Everyone on Instagram Is Talking About Gua Sha - Here's What You Need to Know About It

If you haven't heard of gua sha before, you're not alone. We've only recently been looking into the newly-trending treatment after seeing everyone on Insta raving about its natural healing benefits. According to Women's Health Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner Lauren Curtain, this ancient Chinese practice is all about improving circulation, releasing muscle tension and boosting your immune system (yes, please!). To find out a little bit more about this trendy treatment and what to expect from a session, we asked Lauren all of our burning gua sha questions.

Gua sha involves scraping the skin with a smooth, flat tool which would explain the number of pics online we've been seeing of crystals pressed against people's faces. Lauren adds that the most common tools for this treatment are made of ceramic, rose quartz and even jade. We also learnt from Lauren that many acupuncturists already incorporate gua sha into their treatments and have been doing so for a long time. Gua sha can be used anywhere on the body and should feel similar to receiving a deep tissue massage. For example "if gua sha is being used around the neck, shoulders and back to help release muscle tension, the tool allows specific and targeted pressure to the muscle and fascial layers". When you have a gua sha treatment focused on your face, it will feel much more gentle as the skin and muscles are thinner, Lauren explains. When it comes to facial gua sha, you should feel relaxed throughout, and many of Lauren's patients actually report an energy boost and greater mental clarity!

We asked Lauren whether this ancient treatment could actually help with certain skin conditions, and she mentioned that it can be "helpful for plumping the skin, improving skin tone and elasticity", adding that gua sha "improves blood circulation, release muscle tension, encourages lymphatic flow, boosts the immune system and breaks up scar tissue.". After learning all about this holistic treatment from an expert, we're pretty keen to give it a go ourselves to reap the plethora of physical and psychological benefits associated with gua sha. Lauren told us that you can even give yourself a treatment at home with the right tools as part of your overall wellness routine, so excuse us while we do a deep dive on rose quartz facial tools.

If you are concerned about your health, wellbeing or sleep, your first port of call should be your GP, who will advise a correct treatment plan.

Find out more about Lauren by following her on Instagram or her website.

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