beauty / by Sarah Trahan
Dr. Sarah Trahan is a resident at the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Her primary focus is to improve her patients’ quality of life by helping them to find relief from both acute and chronic pain. For more information, visit patients.scnm.edu.
Gua Sha
Three things to know about the ancient practice that’s being used for at-home self-care today Incorporating facial massage into skin care routines has become a recent trend in the United States, but what people may not know is that this trend actually began centuries ago in China. One method, Gua Sha, is not only simple, but when done correctly, provides many health benefits beyond improving the look of your skin. Here’s what you need to know about this form of traditional Chinese medicine. It began in China Gua Sha (gwa-sah) is an ancient Chinese healing technique that involves gliding a tool over muscles and tendons to improve circulation and immunity. The word is derived from Mandarin Chinese. “GUA” means to scrape or rub; “SHA” means petechiae, or broken blood vessels, and bruising as well as the feeling of satisfaction. The process drains the lymphatic system which assists the body in getting rid of toxins and leads to
48
a healthier immune system. There are many benefits While this therapy can be performed all over your body, when Gua Sha is used on your face it can result in a brighter and clearer complexion, increased skin contour, wrinkle reduction and decreased puffiness. In addition to improvements in skin health, it also has a positive effect on your immune system. The process increases white blood cells to the
ScottsdaleHealth
09/20
treated area and increases an enzyme known to provide cellular support to oxidative damage, which is common as you age and experience UV damage. Inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a protein that causes inflammation, have been shown to decrease following the massage for up to one week. You can do it at home To begin, wash your face so you start with a clean slate
and apply a warm towel to your face for a few minutes to help open your pores and blood vessels. Apply face oil like Vitamin E or jojoba oil, onto your face and neck. Using a Gua Sha tool start just beside your nose with the thicker part of the rounded tool against your skin, use light pressure and create long gentle strokes towards your ear. Repeat this stroke from your nose to ear twice more until you see your skin turn pink or red. Then use the tool from the corner of
your lips, along your jawline, and then to the outer edge of your brow. Repeat this step a few more times. Finally, start between your brows and stroke up to your hairline down the side of your face and then along your neck to your collar bone. Repeat a few more times until the entire forehead is covered. If your face tends to be red or inflamed, you can place the tools in the fridge or freezer before use to reduce inflammation even more.