Gua Sha Stone – How to use your Gua Sha Stone and benefits

Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese skin therapy that involves massaging your skin with a Gua Sha
stone to improve your circulation, while also encouraging many other benefits. It is a tool
that offers a unique approach to addressing issues such as chronic pain while encouraging
better blood flow, youthful-looking skin and reduced inflammation. In a nutshell, gua sha is
a tool you can use to better improve your health.

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History of Gua Sha

Gua sha, which means to ‘scrape away illnesses’ was first discovered in China over two
thousand years ago. Many years ago, when people fell ill, gua sha stones were used to
alleviate symptoms by being rubbed on the problem areas. The treatment involved a gua
sha stone being rubbing in one direction repeatedly to activate blood circulation. Since its
origins, gua sha has been modernised as a tool over the years and the gua sha stones are
now often made from firmer materials such as rose quartz and jade.

Gua sha stones are mostly used to target stagnant energy which may build up in certain
areas of the body and can cause inflammation. By addressing these areas with a gua sha
stone and rubbing the surface of the skin, you can promote the healing of the area by
breaking up this energy and reducing inflammation.

Gua sha can be used anywhere on the body, with the face being the most common area.
The technique that is performed on your face, compared to that on your back, legs, arms
etc., must take a much more gentler approach in order to avoid bruising.

Rose quartz is best for calming and soothing while jade is best for toning and defining

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Benefits of Gua Sha Stones

Gua sha stones are loved for their ability to ignite the skins natural ability to heal itself and
with that comes a range of benefits.

From a beauty perspective, gua sha stones encourage and enable the following from a facial massage:

• Reduces puffiness, blemishes and dark circles
• Reduces inflammation
• Tones and firms skin that may be sagging
• Softens deep wrinkles while also minimising fine lines
• Encourages the skins ability to absorb vital nutrients more effectively
• Purifies and regenerates facial tissue

All of the above stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in the skin while
brightening your complexion.

From a wellbeing perspective, gua sha stones enable:

• A release of any built-up tension or pain
• Muscle recovery and improved movement
• The reduction of migraine discomfort
• Gua sha stones are also used to help women who experience breast engorgement, a condition experienced by many breastfeeding

How to use your Gua Sha Stone

• To begin, ensure you have cleansed your face. If you wish, you can add a facial oil
  also before use, though it is also ok to add your usual oils and moisturisers to your
  skin after use.
• Often, the best place to begin your gua sha stone treatment on your face is along
  your jawline. It is a good place to get familiar with the tool and the feel of it in your
  hand for use. To begin, angle your gua sha stone to 45 degrees, place it against your
  skin and then begin upward movements/strokes from your jawline/chin area
  towards your ear.
• Using the same technique, begin to run your gua sha stone from your cheekbone out
  towards your ear. After you have done this movement a couple of times, you can
  then focus on the eye area. Place the smaller corner of the stone at the inner corner
  of your eye and sweep it along your eyebrow line towards your temple.
• For your forehead region, you can begin your sweeping motion above your eyebrows
  and work the stone upwards towards your hairline.
  While many use gua sha stones as part of their facial skincare routine, they are also hugely
  beneficial for the entire body especially the neck and collarbone region.

How often should you use a Gua Sha Stone?

This answer can vary depending on your own personal preferences but it is recommended
that to get the full advantages of gua sha stone, you should aim to use yours two to three
times a week. The frequency for you will depend on things like your skin type and any issues
you may be experiencing with your skin. But once you have mastered the technique of using
your gua sha stone, you should use it a couple of times a week as mentioned.

Should I put any products on my face before using my Gua Sha Stone?

Your gua sha stone should become a part of your skincare routine and before use, it is
recommended that you have cleansed your face. Once you have finished your gua sha stone
treatment, you can then apply any products you wish such as moisturiser, eye cream, face
oils, serum etc.

What time of the day should you use your Gua Sha Stone?

The time of day you wish to use your stone is entirely up to you and whether you choose
morning or night-time can have varying benefits. Many choose to use their gua sha stone in
the morning as part of their morning skincare routine as it helps to tackle puffiness and
tiredness while also energising the skin for the day ahead. On the other end of the
spectrum, adding your gua sha stone to your night-time routine is a fantastic way to release
any tight muscles you may have after a busy or stressful day. Night time use can therefore
be very therapeutic as well as beneficial to the skin.

Can Gua Sha Stones be harmful?

Gua sha stones are a natural healing remedy so they do not have side effects. However, it is
a tool that you are using to rub against your skin and therefore your skin can become red. In
some cases, tiny skin blood vessels called capillaries can burst from using the tool.