Sunday 30 September 2012

132) THE BENEFITS OF FACIAL GUA SHA



Gua Sha is applied to the head, torso and limb as a form of detoxification therapy.  (Please go to: "What is Gua Sha and Health Benefits?")   Did you know that Gua Sha can also be applied to your face?

Gua Sha is similar to acupuncture except that it is done without using intrusive needles.  Gua  Sha techniques help to balance and restore and revitalize the energy system in the body and able to get rid of pathogenic factor.

Gua Sha has been practiced by the Chinese for more than 25 centuries.  Like Acupuncture and Feng Shui, Gua Sha Therapy is acknowledged for creating positive energy, and its ability to remedy aesthetic problems.

What are the benefits?


Using this method of warming and stimulating the aging regions of the face, Gua Sha therapy is particularly appropriate for weakened and energy depleted patients. 

Gua Sha is a beneficial facial rejuvenation therapy for the following face issues:

  • Reduces acne, rosacea
  • Reduces wrinkles
  • Firms up sagging of face and neck
  • Eye bags and dark circles
  • Promote radiant complexion
  • Create youthful facial and neck contours 
  • Diminish age spots and discoloration
  • Facilitate lymphatic drainage from facial and neck areas
  • Support healthy collagen. 
  • Activates Qi
  • Promotes blood circulation and increase metabolism
  • Clears blood stasis.
  • Strengthens immune system
It is easy to learn, and offers rapid and effective results. 



Acne Photo credit: Wikipedia




English: Example of eye bags
Example of eye bags (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



How do you apply Gua Sha?


The scraping motion helps break up blood stagnation, releasing toxins by promoting qi flow and lymph drainage. The toxins are then expelled thereby enhancing nutrient supply to the facial area. 

Gua Sha techniques promotes skin rejuvenation from the inside out.  Add firming creams,  essential oils that contain ginger, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, juniper or just use pure grapeseed or olive oils to deliver nutrients and healing essences directly to the skin.  Just a drop or two is sufficient to cover the whole face.  Add more only if it feels dry.

Are there any side effects?


Old Chinese medical chart on acupuncture meridians
Old Chinese medical chart on acupuncture meridians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Gua Sha is a holistic approach in beauty therapy to balance, restore and rejuvenate your skin condition without any use of chemical acids, microdermabrasion, Botox drug injection or painful cosmetic surgery.  It has not side effects and is very safe to use.

Specific points, meridians and holographic meridian points on the face and body are scrapped.  

In TCM, the holographic meridian theory states that  the face has direct meridian connections to nine of the 14 meridian pathways of the body.








What are the tools used?

Gentle scraping is applied using Gua Sha tools made of animal horns, jade or chinese soup spoons or metal spoon.  Any rounded edged objects can also be used such as a fifty cents coin.  


These are my own personal Gua Sha Tools and oil.
Photo credit:Philo Yan

Chinese Soup Spoon Photo credit: Wikipedia

Metal spoon Photo Credit: Wikipedia


it's a scene
After a Gua Sha treatment
 (Photo credit: smussyolay)

Tips


To get the most out of Gua Sha therapy, drink warm water after the treatment and stay hydrated throughout the day.  

Rest is encouraged  for at least one day to allow the toxins to ease out of the body.






It is important to understand that if you do not follow the above after treatment steps, you may you feel ill as you did not allow time or sufficient fluids into your body to flush out  the toxins.


Available Videos


For a demonstration of how to apply Gua Sha, please go to the main blog page and click on the tab button right at the top of the page labeled "Facial Gua Sha Videos."  You can select either the videos that are in English or in Mandarin.

Or you can click on the following links:


My next topic for discussion is, "Celebrities Feet-Side Effects of Wearing High Heels."

You may also like to read:


MY ART & POEM CORNER






BANANA HEART


Banana's heart,
Hummingbird 's part,
Yellow flowers.
Pulling powers,
Hummingbird suck,
With any luck.
The nectar sweet
What a treat!


Thanks for looking and taking the time to read my blog.
Until my next post,

Here's To Your Health!

Enhanced by Zemanta



3 comments:

  1. By scraping the skin, gua sha will expand blood vessels and sweat pores to enhance blood flow. So it will easily blow away Intravascular stasis, fever, toxin and other waste of metabolism.
    acupuncture houston

    ReplyDelete
  2. How often should you do gua sha facial massage and for how long? I've been doing mine for 15 minutes, twice a week. I have acne, large pores, dark spots, and bags/dark circles under eyes. Can I do gua sha more often that twice a week? What do you suggest?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speaking from personal experience, it takes a whole lot of combination to tackle acne problem.
      I would go for facial treatment for acne every 2 weeks and take Vitamin A,C in liquid form to help my skin heal.

      Gua Sha facial alone can’t treat acne completely but improving blood circulation can affect and improves your skin condition. Twice a week is ideal since your skin may become red after each session and taking a break in between allows your skin to recover before the next session.

      However, I do not know the current condition of your skin and therefore, it is advisable that you consult a skin specialist or a good skin beautician. Best wishes.

      Delete

Hi I welcome your comments and sharing on the topic that I have posted.