin. The word 'scrape' can mislead people into believing that this is a painful experience. However, gua sha is often compared to feeling similar to a deep tissue massage.

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Gua Sha helps to increase blood flow and promote healing and therefore is most frequently used to target chronic pain in a specific part of the body. It is often used to complement other treatments such as acupuncture, massage, or herbal therapy.

Gua sha being performed on a woman's neck for muscle tension
Oriental brush painting of chinese country side with trees, mountains, and a man in a boat
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