Gua Sha

Gua Sha (刮痧), literally meaning " according to cholera scrape ", is a volksheilkundliche treatment that is often used by users of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In East Asia and Southeast Asia Gua Sha is widely used under various names as a healing method of traditional medicine. In this method, with a rounded edge of a porcelain spoon, a coin or the like. repeatedly scraped over a range of skin, until a distinct discoloration and bleeding under the skin.

Gua Sha corresponds to Vietnamese Cao Gió. This means "wind scrape " and is a very common and effective remedy under Vietnamese. CAO is used by the Vietnamese against colds and fever, and it is often called Trung Gió ( " Catching the Wind " ) Gió.

Gua Sha is also widespread in Indonesia than traditional Javanese technique of folk medicine and known as kerikan (literally " scraping " ) or kerok what is understood by most Indonesians " bringing out the wind by scraping " as.

The folk healing method Gua Sha

Gua Sha is a method of traditional medicine, the designation of this technique in the language required is:

  • Gua Sha is the population of the Far East very widely used as a first measure in disease.
  • Gua Sha does not require complex medical diagnosis.
  • Gua Sha is easy to handle.

Nevertheless, Gua Sha is also used by users of traditional Chinese medicine as an equally important part as cupping, with Gua Sha and cupping are usually not used together. This Gua Sha is the home opener of a traditional Chinese treatment when the cockroaches should not be sufficient alone to recovery.

The Gua Sha technique

Gua Sha is made repeated scraping on oiled skin with a rounded edge. Usually, a Chinese porcelain soup spoon, a worn coin, rounded animal horns or jade is used. The rounded edge is pressed onto the oiled skin and moved along the muscles, or meridians in about 10 to 15 cm long trains. This process produces an increase in blood flow ( Sha ) in the skin, petechiae, and ecchymosis also arise. It usually takes 2 to 4 days until they disappear again. The stronger the " stasis " (in the sense of Chinese medicine ), the more colors the skin. Typically, patients feel immediate relief and change.

The skin discoloration caused by Gua Sha can be easily misinterpreted as a sign of physical abuse.

There is a related technique, ba sha (拔 痧), or tsien sha (literally " lift for cholera "), which developed a similar effect as Gua Sha. In ba sha one lifts the skin and then moved it between his fingers until petechiae arise. About tendons and ligaments or on the eyebrows, this technique is rather performed as Gua Sha.

Indications

In classical Chinese use Gua Sha is mostly used in:

  • Cold
  • Fever
  • Cough and dyspnea: bronchitis, asthma, emphysema
  • Heat Exhaustion
  • Muscle, ligament injuries and stiffness
  • Circulatory insufficiency
  • Pain
  • Headache, migraine
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Woman suffering
  • Urological problems
  • Digestive problems
  • In support of food and drugs poisoning

Contraindications

Gua Sha may not be used in:

  • Hemophilia
  • Fresh injury
  • Hematoma
  • Petechiae
  • Sunburn
  • Eczema
  • Pimples
  • Liver spots
  • On the abdomen during pregnancy
  • Severely debilitated patients
Mole (skin marking) JAMA (journal) Arte
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