Gua sha for various parts of the body

Face:

1.Before performing guasha,apply cosmetic lotion to protect the skin.

2.Scrape from top to bottom,and from the center to the sides along the fibers of the muscles.

3.Scrape slowly at angles less than 15 degrees to avoid expressing sha on the face.

4.The horizontal pressing-kneading method is often used on acupoints for care.

Ear:

1.Scrape 4~5 times without guasha oil.

2.Scrape the anterior and posterior surfaces of the ear with the edge of the guasha tool,using the corner on points inthe concha.

Hands:

1.Use patting manipulation and feet on the elbow and knee fossa.Do not use patting if there are varicose veins in the knee fossa.

2.Do not use guasha during the acute stage of tendon and ligament injuries.

3.Because the skin on the back of the hand, second metatarsal bone and dorsum of the foot is thin,apply guasha oil first.

Abdomen:

1.Scrape from top to bottom.For patients with organ prolapse,scrape from bottom to top.

2.Because the abdomen is soft and contains many important organs,it should be scraped gently and slowly.

3.Guasha should be performed at least 30 minutes after meals.

4.When using guasha to lose weight,patients should contract their abdominal muscles during the treatment for a better effect.

5.For abdominal pain, obtain a definite diagnosis before administering guasha.Do not perform guasha on patients with internal bleeding or acute abdominal diseases.

Limbs:

1.Scrape in segments from top to bottom centered on the acupoints to be treated. If there are varicose veins, scrape more gently and from bottom to top.Do not use guasha with severe varicosities.

2.Scrape downward along the curvature of bones around joints.Guasha is forbidden near swollen or acutely inflamed joints.

Back & Waist:

1.Scrape from top to and bottom in sections waist about 12~15 cm long, dividing the back into three sections.For weak patients, split the treatment over three days.

2.Use supplementing manipulations for short durations on the midline of the back and lumbosacral region along the path of the Governing Vessel where there is little fat or muscle

3.Use the corners of the guasha tool on the Jiaji points to locate reactive points

Chest:

1.Scrape from the middle to the sides along with ribs. Do not use strong force or scrape quickly on the ribs.

2.Do not scrape over the nipples.

3.Do not use the corners of the guasha tool to scrape in the intercostal spaces.

4.Scrape using small angles,strong pressure and slow speeds over the zang-fu organs.

Head:

1.Do not use guasha oil

2.For meridians of the head:scrape from anterior-superior to posterior-inferior on the sides of head;from back to front or front to back on the vertex;and from top to bottom on the occiput with strong pressure.

3.Scrape until patient feels warmth on the scalp.

4.Treat during the day. Scraping before sleep is forbidden, as it will stimulate the nervous system and cause insomnia.

Neck & Shoulder:

1. Scrape from top to and bottom on the neck and shoulder from the middle to the sides on the shoulder

2.Do not use excessive force over the spine on the neck in thin people to avoid injuring the spinal column.

3.Do not use guasha on the necks of patients with spinal cord-type cervical spondylitis 4.Scrape Renying(ST 9) on the sides of the Adam' s gently and slowly to protect the underlying artery.