Gua Sha is an Ancient Chinese healing technique that is a natural form of therapy for chronic pain and inflammation. It is a technique that involves scraping the skin with a tool to stimulate blood flow, drain lymph and relax muscles.

Another form of Traditional Chinese Medicine is Acupressure. Ping Zhang, a doctor specializing in Oriental Medicine, explains that it “uses the same principles of acupuncture, except pressure from the fingers or hands replaces the needles... Like acupuncture, acupressure heals by manipulating the flow of Qi in beneficial ways. It does this by pressing (and therefore activating) certain energy points along the meridians.”

This technique works hand in hand with Gua Sha, as you gain more by scraping over Acupressure points along the energy “channels” on your body. This in turn helps to balance your internal energy and health:

The path of the scraping technique is key. We must always start with opening up the neck so that any blockages in the face can be released. The many diverging energy channels in the neck mean that, rather like the accumulation of leaves on the train track, it is an area that is prone to obstruction. It also means that treatment here to remove the blockage can have a strong effect both physically and emotionally by promoting greater circulation.

Hand-carved from high grade pure crystal, these tools are designed to glide around the curves of your face and neck. Each Gua Sha tool has varying benefits and purposes: 

Before beginning, make sure to moisturize the skin thoroughly to ease the movement of the crystal. Hold the crystal flat against your skin and move it at a slight angle in upward strokes with light pressure. The more of the crystal surface touches the skin, the better the result. Why? Because the surface offers a micro exfoliation that helps smooth the skin.

To sum up, performing Gua Sha on your face with a crystal tool will not only exfoliate and tone your skin but will also stimulate your whole body through the acupressure points on your face. 

This facial ritual is for once a week (or more if you have the time), if you create the routine and habits, you too can have radiant and toned skin.