Gua Sha for Energy Flow and Lymphatic Drainage
Gua Sha is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice that dates hundreds, if not thousands of years. It's one of the oldest healing techniques in the world. A Gua Sha face ritual is one of the most effective and easiest ways to pump our lymph fluid, especially on the head and neck area where more than 30% of our lymph nodes are concentrated.
Lymph has been finally recognized by the medical community as a “new organ,” linked to improvement in chronic illnesses and inflammation. Keeping the lymphatic system healthy is associated with many benefits for the skin and overall well-being.
The pressure should be tender, but firm. Slow, but with intention. It feels great all over the face, but if you’re not finishing your Gua Sha at the neck, you’re missing a big chunk of the benefits. It’s a major drainage spot for the lymphatic system, so should be where you start and finish, if you want your Gua Sha to have maximum efficiency. Start under the ear, and drag the tool downwards to the base of the neck.
Some of the benefits of Gua Sha include:
Improves Energy Flow
Gua Sha promotes healthy blood circulation by moving the old stagnant blood out of the capillaries to be begin fresh flow through the area again, helping to restore the process and circulation of the body.
Reducing Inflammation and Puffiness
Gliding a Gua Sha tool across your face or body can promote microcirculation in your soft tissues, also known as blood flow in small blood vessels. This increase in blood flow might help physical symptoms of inflammation like puffiness and swelling.
Lymphatic Drainage
The lymphatic system is a crucial part of your immune system. Through a network of hundreds of lymph nodes, it drains fluid called lymph to be transported back into your bloodstream. It also removes bodily waste and carries white blood cells that help prevent infection.
Before your massage, you can apply your favourite GROUND face oil. The stone will help with the absorption of vital ingredients. The stone can also be stored in the fridge prior to use for an extra cooling effect.
Using the upper side or ‘top of the love heart’, drag the Gua Sha up the back of the neck using firm pressure. When you reach the hairline, use pressing motions on the area of the neck which feels most tense. Repeat this sequence.
With the inward curved side of the tool, sweep up the side of the neck from the collarbone towards the jawline. Then, use the upper side of the Gua Sha with light pressure to massage the throat. Starting in between the collarbones, sweep the tool upwards following the curve of the neck before using the two points to apply pressure to the jawline.
With the Gua Sha on its side, use the ‘top of the love heart’ to make sweeping motions across the jawline. Start at the chin and move the tool upwards towards the ear. Then, using the longest side of the Gua Sha to massage the cheekbones, start just above the mouth and to the side of the nose and drag the tool upwards, following the contours of the cheekbones. Guide the stone upwards towards the hairline using medium pressure.
Repeat this sequence before moving to the opposite side. To purchase our Gua Sha stone, click on the image below.
