Bian stone has been used in TCM for thousands of years. It’s a stone containing trace minerals that are believed to benefit overall health.

This process is believed to help blood flow and create a “lifting” effect on your skin, which some say may help lessen toxins in your body and promote healing. Gua sha is performed along the meridians of the body. According to TCM, meridians are channels or streams of energy where qi flows in our bodies. Gua sha is simple to perform and can be done at home if you learn the proper techniques and safety precautions. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before adding gua sha to your routine. On the body Shape: Generally, you want a gua sha with smooth curves that'll settle nicely into the contours of your face without tugging. But if you're looking for a deeper massage, ones with a combed edge can stimulate multiple acupressure points at one time and activate more blood circulation, says Chiu.Improves circulation: The scraping motion of the tool is thought to stimulate blood circulation, which can help deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells, promoting overall skin health. Nielsen A, et al. (2007). The effect of gua shatreatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: A pilot study in healthysubjects [Abstract]. DOI: Nielsen A, et al. (2014). Addendum: Safetystandards for Gua sha(press-stroking) and Ba guan(cupping) [Abstract]. DOI: Computers Tech All Computers Laptops Gaming Laptops Laptops for College Students Computer Monitors Ergonomic Keyboards

The literal translation of 'gua' means 'scrape' and 'sha' means 'sand,' which refers to the sandy dark spots that look like light bruising on the skin that comes up after a gua sha body treatment," explains Patricia San Pedro, an esthetician, founder of Sunina Skin, and author of Face Fitness. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies: “A Single Case of Tourette's Syndrome Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine.” To prepare you for treatment, your technician will put oil on your body. They’ll then use the stone-like gua sha massage tool to scrape to your skin in long, downward strokes. This is when you’ll notice areas of petechiae on your skin. Small Home Appliances Home & Kitchen All Small Home Appliances Vacuums Air Conditioners Space Heaters Humidifiers To de-puff your face, start from the centre of your face and then use the gua sha stone at a 90-degree angle to gentle massage and push any excess fluids outwards towards the edges of your face.Estanqueiro M, et al. (2014). Characterization, sensorial evaluation and moisturizing efficacy of nanolipidgel formulation. Gua sha, or 刮痧, directly translates to “scratch” and “sand” (here, the sand refers to the raised redness on the skin instead of actual sand). “‘Sha’ is caused by the bacteria or virus toxins, which break the capillaries and form hyperemia areas, or spots in the skin or mucus, and form sand-like scattered or condensed areas,” said Wang. The sand analogy stemmed from the act of performing gua sha, where technicians gently scrape the skin and see tiny dots under the skin emerge; these little granules resemble pieces of sand, which led to their name, Wang elaborated. After applying gua sha, it is common for users to experience redness or tenderness (a sign of blood renewal), but those effects will subside within a few days. Hajhashemi M, et al. (2017). The effect of aloe vera gel and sweet almond oil on striae gravidarum in nulliparous women. The study involved a 33-year-old male who had Tourette syndrome since the age of 9. He received acupuncture, herbs, gua sha, and modified his lifestyle. After 35 once-a-week treatments, his symptoms improved by 70 percent. Even though this man had positive results, further research is needed. 6. Perimenopausal syndrome Perimenopausal symptoms. Women nearing menopause can have things like abnormal periods, hot flashes, sleep issues, and mood changes. In one study, women who used gua sha once a week for 8 weeks saw those symptoms improve. Researchers are still trying to understand if and how it works.