Maybe you’ve seen influencers online using a flat crystal tool to massage their face, claiming that the at-home spa experience has numerous benefits. Should you try it too?
The Legend Begins
According to ancient Chinese legend, a worm-like creature named Yù stalked the waters and spat sand at unsuspecting shadows of passersby. Unfortunate targets whose shadows were tainted with sand spittle would soon succumb to illness or even death. Referring to this legend, the idiom “hán shā shè yǐng” (含沙射影 “to hold sand in one’s mouth and shoot at shadows”) became a modern metaphor for insulting others through insinuations. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), many scholars blamed common illnesses on worms that burrowed in shā, the sand at the bottom of rivers. Ancient healers advised that these worms must be released from the body through scraping motions called guā. Thus, the practice of scraping one’s skin with household items such as spoons, copper coins, and eventually, flat jade stones, began to appear in the ancient Chinese texts as a method of alleviating disease. This practice is what we now know as guā shā (刮痧).
How to Guā Shā
While it was first established as a full-body healing method to alleviate pain or illness, guā shā has become popular in mainstream media as a wellness tool which can allegedly smooth out wrinkles, reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, relieve migraines, and reduce muscle tension. With these touted claims comes the risk of bruising, minor bleeding, skin irritation, and perhaps worst of all— disappointment from not obtaining the desired results. So, how can we properly guā shā to achieve the purported benefits? There is no uniform consensus on the ideal method, and in Chinese medicine, guā shā is not merely the act of pressing and pulling the stone against the skin but about maintaining harmony between the body and the flow of spiritual, vital energy called qì. This practice is not well understood and requires a deeper knowledge of the complexities of Chinese philosophy. As a result, self-proclaimed experts often scrape together minimal facts, simply recommending that online audiences apply a lubricant (such as serum or lotion, often conveniently sold on their website) before gently pulling the stone in a single direction across the skin and towards the heart.
What the Science Says
At the end of the day, after an extensive before-bed skincare routine, can we actually obtain healthy benefits from practicing guā shā? There is a lack of evidence for its efficacy in western literature, and circulating information does not always come from scientific experts. A quick search online about guā shā leads to multiple cosmetic- or spa- oriented websites that often sell products or services relating to the practice, bringing into question their credibility. However, one study has demonstrated the short-term benefits of the stone scraping method on individuals with chronic neck pain. Specifically, participants who received treatment with guā shā experienced significantly better pain relief compared to those treated with a thermal heat pack. Similarly, studies have investigated guā shā’s effect on muscle pain, insomnia, and migraines. The therapeutic potential of guā shā has also been suggested for heatstroke, with evidence pointing to its ability to increase circulation and dilate blood vessels to improve heat dissipation.
Start Scraping or Start Scrapping?
So how valid are these claims? Despite the rising interest in popular culture and more research investigating the efficacy of guā shā, studies often lack large enough participant numbers, use a subjective reporting of pain, and do not include appropriate control groups. Most likely, guā shā will not offer anti-aging miracles or cleanse all imperfections. Treatments such as retinol or alpha hydroxyl acids that are advocated by dermatologists might be more effective in targeting wrinkles or acne should that be a concern.
From a scientist’s perspective, the methodology of ancient traditional Chinese medicine may not appear well substantiated. And as we scrutinize the validity of guā shā in this article, surely the word “pseudoscience” has already been whispering in the back of your mind. It is worthwhile, however, to hesitate slightly before scrapping the practice altogether. Our modern medicine prioritizes a rigorous and evidence-based approach which has led to innovative and life-saving treatments. Hence, it can be difficult to view traditional practices like maintaining the flow of qì— which emphasize physical and spiritual harmony— without bias. It is also important to note that understanding or explaining a practice that is so deeply rooted in Chinese culture with only English sources may prove difficult or even unjustified. The name guā shā itself, while only composed of two characters, has a much deeper significance beyond the simple and literal translation of “stone scraping”.
Recognizing both the strengths and limitations of modern and traditional perspectives on science, we should approach traditional healing practices with a critical yet open mind. That being said, would you try guā shā?
Vera Lynn
