Hi All,

I have a wonderful healing technique called Gua Sha
Many years ago I learned this from MeiMei Yu who brought it to the Netherlands and it is a great tool for detoxifing the body and for chronic deseases.

In Vietnam the technique is called Cao Yio, in Indonesia: Kerik, in Laos: Khoud Lam.

Gua Sha is a healing technique used in traditional medicine. It involves palpation and cutaneous stimulation in which the skin is pressed with a piece of jade; that results in the appearance of small red patches. "Gua" means to scrape or rub. "Sha" is a reddish, elevated patch of skin. Sha is the term used to describe blood in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as a small red bump.

The benefits of Gua Sha. Gua Sha can be used to prevent and treat diseases and strengthen the body. Especially in the area of pain relief it is unequalled. It has a very quick effect on pain from head, neck, shoulder, joint and back pain to RSI, fibromyalgy, sciatica and other nerve pain, migraine, PMS, osteoporosis, rheumatism. It has as well an obvious effect on various diseases caused by functional disharmony of the internal organs.

In summarizing guasha is stimulating the immune system, detoxifies and de-acidifies, promotes the circulation, regulates functions and organs, removes blockades and pain, revitalizes and regenerates ("life-extension"), diminishes stress, fatigue and burn-out, improves e.g. cures (indirectly) countless (chronic) disorders and complaints, rebalances emotions, relaxes and promotes clarity of mind...everything through ONE simple treatment

It does look a bit but it does not hurt.As I was told by Meimei Yu it is very commonly used in China and even preferred to Acupuncture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4FFmGPPW3w

As the body is scraped it pushes a build-up of fluid ahead of it, and after it passes, it leaves an indention or vacuum behind which draws toxic fluid out to the skins surface from deep within the tissues, the toxic fluid (Sha), as it floods to the surface is seen as small red, deep purple or green pools of blood and very often is hot on the area that the toxic heat is extracted. Red spots are an indication that toxins are being released. Where the area is deep purple the blood is old and extremely stagnant. A dark green discoloration is a sign that stagnant blood and toxic chi are being released from the system. Sometimes a clear fluid will draw to the surface in a form that resembles cellulite or goose bumps. Where the skin starts out as a green glow which turns to red during the treatment, is a sign that pain or stagnant chi is being removed. The exposing of the Sha is literally removing disease from deep within the system.

In the undergiven links (there are much more)you can find more about Gua Sha.

www.guasha.com/ - 16k
www.chinajnbook.com/guasha_index.htm - 27k -

discoveringwellness.hdmenterprises.com
Sorry, do'nt seem to be able to post this link so I give you what is written at Google
guashaGua Sha, “What is that?” You may ask. Gua (gwa), meaning to scrape or extract and Sha (shaw), meaning sand or toxins. It is a traditional ancient Chinese ...
discoveringwellness.hdmenterprises.com/guasha.htm - 19k -


A very easy place to start the technique of releasing toxins is applying the special oil (traditional Chinese pharmacies many of them have gua sha oil)in the inside plea of your elbow and slab it several time(might hurt a little)than scrab the area of the inside plea with a soupspoon, coin, or slice of water buffalo horn, a flat peace of Jade. Hold the gua sha tool at a thirty degree angle to the skin, the smooth edge will touch the skin. Rub the skin in downward strokes using moderate pressure you can get at traditional Chinese pharmacies, many of them have gua sha oil or "white flower" or any other oil will do.You should not feel pain although it might feel uncomfortable. Stroke the area, until the petechia of that surface is completely raised and all the sha is up, which is when stroking no longer increases the number of dots or changes the color. Then move to the next area.

The sha petechiae should fade in about 2-4 days. If it is very slow to fade, it indicates poor blood circulation and there may be more serious deficiency that will require additional treatments with combination of acupuncture or acupressure in specific areas.
Since gua sha moves stuck qi and blood, NOTE: "Blood" refers to the traditional Chinese medicine definition, and is not the western body blood. The person receiving gua sha will probably feel immediate changes in their condition. It is a very useful treatment for external and internal conditions and treats both acute and chronic disorders.

Gua Sha treatment can be used up to three times weekly, and is most effective when used as a weekly treatment on chronic conditions.

Buffalo Horn Gua Sha Board
Water Buffalo Horn comes from the Indian buffalo, also known as the water buffalo. After being removed, the horns are cleaved in half, soaked in hot water, cleaned of any impurities, sliced, and dried in the sun for use in herbal remedies.
Buffalo horn is comprised of a variety of chemicals and substances, including keratin, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and the amino acids cystine, leucine and arginine. Buffalo horn also contains several trace elements, including sodium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. It is salty in flavor and has cold properties, and is associated with the Heart, Liver and Stomach meridians. Its functions are to clear away heat, remove heat from the blood, and eliminate toxins. Buffalo horn is used to treat conditions such as fever, edema and convulsions. Buffalo horn can also be applied the skin to treat skin eruptions caused by febrile diseases

Love, Light and Magic scraping.
Pinky

Can you explain what's happening in these Gua Sha videos? I watched a few different ones. It appears as if the practitioner is just scraping the skin until it becomes irritated.

Hi Neiby,

This post is a short version of what and how Gua Sha works, in my next post I will give you a more extended story about The Channel System but maybe you are already familiar with the working of the Channel system.

The skin becoming read is actually a heamorrhage under the skin not on the skin and it usually disappears in 2 to 4 days.

There is a very good book about Gua Sha. Sadly it's quite expensive $58.77

Hope I helped you.
Love
Pinky

Food absorption travels from the intestines via the blood to the small hair follicles. To reach the cells they have to travel through the pores of the hair vessels, subsequently through the soft connective tissues to reach the cells.
If the edge of the blood vessels of the small hair vessels is thickened by collagen (albumen) and on top of that the parts are settling in the soft connective tissues than the absorption of food and oxygen will have a hard job reaching the cells.

In reverse order the toxins from the cell metabolism will be hindered finding their way to the blood stream. The result is, the cells will not get enough food substances and will subsequently suffocate in their own toxins.

The result of GUA SHA is through consecutively working on the skin, the subcutaneous, soft connective tissues, lymphatic system, meridians, bone tissues, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, brain, and immune system and the consecutive functions, systems of the body.

GUA SHA in fact can replace massage, soft tissue-reflex and bone tissue treatments ,Lymphatic drainage etc.and with that the function, system, organs of the whole body. It's actually all done in applying Gua Sha.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pinky,

THE CHANNEL SYSTEM

The Channel system is a system of pathways throughout the body. They are a way of describing the flow of blood, QI (or vital energy), and information that supports the life functions of the body. The channel system’s function is Communication, Regulation and Distribution. Through this function they make the Qi and blood flow. Through them the tendons and bones are moistened. The smooth travel of QI and blood in the channels brings nutrients to the body, helps the balance of Yin and Yang, invigorates the tendons, bones and joints.

The Channel system provides a network of Communication between the internal organs and the extremities. It connects the upper and the lower as well as the interior and exterior parts of the body. In this way, it is possible for the internal organs to remain responsive to the conditions that the body encounters in the environment.

The second function is the Regulation of the zang (yin) and fu (yang) organs.

The third major function is Distribution.
The circulatory function ensures that the tissues and the organs in all parts of the body are supplied with nutrients and fluids. Because it is the means of Communication, Regulation and Distribution of vital substances throughout the body, the channel system is also the route that pathological changes can follow between the Yin and Yang organs and between the internal organ structures and the superficial tissues. The onset of a disease in the internal organs will thus ultimately find expression in a given location of the exterior of the body.

The Channel System simply said, describes the way to three concentric cylinders.
The innermost houses the internal organs, The second the principal channels of the channel system, The third, or outermost cylinder, is the surface of the body and channels. They are all interconnected.

The Channel system comprises the absorption, assimilation and secretion of food, water, air and large amounts of toxins.

******The body has one trump in its hands to hinder the toxins to enter the cells by storing the toxins in the soft connective tissues, tendons and joints along the blood vessels in the skin******

and that's where Gua Sha comes in

The connective tissue’s function is supporting the immune system, cells and detoxification.

These tissues are dumping places for the overloaded Channel system. Contradictory to the reaction phase (fever, infection) this phase does not give many symptoms.

Reference points are cold hands and feet, stiff joints and spots on the skin.

Once the transportation of food with the help of digestive enzymes from the spleen, the fat emulsion salts from the gallbladder and intestine fluids is digested and divided in the smallest particles it is absorbed by the blood and lymphatic system and from there it is transported to the smallest hair follicles, passing the blood vessel’s edge and reaches the cells via the soft connective tissues.

Blockage can occur in the smallest hair follicles (not enough fluids and a sitting life style).

In short:
The food absorption travels from the intestines via the blood to the small hair follicles. To reach the cells they have to travel through the pores of the hair vessels, subsequently through the soft connective tissues to reach the cells.
If the edge of the blood vessels of the small hair vessels is thickened by collagen (albumen) and on top of that the parts are settling in the soft connective tissues than the absorption of food and oxygen will have a hard job reaching the cells.

In reverse order the toxins from the cell metabolism will be hindered finding their way to the blood stream. The result is, the cells will not get enough food substances and will subsequently suffocate in their own toxins.

The result of GUA SHA is through consecutively working on the skin, the subcutaneous, soft connective tissues, lymphatic system, meridians, bone tissues, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, brain, and immune system and the consecutive functions, systems of the body.

GUA SHA in fact can replace massage, soft tissue-reflex and bone tissue treatments ,Lymphatic drainage etc.and with that the function, system, organs of the whole body. It's actually all done in applying Gua Sha.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pinky,