Gua Sha is part of an ancient practice prevalent in China called the Traditional Chinese Method. This method involves using a curved tool to massage the body; it helps release energy in the superficial layer of the skin called chi. It is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping the skin to improve the blood circulation of the skin. This ancient practice also addresses issues like chronic pain and offers a unique approach to better health. Gua Sha addresses stagnant energy called chi which some practitioners believe is responsible for skin issues and inflammation. But is Gua Sha for migraine a myth?
Inflammation is the cause of several conditions of chronic pain. Rubbing the tool on the skin repeatedly helps break this stagnant energy and promote healing. In the pop-culture, Gua Sha is used to enhance cheekbones and jaw lines, and some people swear by the practice, while others are a bit skeptical about it. But everyone can agree that Gua Sha helps release stress and tension in the muscles just like any relaxing massage does.
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Gua Sha for Migraine | Does It Really Work?
Gua Sha has been performed for quite some time and used on different body parts. But the pressure applied differs while working on other body parts. On the face, mild pressure is applied to get rid of lymphatic drainage and puffiness. This post will help you understand Gua Sha for migraine and its advantages and disadvantages.
Every technician starts with little to no pressure and builds on it gradually once the person gets used to the practice.
What should you know about Gua Sha and Migraine?
Over the years, studies have examined the possible health benefits of using Gua Sha as an alternative therapy. Research showed that people who used Gua Sha showed better results with their ailment, and the effects didn’t wear off quickly. They received effective pain resolution and improved quality of life after using Gua Sha.
The reduction of migraine has been observed in almost all the studies. But more research is needed to give any concrete answer. While performing Gua Sha, the therapist applies a lightweight oil to the affected area and moves the tool in one direction at once to help with ailments and lymphatic drainage. The strokes on the head and face are relatively lighter because we don’t want to break capillaries while performing Gua Sha.
Gua Sha can also be used for headaches, cervical pain, and migraines. This massaging technique relieves pain almost instantly. Gua Sha works phenomenally for skin ailments and helps with the puffiness of the face.
We all know it is necessary to reduce stress levels in daily life when you have migraine disease. The scraping of skin in Gua Sha is a fun part of the process because the pressure from the tool releases stress and relaxes the person. This process relaxes tight muscles in the neck and shoulders that get tensed during migraine attacks and helps soothe painful spots of allodynia.
Benefits of using Gua Sha for migraines
- Gua Sha helps relax the body and aids wellness and self-care. It is a part of the self-care journey and aids feelings of wellness of health.
- Also, it increases blood circulation and helps with lymphatic drainage.
- Gua Sha promotes the healing of superficial layers of soft tissues.
- It helps reduce inflammation and relaxes the spots when used at different temperatures.
- The Gua Sha helps relieve the puffiness that comes during migraine attacks.
- Gua Sha reduces the effects of stress to a great extent.
- It relaxes the jaw that stiffens during migraine attacks.
- Gua Sha helps release muscle tension in the neck and shoulders.
- It soothes the allodynia spots.
- Gua Sha helps stimulate the blood flow in the body parts.
Commonly Asked Questions About Gua Sha
Can Gua Sha help improve migraine symptoms?
The best answer is maybe that everything is subjective due to a lack of detailed studies. But one study showed that for people for whom medicine rendered no relief, Gua Sha helped tremendously. And another study showed that the posture of the neck and shoulders improved while helping with migraine.
Does Gua Sha hurt?
No, it doesn’t hurt; it is not meant to cause pain. The pressure increases in some body parts, but those are challenging claims that can handle the pressure. It is a deep tissue massage and should always feel like it. Although it can get a bit painful when targetting allodynia spots. But the pain decreases relatively after constant use.
Can Gua Sha worsen the migraine attacks?
Gua Sha is a massage technique, and the practice is ancient; it has been perfected to reap results; in the beginning, targeting painful and sore spots can get painful, but the pain subsides after a while, and tension in the muscles is released.
Also read: 11 Best Oils For Gua Sha 2022 (Affordable & Soothing Picks)
Takeaway
Gua Sha is a profoundly relaxing and therapeutic technique when performed correctly. It has been used since the Paleolithic age in China and other parts of Asia to release stagnant energy and tension from the body. Gua Sha helps bring down stress levels and improves the quality of life. It is pertinent to perform this technique safely and in the right way. It is an alternative therapy; one can try it if other relief methods stop showing results. Or Gua Sha can be tried as a feel-good practice at different temperatures to help reduce inflammation. You wouldn’t know the benefits unless you try Gua Sha for Migraine.