Scraping 刮痧
A smooth-edged tool drawn along the skin in short strokes, with oil, following the meridians.
What it is
Gua sha. The physician applies oil and draws a smooth-edged tool along the skin in short, repeated strokes, working down a meridian rather than rubbing at random.
Done on the back, or on the head, neck and face — the facial version is far lighter than the back, and is a different treatment in everything but name.
What a session is like
Firm pressure with a definite scraping sensation, over a few minutes per area. It is more intense than a massage and should stay short of painful — the physician adjusts pressure as she goes, and expects you to say when it is too much.
In the clinic
Head, face and neck scraping 头面颈部刮痧
Back scraping 背部刮痧
The redness, and how long it lasts
Scraping brings up redness, and sometimes small red or purple spots, called sha. It is not a bruise from impact and it does not usually hurt to touch. It commonly fades in two to five days.
How much appears varies from person to person and from session to session. Worth planning around anything sleeveless or backless in the next few days.
Before your first session
Tell the physician if you are pregnant, take blood-thinning medication, bruise very easily, or have a skin condition, sunburn, rash or open wound in the area. On the face, mention any recent facial treatment or active breakout.
Afterwards
Keep the area covered and warm, drink water, and leave swimming, a sauna and direct sun for another day.
Prices for every treatment are on the pricelist. View the pricelist
This page describes what the treatment involves. It is not medical advice, and it is not a promise about what any individual course of treatment will do. What is appropriate for you is decided at consultation.