Gua Sha: the "folk" technique

In describing the Gua Sha techniques as a form of "folk" medicine, the term "folk" is not being used in any pejorative sense. It is used to emphasize:
the extremely widespread domestic use of the technique (thus, used by the "folk") as a method of first-contact intervention, that complex medical diagnosis is not required (and, thus, any decision to use or not use Gua Sha can be reliably made by the "folk") and the overall safety of the technique (meaning that it is safe for the "folk" to use).
Notwithstanding this, the Gua Sha technique is just as important a part of the legitimate practice of the specialist practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine as is the use of fire cupping; and it is a highly reputable technique that is applied just as much by these highly trained experts as it is applied by the "folk" users.

As with many of the "folk" methods that are used domestically as a form of first intervention, the use of Gua Sha often precludes any need for any more complex medical treatment; and, because its use means that further medical treatment is unnecessary, the technique, although extremely widespread, is often hidden from view, and its role as a very significant and very important participant in the overall health care of a community may not be immediately apparent

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Therefore, in the case of Gua Sha, the term "folk" medicine should not be thought of as separate from the practice of more complex Traditional Chinese Medicine, but far more as an immediate form of domestic "first-aid" intervention that serves to prevent any need for further medical intervention by a medical professional.

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About bian stone gua sha

WHAT IS BIAN HEALING ?

According to " Huangdi Neijing " (Note #1), Bian healing, acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbal medical treatment constitute four medical skills coexisting separately in the traditional Chinese medical science. Then what is Bian healing (including its skill and related instruments)? The interpretation of this in his great works " Shuowenjiezi" written by Xu Shen ( 58 - 147 A.D. )(Note #2) is that by Bian healing it means using stone to CI ( to prick or stab ) diseases. How to explain the word CI, therefore, becomes extremely important, for it is closely related to showing its true colours, why it has been lost for long and how we are to re-explore it in future. There is a sentence read as " CI CAO ZHI GU " ( in English, meaning " to uproot weeds to plant sereal crops " ) in his famous paper called " Fuguopian " written by Master Xun ( approximately 313 - 238 B.C. ), a great thinker and educator in the Warring States Period ( 475 - 221 B.C. ). The two CIs cited above should evidently be deciphered as " getting rid of " or " removing, " which is in agreement with one of the definitions concerning the word " CI " whose meaning is " rooting out ," " wiping out " or " eradicating " as given in " The Chinese Lexicological Encyclopedia. " And later on the concept of " using stone to CI diseases " was gradually evolved into the definition of " probing with stone needle to get cured of a disease. " This kind of definition has had a worldwide impact on a lot of countries such as that in Britain, where the locally-compiled Chinese-English Dictionary has Bian interpreted as " stone needle, " and that in Japan, whose national language dictionary has the Chinese character " Bian "deciphered in Japanese as " IST BARI ," also meaning " stone needle ." The needle must have been thick if made out of stone, as lithoidal artifact is normally brittle. Now that thick stone needles were indeed employed to penetrate into the skin of any patient to get cured of his ( or her )disease in ancient China, people, however, still feel it a little bit difficult to comprehend this particular way of medical treatment, considering it as being almost pricelessly ridiculous. In our study of and textual research into historical relics and hosts of Bian-healing instruments collected from the country folk people, it has been borne out that in ancient times of China there were various Bian-healing instruments such as Bian awl, spade-shaped Bian tool, Bian slate, Bian ball, Bian anvil, ceramic ( or porcelain-made ) box for Bian healing in which hot water was filled, etc., with all of which the ancient Chinese ancestors practised their Bian-healing skill in the form of sensing, pressing, rolling, rubbing, pricking, striking, knocking, scraping, etc. Consequently, Bian-healing skill should be interpreted into " the ways that the ancient Chinese used to adopt for the purposes of medical treatment and health protection, using lithoidal artifacts."

Note:
#1, An oldest and earliest book dealing with the traditional Chinese medical science in the Chinese history
#2, A famous scholar in the study of Confucian classics and also a philologist in the Easten Han Dynasty ( 25 - 220 A.D.)

HOW BIAN-HEALING SKILL WAS LOST ?

In the book of " Records of the Historian", there is a vividely-depicted story in which a famous practitioner of Chinese medicine in ancient China called Bian Que of the Warring States Period succeeded in curing the crown prince of the State Guo of his fatal illness with Bian-healing skill, in conjunction with other art of healing. However, according to " The Books of the Later Han Dynasty ( 940 - 950 A.D. ) Collected Biographies of Hua Tuo ( 141 - 203 A.D.) (Note # 1 ), three medical skills, that is, acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbal medical treatment in the traditional Chinese medical science still kept flourishing to the times when Huo Tuo was alive, leaving Bian-healing skill gradually lost and finally unknown. Fu Qian (Note # 2 ) said: " As in the last phase of an age or in the times of upheaval, no desirable stone of fine quality is available any longer and, it is a matter of course that it should be substituted by iron." Then what is the desirable stone of fine quality ? The book of the traditional Chinese medical science " Nan Jing " says: " If attacked by pathogen, cattle would fall into swelling and go down with chills and fever. Then Bian-healing skill is hired to serve as an efficient way of medical treatment. " What is described here by Bian- healing skill is patient with medical treatment using the Bian-healing stone which functions both as permeating and dispersing like " invisible needle " having a great effect on the deeper part of human body. As this kind of stone material, by which medical instruments for Bian healing were made, ran short later on, the ancient Chinese Bian-healing skill for medical treatment and health protection, therefore, was gradually not heard about and gradually unknown in the medical community. A well-known scholar of the Tang Dynasty, Yan Shigu ( 581 - 645 A.D. ), who was an expert in interpretation of words in ancient books, said: " In ancient times of China we had Bian-healing skill to cure diseases and nowadays this kind of skill has died out."

Note:
Noe #1 A legendary surgeon at the end of the Han Dynasty
Note # 2 A scholar in the study of Confucian classics in the Eastern Han Dynasty

SACRED STONE, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT TRIBUTES
IN THE XIA DYNASTY ( 21st - 16th Century B.C. )

At the end of 1970s, a set of chime bells made of Si Bin QING stone was unearthed in Shandong Province (Fig.1) and subsequently in 1980s outcropped Si Bin stone material, which has been rarely seen for long and out of which Si Bin QING stone bells were made, was once again found on the ancient Si River banks in Shandong Province. The outcropped Si Bin stone has boasted of a long standing and been well established in the history of China, its reputation respectable and sacred. There is a clear and definite record in "Shang Shu " (Note #1 ),describing that " among Hai Zhou ( Zhou is an administrative unit in the division of the territory of ancient China ), Dai Zhou, Huai Zhou. it is only in Xu Zhou where QING stone material outcropped on the top mountain surface along both banks of the Si River was carefully picked out to be presented as article of tribute."(Fig.2) There is an account in" Shang Shu "to the effect that it would appeal to all animals to come out dancing together if the stone were struck or hammered, a fact verifying to the full that outcropped Si Bin QING stone originating from Xu Zhou served as one of the important tributes in the reign of Emperor Yu some 4100 years ago. Furthermore, in the period of totem culture, representatives of various tribes acting as animals they worshipped, carried out their religious activities, dancing around the outcropped Si Bin QING which had, at that time, symbolized their belief and power. After the emergence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, the outcropped Si Bin QING was once more invited into temple and taoist abbey, being enshrined and worshipped as the oldest percussion instrument in a Buddhist or Taoist mass and as one of the important ritual instruments for Confucianists to cultivate their moral character and nourish their inborn nature, as well. (Fig.3, a set of musical QING stone bells) The 2nd emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin ( 599 - 649 A.D.) once even had the political situation and power of the Tang Dynasty divined simply by striking QING stone. The ancient Chinese people would attach much importance to such a degree the event when Si Bin QING stone had been excavated in the country that the whole nation would celebrate jubilantly, for the excavation of the stone would be viewed as a good omen of flourishing and prosperity of the country.

Note:
Note # 1,One of Confucianists' classics dealing with historical documents and papers of remote ages

About china gua sha

Gua sha is an ancient healing therapeutic practice which began in China centuries ago. Gua sha Theraphy is very popular in china and it is not only used for the healing,but also used for the beauty,diet,relaxation etc,If you visit china,you can find there are many beauty salon or club in the city and most of them will provide gua sha beauty,gua sha diet,gua sha relaxation service,you also can get your healing service at a professinal gua sha clinic, but you will find that most big hospital will not provide any gua sha service,I don't know why,but maybe because the gua sha is so popular in china and it is mainly used for home theraphy.But in western contry,the gua sha is little known to the poeple.I hope moe and more western friends knows about gua sha,enjoy gua sha !

What is gua sha ?

In chinese,"gua" means rub,scrape or friction, and "sha" is a 'reddish, elevated, millet-like skin rash' (aka petechiae). sha is a term used to describe blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae.When scraping is applied to related skin with moderate strokes, the sha will surfaces on the skin as small red petechiae. In minutes the petechiae will fade into echymotic patches. The color and rate of fading are indicators for the diagnostic and prognostic.Gua sha is one technique that intentionally raises sha rash or petechiae. and gua sha is absolutely a natural theraphy and no need any medicine which more or less have harm to human body.

Theory of gua sha

Raising 'Sha' removes blood stagnation considered pathogenic, promoting normal circulation and metabolic processes.Means It will move the stuck qi and blood,releases the exterior mimicking sweating, and moves Fluids. In a modern medical construct these fluids contain metabolic waste that congested the surface tissues and muscles. So the person who receiving gua sha theraphy will probably experiences immediate relief from pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, nausea, and so on.Also with mental sress too for relaxations. There will be immediate changes in their conditions.Gua sha is extreamly simple and usefull treatment for external and internal conditions and treats both acute and chronic disorders.Gua sha is also very easy and almost non-cost healing method and most poeple can do gua sha at their home.

What does gua sha do?

Gua sha does numerous things for the body. It moves stuck blood, promoting normal circulation to the muscles, tissues, and organs directly beneath the surface treated. So the patient will experiences immediate changes in stiffness, pain and mobility. Normal metabolic processes are restored by the movement of fluids as nutrients are carried to the tissues and metabolic wastes are carried away. Because gua sha mimics sweating, it resolves fever. Gua sha cools the patient who is overheated, warms the patient who is chilled, nourishes the patient who is deficient, and clears the patient who is excess. Gua Sha is therefore considered an adaptogenic technique.
A care provider considers gua sha in any case of pain or discomfort, for upper respiratory or digestive problems, and for any condition where palpation indicates there is sha.

Who need gua sha?

Gua sha is used for pain associated with an acute or chronic disorder. The affected person may feel aching, tenderness or a knotted feeling in the muscles. When normal finger pressure on the person's skin causes blanching that is slow to fade, sha may be suspected. Gua sha is used to treat and prevent acute conditions such as common cold or flu, asthma, bronchitis as well as chronic problems involving pain and congestion of the qi and blood.

Body positions for gua sha?

Gua sha will normally applied to back, neck, shoulders, buttock and limbs of the body. Some practitioners will also raise sha on the chest and abdomen.Normally,you should follow a line names jing luo in the terms of chinese medicine,But for the begginer,no need to follow the line strictly.but you should know the basic simple line and i will upload pictures in the futures.By the way,the skin areas which have any moles, cuts or unhealed parts should be protected and do not apply the gua sha tool to these kinds of areas.

How to apply gua sha?

To apply gua sha, first lubricate the area with gua sha oil. If you do not have gua sha oil, you can use water,alcohole,essential oil or some other food grade oil.Then scrape the skin with the gua sha tool using moderate pressure. The person should not feel pain although it might feel uncomfortable.Scrape one area at a time and contiue it till the petechia of that surface is completely raised and all the sha is up, which is when the scraping no longer increases the number of dots or changes the color. Then go to the next area.
The sha petechiae should fade in about 2-4 days. If it is very slow to fade, it indicates poor blood circulation and there may be more serious deficiency that will require additional treatments.
After gua sha, the patient should be instructed to cover the area, avoiding wind and exposure to the sun or sudden change in temperature. Stretching is recommended but not a heavy workout on the day of treatment.
The regular way to do gua sha is 1 times a week for one area,and you can do 3 times a week but it should be different positions

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Which is the best gua sha tool?

In china, a soup spoon, coin or a slice of water buffalo horn is used to apply gua sha.The most widely used material for gua sha tool is buffalo horn materials,horn materials can be easily found everywhere and also very suitable for body in chinese medicine theory.and the green jade material is also very suitable material but the price is a little higher than the horn material. and the upgraded material is agate,adventurine,obsidian,energy stone,vocanic stone and so on but the price is very high.by the way,i have to mention here that the best material is bian stone.you can read about the knowledges about bian stone from internet,It is the best material but the extremly high price will prevent normal poeple to use it.