The development of Gua sha
Its historical context, transmission through households and communities, and the questions raised by its transition into contemporary professional practice.
Interviews · lectures · conferences
Media & Speaking
Clive Witham speaks and writes about Gua sha, the development of professional practice, and the relationship between traditional knowledge and contemporary clinical investigation. He is available for selected conferences, interviews, podcasts, and educational events.
Enquire about speakingRead articles & insightsClive Witham
Clive Witham is a licensed acupuncturist, qualified health promotion specialist, and the founder and director of Komorebi Institute and the Gua sha Center in Barcelona. He has spent more than 25 years practicing, teaching, and writing about Gua sha, and is the author of six books on the subject.
He developed Ecology in Motion™ (EIM), a system of Gua sha education and treatment that emphasizes observation, anatomical relationships, tissue response, and the decisions practitioners make during treatment. His work includes professional Facial Gua sha and therapeutic education for practitioners in healthcare, bodywork, and wellness.
Alongside international teaching, he is undertaking doctoral research at Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. His community education work has included hospital and community settings in Sri Lanka and training with Indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.
Speaking subjects
Facial Gua sha
The growth of Facial Gua sha internationally, its anatomical basis, the evidence for measurable tissue changes, and the difference between a taught sequence and individualized treatment.
Ecology in Motion™
Observation, palpation, movement, dosage, and reassessment in clinical education, with practical examples of how treatment decisions develop.
Research and evidence
What Gua sha studies have investigated, how findings should be interpreted, and where further research could usefully concentrate.
Community health education
Experience developing and delivering Gua sha training in Sri Lanka and Colombia, including the practical demands of adapting teaching to local settings.
Teaching across disciplines
How Gua sha can be taught responsibly to practitioners with different professional backgrounds, with attention to safety, scope, and clinical reasoning.
Formats and audiences
Engagements may include conference lectures, keynote presentations, panel discussions, podcast and editorial interviews, specialist webinars, and invited teaching sessions. Talks can be developed for clinical practitioners, professional educators, researchers, or audiences interested in the history and contemporary practice of Gua sha.
Topics and depth are agreed in advance, taking account of the audience and the time available. Practical workshops and institutional training can be discussed separately through the Institute's contact page.
For journalists and event organizers
Interview and editorial enquiries
Clive can contribute specialist commentary on Gua sha practice, professional education, historical claims, and the interpretation of published research. Requests should identify the publication or program, intended subject, and deadline.
Speaking invitations
Please include the event organizer, proposed date, location or online format, audience, anticipated duration, and whether the invitation is for a lecture, interview, discussion, or practical session.
A professional biography, suitable photographs, and a session description can be supplied for agreed engagements. Use of the Komorebi Institute name or logo in promotional materials should be approved in advance.
Invite Clive to speak
For interviews, conference invitations, educational events, or requests for specialist commentary, send the event or publication details to Komorebi Institute.
Contact the Institute