Gua sha: A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice

‘Sometimes called coining, spooning or scraping, Gua sha is defined as instrument-assisted

unidirectional press-stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface that intentionally creates

‘transitory therapeutic petechiae’ representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis.’

Gua sha has been used for centuries in Asia, in Asian immigrant communities and by

acupuncturists and practitioners of traditional East Asian medicine worldwide. With the

expansion of traditional East Asian medicine, Gua sha has been used over broad geographic

areas and by millions of people. It is valuable in the treatment of pain and for functional

problems with impaired movement, the prevention and treatment of acute infectious illness,

upper respiratory and digestive problems, and many acute or chronic disorders. Research has

demonstrated Gua sha radically increases surface microperfusion that stimulates immune and

anti-inflammatory responses that persist for days after treatment.

The second edition expands on the history of Gua sha and similar techniques used in early

Western Medicine, detailing traditional theory, purpose and application and illuminated by

science that focuses its relevance to modern clinical practice as well as scholarly inquiry.

This book brings the technique alive for practitioners, with clear discussion of how to do it –

including correct technique, appropriate application, individualization of treatment – and when

to use it, with over 50 case examples, and superb color photographs and line drawings that

demonstrate the technique.

• New chapter on immediate and significant Tongue changes as a direct result of Gua sha

• Research and biomechanisms

• Literature review from Chinese language as well as English language medical journal database

• New case studies

• Over 30 color photographs