刮痧 aka Gua Sha

Did the picture scare you? Don't worry, that's not me in the picture!

Quoting from Wikipedia:

Gua Sha (刮痧), literally "to scrape for cholera", is an ancient medical treatment that is still widely used by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine....

Gua Sha involves repeated pressured strokes over lubricated skin with a smooth edge.
The smooth edge is placed against the pre-oiled skin surface, pressed down firmly, and then moved down the muscles -- hence friction-stroking -- or along the pathway of the acupuncture meridians, along the surface of the skin, with each stroke being about 4-6 inches long...

This causes extravasation of blood from the peripheral capillaries and may result in sub-cutaneous blemishing, which usually takes 2-4 days to fade. Sha rash does not represent capillary rupture as in bruising...

The color of sha varies according to the severity of the patient's blood stasis -- which may correlate with the nature, severity and type of their disorder --appearing from a dark blue-black to a light pink, but is most often a shade of red. Although the marks on the skin look painful, they are not. Patients typically feel immediate sense of relief and change.

OK enough of facts, but I guess the above more or less gives a better idea of what gua sha really is.

I signed up a gua sha + back massage course in Jourdeness - a facial saloon - @ USJ back in 2004. The saloon offered a trial session and the moment I tried it, I know I won't be able to resist its syok-ness. And true enough, I have been in the same saloon for 3 years. In the 45 minutes session, they will do the gua sha, and followed by a massage on your back. Working ladies normally have stiff shoulder and they will normally apply extra pressure on the shoulder and that feels REALLY GOOD! While I was going to move from KL to PG, one of the items in my checklist was to transfer my facial account from Subang to Penang.

I enjoyed the "pain" during this gua sha treatment. The first time I did it, my back was in dark blue black. But HOLD, it's not painful! I felt GREAT as my whole body was lightened and my muscles were relieved. And believe it or not, after doing it for 3 years, I never get dark blue shades anymore (probably only for the first few times). Most of the time I only get a shade of red or even light pink, no matter how hard the girl in Jourdeness pressed down. They said because the toxic in my body was cleared.

I always like to show to my girlfriends on the dark red shades on my shoulder after the session. And most of the time they'd get scared and worried as they always thought I am a self abuser! Gosh, it's something really nice, OK? :)

I just did my gua sha today after work. I had the same feeling just as the first time I did it. Anyway, I think my health & complexion has improved a lot after I make an effort to visit them at least once a month. Good thing is EG never stops me for going or signing up, instead he always encourages me to go. He always tells me, if this treatment is good for you then go ahead. So nice, right? But of course, if he could sponsor the cost that'll be even better. :)

I wanted to take a picture of my back now but I thought that might not be a good idea. Hehe... Anyway, now it looks exactly like the girl in the above picture. If you have chance, really you should try gua sha. Trust me it's really not painful!
I love it!