Life has been hectic, and my body is starting to pay for it. I am perpetually stressed, my headaches are more pronounced, my muscles are extra sore thanks to my impulsive decision to pick up tennis lessons again along with my weekly Pilates, and I am tired all the time. Other than trying to figure out a better work-life balance, I’m always looking for methods to feel better overall. That’s where body gua sha comes in.
Acupuncturist Sandra Chiu, L.Ac., DACM, founder of Lanshin, explains that in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), gua sha has always been a body-based medical treatment. The idea of body gua sha is something that only came about in the last couple of years in the West because facial gua sha became so dominant. “We don’t actually say ‘body gua sha,’” Chiu explains. “Gua sha already implies working on the body.”
Professional gua sha treatments usually incorporate other therapeutic modalities, such as acupuncture, cupping, and massages. For at-home gua sha, she says that is reserved for gentler body practices.
Vogue’s Favorite Body Gua Sha Tools
Extending gua sha to the rest of your body as it is intended comes with many benefits. Acupuncturist Saher Hussaini, L.Ac, DACM, founder of Set Your Intention Acupuncture, explains that in TCM, our health depends on the smooth circulation of qi (a.k.a. our energy or life force) and blood. If they become stagnant or imbalanced, Hussaini says that you may experience muscle tension, pain, stiffness, fatigue, and headaches. Body gua sha may be the answer to fixing that. “It uses repeated, pressured strokes over oiled skin to help restore movement where such stagnation or imbalances exist,” she says.
The Benefits of Body Gua Sha
At the most basic level, Chiu says that body gua sha can help relieve muscle tension and tightness in places like your neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. It also can help improve blood circulation, which she says is why we often feel more relaxed and mobile afterward. Hussaini adds that body gua sha may help support lymphatic circulation, regulate your nervous system, and support your breathing.
In terms of TCM, Chiu says that gua sha helps break up “stagnation.” That can look like relieving headaches, reducing cramping, improving digestion, or helping with bloating, depending on where you’re working in the gua sha and what your body needs. She adds that the improved circulation is also why people may see an improved appearance in their skin tone and texture over time.
Usually, two weeks is hardly enough time to see big changes. But in two weeks, some results were pretty immediate. I feel less muscle tension and my skin looks noticeably smoother and more radiant. (And as an added bonus, it’s a way to always keep my body moisturized with all the body oil I use.) The ritual of it is so relaxing that it becomes my small pocket of stress-free time. While it remains to be seen if it will improve my constant fatigue or if it helps with a cold or any illnesses, body gua sha is something I definitely plan to incorporate into my routine more regularly to find out. If this has piqued your interest, below are six body gua sha tools to try right now. Read on to find the right fit for you.
