Guasha Massage is a natural, alternative therapy that involves stroking the skin to improve circulation. This traditional Chinese healing technique may offer a unique approach to better health, addressing issues like chronic pain. Using a specially designed instrument made of horn, stone, bone or other materials, along with the appropriate oils for lubrication, the therapists strokes an area of the body, such as the patient’s neck or back. Guasha massage is intended to address stagnant energy, called Qi, in the body that in TCM theory is responsible for inflammation. Inflammation is the underlying cause of several conditions associated with chronic pain. Guasha is able to help break up this energy, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Fine capillaries (tiny blood vessels) start to give off the petechiae known as Sha in Chinese. This is a good thing. What it does is to release toxins from the blood and greatly stimulate circulation in the area. It also has “an anti-inflammatory and immune protective effect that persists for days following a single Gua sha treatment.” Guasha massage may reduce inflammation, so it’s often used to treat ailments that cause chronic pain, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as those that trigger muscle and joint pain. It has also been shown through various studies to be effective for perimenopause, migraine and more.