The centuries-old Gua Sha is making a comeback—thanks to TikTok. Here’s why you should consider adding it to your self-care routine.
Let’s be honest, having a more contoured face and glowing, healthier looking skin would be a dream come true. Well, you can turn those dreams into reality with the use of gua sha stones and facials.
While gua sha has set the TikTok world abuzz (with numerous users posting their before-and-afters), gua sha facials, massages, and tools aren’t exactly new. Gua sha, which translates to “to scrape petechia”, has been used for centuries as a form of treatment for some illnesses.
Gua sha has been around for such a long time that “the earliest Gua Sha-like tool predated acupuncture in the Stone Age,” shares Dr. Ervina Wu, PhD, L.Ac with Harper’s Bazaar. “It was fashioned out of Bian stone in various shapes used for things such as heat therapy and bloodletting,” she added.
Originally used to treat different ailments, gua sha is now also being used as part of regular skincare with numerous brands offering gua sha tools made out of jade stone and rose quartz. Here are the benefits of gua sha facials and tools:
Like other parts of our bodies, we usually hold a lot of tension in our face (even though we don’t realize it). Using a gua sha stone can help smooth out those knotted areas and help release tension. If you tend to get headaches and migraines, or clench your jaw, gua sha facials are also said to help alleviate them.
Who doesn’t want a more contoured face? Gua Sha stones are designed with unique shapes and edges that perfectly fit one’s face. These edges are used to lift and sculpt the skin. Using the gua sha stone, as well as the right technique can help tighten the skin, and prevent sagging.
Regular use of gua sha helps improve blood circulation, which can result to a more glowing and healthier looking complexion. According to Sonia Lee, DACM, LAc, for NBC News, “When you gently scrape the skin on your face with your gua sha tool, what you are doing is stimulating your Yang Ming meridians (composed of the large intestine and the stomach). You are also sending your body a signal that this area needs more blood circulation.” This, she says, is from Chinese medicine perspective.
Scraping your gua sha tool on to the skin helps promote lymphatic drainage. According to experts, this helps with eliminating fluid build-up, which can reduce puffiness.
According to Dr. Shobai Wang, MD., the use of gua sha “can temporarily improve the appearance for the newly and very gentle ones.” So to prevent more wrinkles, adding gua sha to your routine may be a good move.
