Gua Sha in Niagara Falls , ON
How is works
Gua Sha is an important hands-on medical treatment that has been used throughout Asia for centuries. Gua means to rub or press stroke. Sha is a term that describes the blood congestion in surface tissue in areas where the patient may experience stiffness and pain; Sha is also the term for the little red dots that are raised from applying Gua Sha.
When Gua press stroking is applied in repeated even strokes, Sha appears as small red dots called petechiae and the pain immediately shifts. In minutes the small red dots fade into blended reddishness. The Sha disappears totally in two or three days after treatment. The color of Sha and rate of fading can indicate important information about a patient’s condition. Pain relief lasts even after the Sha is completely gone.
For what conditions it can be used
The benefits of Gua Sha are numerous. It resolves spasms and pain, and promotes normal circulation to the muscles, tissues and organs, as seen in Gua Sha’s immediate effect on coughing and wheezing. Research has shown that Gua Sha causes a four-fold increase in microcirculation of surface tissue and can reduce inflammation and stimulate the immune system. Gua Sha upregulates heme-oxygenase- 1(HO-1), that acts to reduce internal organ inflammation, for example, in cases of asthma, hepatitis and liver disease.
The patient experiences immediate changes in stiffness and pain with increased mobility. Because Gua Sha mimics sweating, it can help resolve fever. Gua Sha cools the patient who feels too warm, warms the patient who feels too cold, while relaxing tension and reducing anxiety. Gua Sha should be considered for any illness or condition where touch palpation indicates there is Sha (stiffness and pain).
Safety and Aftercare
Gua sha is very safe and ideally to be performed by a professional that can assess and understand the needs of each patient. Gua Sha is often done in combination with acupuncture for problems that acupuncture alone cannot address or to optimize acupuncture treatments effects.
After the treatment the patient is advised to keep the area protected from wind, cold and direct sun until sha fades. They are also encouraged to drink plenty of water and eat moderately.