Gua Sha: A Clinical Overview

Gua Sha is a traditional healing technique widely used in Asia, in Asian immigrant communities, and by acupuncturists and practitioners of traditional East Asian medicine worldwide. With Gua sha, a smooth-edged instrument is used to apply unidirectional surface pressure that raises transitory petechiae and ecchymosis, similar to the petechiae raised by cupping but typically over a larger area. Regarded as effective for blood stasis, Gua sha treats the ‘fixed’ feature of any presenting problem whether acute or chronic including but not limited to pain as well as in mild to severe conditions such as colds, flu, fever, heatstroke, and respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema; functional internal organ problems as well as musculoskeletal problems from fibromyalgia to severe strain, spasm or injury (Nielsen, 1995).