With hectic and busy lifestyles often leading to premature aging signs, puffiness, and sagging skin; practicing a skincare routine could be treated as a necessity. With the availability of numerous beauty products in the market, gaging the right skin type is in itself a task. But recently a product, Gua Sha also known as coining, a skin scraping or pressure stroking device, has gained popularity with social media influencers around the world featuring it.
Gua Sha stone is an ancient Chinese healing technique and has been around since the 7th century. It is a relaxing therapy that is carried out by gentle strokes to massage, manipulate and stimulate specific energy lines and points along the face. This helps to promote healthy lymph flow by releasing toxins that have been stuck. It helps to improve connective tissue that is damaged or distressed by tension; it also helps to improve blood circulation & oxygen transfer to the upper layer of the skin.
Facial Gua Sha is more gentle and softer than body Gua Sha, usually performed on the back, neck, and the pain areas like ribs, chest, & around joints. It is a movement-based massage technique that leads to smoother skin, improved complexion, reduced under-eye bags, defined cheekbones, and jaw lines. It retrains the muscles, relaxing, lifting, toning, and strengthening them, resulting in the glow.
The massaging tool has many benefits for face and body both. The other reason for such popularity is the natural facelift, different edges of stones work to lift and tighten the skin through regular usage. The procedure oxygenates and carries nutrients to the skin cells that reduce the signs of aging. Whether you are opting for professional help or indulging in self-care, the practice is deeply relaxing, easily accessing the knotted areas to release muscular tension and give an experience of the dramatic release of tautness.
It is a natural therapy that has a unique approach to a better and healthy life. It has medicinal properties and is believed to address stagnant energy in the body called chi (life force), which may be responsible for inflammation. Inflammation could become a cause for many chronic pains like arthritis and fibromyalgia. It is often used to relieve the symptoms of Hepatitis b, migraine headache, breast engorgement, Tourette syndrome, and perimenopausal conditions in some like insomnia, anxiety, irregular periods, etc.
The Gua Sha stone is made of jade, rose quartz, quartz, and amethyst, all crystals that are known for their healing properties. Gua Sha tool comes in different shapes, names, and characteristics, depending upon the body part that requires healing. Some of the popular tools are ‘S’ Shaped, Wing Type, Dolphin Shaped, Spoon Type, Fish-shaped, Modern IASTM, Long bar, Crescent-shaped, Wave tool, and Myofascial Releaser. It is believed that the tool works better with face serums, oils, and masks, on clean face.
Different shapes of tools are targeting different areas of the skin. A good tool is the one which has more angles for example a curved longer edge with V or U shaped is good for cheekbones and areas like eyebrows and undereye. The concave side is used on wider areas of the body like the neck, shoulders, and spine. A cleft shape is specifically used for the jaw whereas teeth edge is good for the forehead, cheeks, and chins. There are other shapes as well like pointed convex edge, beneficial for brows and double-curved side targeting cheeks, cheekbones, and under the eyes area.
A Gua Sha therapy follows short and long strokes, gently scraping the facial skin to move muscles and tissues underneath. It may seem simple and easy but movement in proper direction, angle, and effective pressure is a must to achieve the facial goals. Sometimes lack of knowledge and following incorrect procedures may cause internal damage or contusion. It’s better to do proper research, and surely a host of tutorials can help perfect this therapeutic art.