Textbook of Gua Sha, a traditional Asian medicine technique where the skin is pressured in strokes by a round-edged instrument. Covers theory, purpose, and applications. For acupuncturists and alternative medicine practitioners. Illustrated. … More >>
Gua Sha: A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice
Tags: Acupuncturists, Alternative Medicine, alternative medicine practitioners, gua sha, traditional asian medicine
#1 by Mick on June 27, 2010 - 7:15 pm
Gua Sha is a technique that uses a skin lubricant, such as massage oil and a simple chinese ceramic soup spoon (no sharp edges now!). It’s a life saver for the tired figers of those who have to give massages to those with tight, fibrous, ropy or crunchy muscles. I first came across this book at an acupuncture conference in 1996. It was one of my best purchases of the year. The book covers in depth, a topic only glanced upon in most acupuncture schools. It’s technique is not just for acupuncturists. I believe it’s a must read for massage professionals, especially if your hands are starting to wear out from years of giving massage.
The beauty of the book is the pictures of the skin discoloration that may occur if you are very vigorous in your technique. They can be shown to clients as a form of informed consent. If you are more moderate in your technique, this extreme reaction will rarely occur past the first hour. However, a forewarned patient is one that will not sue you. Worth the price of the book right there!
Secondly, in most acupuncture schools, gua sha is largely taught as a technique for wind-cold invasion or stiff necks. My practice has included alot of chronic musculo-skeletal pain due to old sport injuries and the such. Before reading this book, I limited the technique to scapular and upper back pain, but after reading it, have confidentally expanded gua sha to every sort of muscular injury with great results. I have saved a number of people from exploratory surgery by removing pains of unknown etiology, thru the use of this technique and proper muscle knowledge. This is why I recommend it for massage therapists, physical therapists as well as Oriental and TCM practitioners.
This book includes a resource area that gives you ideas for what areas of the body to address for various ailments, if you are afraid to experiment on your own, or on yourself. I believe, if you add a recently published companion book by the same publishers concerning cupping (Cupping Therapy by Chirall), you will have a compementary set of low cost therapies for muscular aches (not to mention some other internal medicine applications), that are a very effective addition for any TCM or massage practice.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Michael G. Stevens on June 27, 2010 - 9:38 pm
I got this to make my collection on Gua Sha materials complete. I also have Matt Lott’s manuscript from [...] (aside, Matt’s booklet goes into more depth on the physiology of what’s happening in Western terms) In case you’re wondering, that bizarre picture on the front cover is a thermography photo of a child. The main point is to show how ischemia can lower temperatures in the body where such a condition is present.
What I love about the book is the absolute completeness. If you have any doubt about the safety (ESPECIALLY THE SAFETY), power, and efficiency of this technique, please do present and future generations a favor and 1) don’t breed and 2) hang yourself immediately.
The only thing that I felt was missing was a little deeper explanation of using points (many people call them needles, but they’re points) with this technique. Arya’s main focus was on using points to congest (tonation, I’m assuming) a given area before scraping. I wondered about other possibilities (e.g. what happens if an area is sedated instead)…..but no book can cover everything.
Anyhoo……if you’ve been thinking about trying this out, but have had reservations, this chick has been doing scraping since about 1972.
An interesting note about me: I discovered this in 1999, quite by accident. Having taken a blotter of LSD25 (about 100 micrograms), I wandered through the streets enjoying my trip. I encountered a DOM doing this outside of his office. Long story short, I was appauled because I though the Epidermis was being shaved off and that this was some Chinese blood letting ritual. I asked the DOM why his patient was bleeding, and I was told that he was not bleeding. I really don’t like someone who ignored the obvious, so I wiped my fingers down his patients back. Upon looking at my own hands, I noticed that there was no blood. I panicked and wondered if I had taken a much higher microgram dose that I had believed….the panic built and I ran away. Sad, I know….but I came back to is shortly later out of fascination and learned the method and technique.
To this day, it fascinates me that something that looks so bad can be so good for you……THE ULTIMATE PARADOX!
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Andrew J. Bauman IV on June 28, 2010 - 12:14 am
Gua Sha is a very important part of my bodywork pracice. I have had this book since 2003 and it is a great tool.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Dawn Wagner on June 28, 2010 - 1:52 am
Very easy to read and understand. A true guide in the eastern method of Gua Sha.
Rating: 4 / 5