Body Gua Sha: I Tried It for Two Weeks and the Benefits Were Instant

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If you’re familiar with the beauty world, chances are you’re familiar with body gua sha. The traditional Chinese medicine practice has been used for thousands of years, originating as a treatment for pain and sickness. But the latest trend sweeping the wellness world is to incorporate the whole body.

“Gua sha’s origin was not for cosmetic purposes,” explains Mary Chiu, DACM, LAC, and resident acupuncturist at GingerChi in New York City. “It has been used in Asia for centuries as a therapeutic to help treat illness.”

In recent years the spotlight has been on gua sha for its skin benefits, including lifting and sculpting. Wondering what exactly gua sha means? Well, it translates as “to scrape sand,” not only because the technique calls for a scraping motion but also because of the light bruising that often appears after. The red marks usually resemble the look of freshly raked sand.

While you can use the same tools you’re already using on your face, many brands have created larger versions that will contour the shape of your body better. Bonus: Using a larger tool will help speed up the process as there’s much more surface area on your limbs than there is on your face.

Unlike some other treatments that require prolonged practice to see the effects, body gua sha yields instant results. “The benefits of gua sha are usually immediate,” says Dr. Chiu. “Many people feel a reduction in pain and increased mobility after the session.” There are other benefits too: “Because of the increased circulation throughout the body the patient may notice a healthier glow and tone to their skin.”

I’m already a huge fan of lymphatic drainage treatments (I feel like I walk out a totally new person), so with the promise of similar results, I decided to put body gua sha to the test. (More on the similarities of lymphatic drainage and body gua sha to come.)

I also tapped Dr. Chiu along with esthetician Catie Wiggy and makeup artist Lauren Martinez, founder of lymphatic drainage studio Self Wellness & Beauty in Nashville, to give their expert takes on the technique including how to body gua sha, the benefits, and more.

What are the benefits of body gua sha?

As Dr. Chiu mentioned, the list of benefits from body gua sha is a long one. In addition to reducing pain and boosting circulation, Wiggy says, “Body gua sha is fantastic for promoting lymphatic drainage and easing tension.” She adds that it “can even help with cellulite, releasing fascia, and relaxing your muscles.”

For me that’s huge because I work out at least once a day and am currently in Pilates teacher training, so anything that can help relieve some tension from my overworked muscles is music to my ears!

How to gua sha your body

“Start with clean skin, ideally after a shower when your skin is warm and pores are open,” advises Wiggy. And don’t forget to use some type of lubricant, urges Dr. Chiu. This will allow the gua sha tool to glide without snagging or breaking the skin. The lubricant can be a massage oil, a balm, or a lotion like the GingerChi Lavender Ginger Body Oil with hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties to promote relaxation and alleviate muscle pain.

Wiggy adds, “Oils with ingredients like caffeine, ginger, or arnica can enhance the benefits.” I tried a few different oils and found that they worked better than creams because there was more slip to them. Oil also leaves the skin with a nice sheen for an allover glowier appearance that I found compliments the results of a body gua sha session. And as both Dr. Chiu and Wiggy said, certain ingredients can help to boost circulation, and I found a few that seemed to do just that.

As for where to start, Dr. Chiu says, “You can start on any area that is tense or feeling tight. If you are new to gua sha I would start on maybe your neck and shoulders and gua sha areas as needed.”

If you’ve dry brushed before, the strokes are pretty similar to what’s recommended for body gua sha. The diagram above is a great reference in terms of the direction you should be moving your tool when you gua sha your body.

“The strokes should follow the direction of the muscle fibers,” says Dr. Chiu. If you are working on your trapezius muscle, your strokes should follow the contour of the muscle. “You would start stroking from the back of the neck at the base of the skull, down and across the shoulder.” In general, she says that you’ll be stroking downward with the exception of a few areas. As for the stomach area, she says that she prefers to massage instead of gua sha since it can uncomfortable. “But if you were to gua sha the belly it would be in a circular motion,” she says. (I found a great tool for doing just that! More to come on how to choose a gua sha tool.)

As for how many strokes you should be doing, Dr. Chiu says there is no set number, but generally four to six strokes are good. Another sign it’s time to stop? When you start seeing “sha,” the rake marks, you can stop. You also should stop if it is painful as some areas of the body may be sensitive. It is not the same for everyone. Sha can appear immediately on some people and may take more strokes on others. This is very different than applying gua sha to the face, as we do not want sha to appear there.

What to look for in a body gua sha tool

There are so many types of body gua sha tools on the market and in the end, it mostly comes down to personal preference. Some have handles, are more paddle-shaped, or have more of a traditional stone like facial gua sha tools. There are also some with ridges, some with curves, and others with little rolly balls like Love Wellness Bye Bye Bloat Lymphatic Massage Roller. I liked that one for my stomach specifically, because as Dr. Chiu pointed out, it can be more comfortable to massage the belly rather than truly gua sha it. The brand also has a Detoxifying Body Oil that’s formulated with extracts like rosemary oil, grapefruit oil, and peppermint oil that are designed to be used with the tool. It’s supposed to aid in lymphatic stimulation along with soothing inflammation.

To help you on your gua sha tool search, Wiggy highlights a few main components to look for.

• Material: Opt for stainless steel, jade, or rose quartz for durability and cooling properties.

• Shape: Tools with varied edges work best for different body areas.

• Grip: Ensure it’s easy to hold and maneuver.

I personally liked the weight of the HeatHealer Gua Sha Lymphatic Drainage Tool. It’s handcrafted from sibin bian, a stone historically used in traditional Chinese medicine, and features six custom-cut edges, which create a snug contour for various body parts. Another cool thing about this tool is that you can use it hot or cold—all you have to do is run it under water to get it the temperature you want. Using it with a bit of heat has been a game changer when my muscles have felt super tight.

After trying a few different oils, I really liked Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Firmenza Body Oil for its pistachio and salted caramel scent and dewy glow. I would use it if I were going out for the night and wanted an extra scent boost and sexy glowing skin. It also contains guaraná caffeine complex that helps support a healthy lymph system and firmer skin. For a relaxing feel, I preferred Alo Head-to-Toe Ultra Rich Hydrating Glow Oil because it’s formulated with calming turmeric along with vitamin C-rich amla, which is a staple in Ayurvedic healing.

Wildling Aura Stone Gua Sha Body Stone

$79.00, Amazon

$.00,

Bawdy Body Gua Sha Tool

$75.00, Revolve

de la heart Wooden Lymphatic Body Massage Tool

$36.00, Amazon

What is the difference between body gua sha and lymphatic drainage?

Both are great for reducing puffiness and moving fluid through the body; however, at their core, they are not the same. In particular, Dr. Chiu says gua sha stimulates much more than lymphatic drainage: “When practitioners gua sha the body, we stimulate muscle tissue, fascia, and blood circulation, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.”

“Lymphatic drainage is a gentle and rhythmic method perfect for stimulating your lymphatic system, which helps detoxify your body and support your immune health,” Wiggy adds. “On the other hand, gua sha goes a bit deeper—it works on fascia adhesions, releases muscle tension, and boosts blood circulation, all while providing lymphatic benefits too.”

While they are technically different methods, they do work well together, says Martinez. “Gua sha is a great tool to help facilitate lymphatic drainage.” Gua sha is included as a modality at Martinez’s spa during lymphatic facials and body massages because it helps push fluid through drainage pathways.

My review on body gua sha

After trying a slew of different body gua sha tools, I will definitely be adding it to my routine. If you already apply body lotion, body gua sha can practically replace this step because your skin is getting moisture from the oil. The muscle-relaxing benefits are just a super nice bonus.

I also found that my skin looks healthier overall. Of course, my body looks rejuvenated right after gua sha because it has a pink and healthy glow, but I also feel less inflamed in general. I’m also someone who doesn’t use body lotion, so my dry winter skin is thanking me.

Another subtle by-product of body gua sha? A temporary softening of cellulite, at least for me. Is it going to make it disappear? Obviously not. But by stimulating circulation, the skin does plump up a bit so I’ll definitely be bringing a gua sha tool on my next vacay.

Lisa DeSantis is a freelance writer and has contributed to top women’s magazines and digital brands such as Health, Real Simple, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Motherly, Well & Good, and more.

Originally Appeared on Glamour