We’ve previously talked about gua sha wherein it’s rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a healing technique that involves the use of pressure by scraping the skin with a gua sha massage tool to treat musculoskeletal pain. With Gua sha, you will notice that it will involve light bruising which can appear as purple or red spots or known as petechiae or sha.

 

But, we know that you may be asking that is it okay to have these petechiae after the gua sha treatment?

The Petechiae

Petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-ee) appears on the skin as a pinpoint or rounds spot due to bleeding. It appears in clusters that can look like a rash. So, you might be wondering if it is okay to have petechiae or bruises on your body after a gua sha treatment.

As the gua sha massage tool used by the practitioner, it applies downward pressured strokes over a treatment area on your body. And, these strokes raise small, red-rash or bruises marks to appear on your skin – which is the petechiae. It also means that it causes extravasation of blood from peripheral capillaries. And, these rash, bruise-like, or petechiae does not mean that there is a capillary rupture since it will just fade away. So, don’t be alarmed if you saw it.

Also, the color of the petechiae may indicate issues on the body just like the fire cupping technique. If you’ve got a lighter petechia, it may indicate a deficiency of blood. The condition can be acute if the color is bright or intense red, and there is stagnation if the color is black or purple and the condition has existed for a long time. You may have a deficiency of fluid if you’ve got brown-colored petechiae while the dark or deep red may indicate heat.

Therefore, gua sha massage can be a reflection of detoxification or fever release of the body.  The process can help blood circulation and creating a lifting effect on the skin. It can help the body to release its emotion and relaxes it.

But, how long does Gua Sha bruising last?

While gua sha may provide instant relief from musculoskeletal pain, the bruising or petechiae may last for about two to seven days. Please note that it can be tender as it heals, but this is not the same for everybody.

Does it hurt?

Ideally, gua sha is a non-invasive and non-surgical treatment and should not be painful. However, petechiae can cause discomfort to some people. Also, this treatment is not ideal for those who have sensitive skin and taking blood clots medication.

How do you feel after Gua Sha?

The after-effect of the treatment may vary from person to person. One may feel tired after releasing toxins from the gua sha treatment. And, the other one may feel re-energized and with lesser muscle tightness. You may also experience instant pain relief. Also, it can help you sleep better at night.

What should you do after the treatment?

It is important to rehydrate, drink a moderate amount of water after the treatment. Also, it is advisable to rest for an hour after the treatment. Don’t use a cold shower after 2 hours of completing the treatment to avoid the wind entering the body under dilated pores.

Evergreen is Everywhere for Everyone – Let’s Help You Achieve Your Health and Wellness Goals

At Evergreen Rehab & Wellness – Coquitlam, we have licensed acupuncturists and TCM practitioners that provide best-in-class acupuncture therapy.

We don’t only have acupuncturists in Coquitlam, we also have acupuncturists in Surrey that are always ready to provide patients in these areas with custom and high-quality care.

Moreover, we also have an acupuncturist in Langley that can help you.