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5 Shocking Truths About Facial Gua sha — You Might Have Been Doing & Explaining It All Wrong
Monday, September 09, 2024
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Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Gua sha Show. And in this episode, we're looking at 5 surprising truths about Facial Gua sha. So let's start with the first one.
So, number 1 of the 5 surprising truths of Facial Gua sha is...
Facial Gua sha is NOT Lymphatic Massage
One of the biggest misunderstandings about facial Gua sha is that it’s just another type of lymphatic massage. But Gua sha isn’t about moving lymph—it’s about making real changes to the tissue itself. This difference is critical if you’re interested in authentic Gua sha.
When I teach classes, participants sometimes approach me with comments about their previous teachers, their acupuncturist, their Instagram facialist, or other sources they trust who’ve told them to scrape up the neck, while I instruct scraping down. While I respect differing views, here’s the issue: lymphatic drainage and Gua sha aren’t the same. Authentic Gua sha, on the neck, follows a downward pattern, and the reasons are deeply rooted in human anatomy. Scraping up can be beneficial too, but it’s no longer Gua sha—it’s lymphatic work, a valid treatment but one that belongs to a different approach entirely.
The problem is that people equate what they see on Instagram with actual Gua sha, unaware that there are crucial differences. It’s important to stay informed about what’s authentic versus what’s a modern reinterpretation. After over 2,000 hours researching Gua sha in just the past year alone, I can say confidently that Gua Sha’s origins lie within the Chinese medical understanding of tissue health, not lymphatic fluid movement.
Facial Gua sha Has NO Ancient Tradition
You might have heard that “Facial Gua sha” has roots in ancient Chinese history, but that’s not accurate. While Gua sha itself does go back centuries, it wasn’t a beauty practice. Instead, Gua sha emerged as a treatment for survival, used to combat serious illnesses like febrile diseases and cholera. This was hard, physical treatment, not something delicate for the face.
Historically, Gua sha was a practice of necessity, using everyday items available in a household—like soup spoons, coins, and even branches. The beauty industry only co-opted Gua sha as a facial treatment in the early 2000s. Before that, TCM’s traditional facial treatments involved herbal ointments or jade rollers, but not Gua sha scraping. The emphasis on “Facial Gua sha” as an ancient beauty technique isn’t based on historical fact. If you trace the origins, Gua sha was about survival and treating life-threatening conditions, not beauty.
For example, in the 17th century, Gua Sha was a lifesaving treatment. There’s a story about two neighbors: one survived a febrile illness after receiving Gua Sha treatment, while the other died overnight without it. Traditional Chinese medicine didn’t treat the face as a standalone beauty focus; beauty was understood as a reflection of inner health.
Facial Gua sha Is NOT Just for the Face
Another misconception about facial Gua sha is that it’s limited to just the face. But here’s the thing: in authentic Gua sha, the face cannot be separated from the rest of the body. How you treat the face is deeply connected to the health of the entire system. For instance, tension in the neck, shoulders, or back can manifest in the face, affecting your appearance and skin health.
The face is an important target, but Gua sha is a holistic practice, and you can’t effectively treat the face without acknowledging its connections to the head, neck, shoulders, arms, back, and even down to the legs and feet. This is based on an understanding of anatomy, physiology, and even embryology. Everything in the body is interconnected, and Gua sha embraces this whole-body approach to influence facial health and appearance.
Why do people think that facial Gua sha stops at the face? It likely stems from the beauty industry’s influence, which turned Gua sha into a skin-focused treatment. But in truth, authentic Gua sha requires us to look beyond the surface. When we treat the body in a holistic way, we see far deeper results on the face.
Gua sha Is NOT About Meridians and Energy
There’s often a misunderstanding that Gua sha is all about Qi meridians, and energy. While these concepts are part of Chinese medicine, ancient Chinese practitioners didn’t view the body as simply a collection of mystical energy lines. They were practical—they saw the body as interconnected systems, like rivers and streams nourishing land.
The body’s channels weren’t imagined as invisible energy lines. Ancient practitioners referred to actual structures: arteries, veins, fascia, tendons, and connective tissue. These networks weren’t just symbolic—they were physical ecosystems within the body. Instead of talking about energy, think of Gua sha as working to enhance natural flows in the tissue and blood vessels, similar to how streams and rivers nourish their surroundings. Gua sha aligns with these natural principles of physics and environmental balance, focusing on circulation and physical tissue health rather than invisible energies.
There Are NO Specific "Facial Gua sha Tools"
Finally, we come to the misconception that you need a special “Facial Gua sha tool.” Today’s beauty market is flooded with unique, high-priced tools marketed as “essential” for effective Gua sha. But historically, Gua sha was practiced with whatever people had on hand—a soup spoon, a coin, a flat stone. The effectiveness of Gua sha comes from the skill of the practitioner, not the tool.
Fancy tools are often marketed with the idea that they possess unique properties that make Gua sha “work.” In reality, what matters is the technique, pressure, and intention behind the treatment. I’m known for using a simple Chinese soup spoon in my practice. It’s not because I don’t value tools, but because I value authenticity. The tool itself doesn’t have to be special—what’s important is how it’s used.
Conclusion: Five Surprising Truths About Facial Gua sha
Understanding these core truths about Gua sha can transform how you view and practice this ancient technique. Facial Gua sha, as it’s commonly known, has been redefined by modern beauty trends, but the authentic practice is so much more. Gua sha doesn’t rely on lymphatic massage, mystical energy, or specialized tools. It’s a holistic approach that honors tissue structure and overall health.
Questions & Answers
Q: What is the difference between facial Gua sha and lymphatic drainage?
A: While both facial Gua sha and lymphatic drainage can both involve tools and scraping movements, they are fundamentally different techniques. Facial Gua sha comes from traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on changing the structure of the tissue and enhancing blood circulation. Lymphatic drainage, on the other hand, specifically aims to physically move fluids through the lymphatic system.
Q: Can I use any tool for Facial Gua sha?
A: Yes, you can use simple household items for facial Gua sha, as the tool itself is not the most important factor. Historically, Gua sha was practiced with whatever was available, such as soup spoons, flat stones, or even branches. The only important thing is that it has a smooth edge that won't hurt you. Modern beauty tools, like heart-shaped jade stones, are not necessary. The effectiveness of Gua sha lies in the technique, not in the tool.
Q: Does Facial Gua sha have a long historical background?
A: No, the modern version of facial Gua sha does not have a long history. Gua sha originated in the 17th century as a treatment for serious illnesses like cholera, and it was never originally used as a beauty technique. The beauty industry co-opted Gua sha in the 2000s and created the idea of "facial Gua sha". Many of the claims that facial Gua sha has ancient roots are misleading, as modern facial Gua sha only became popular about 30 years ago. Historically, Chinese cosmetology focused more on creams and ointments than on scraping techniques like Gua sha.
Q: Can Facial Gua sha limited to the face?
A: Authentic Gua sha cannot be limited to just the face. The face and body are interconnected, and true Gua sha is holistic. Treating exclusively the face would be an incomplete treatment, as you'd be ignoring everything else that you can do to enhace the person's facial appearance. Facial Gua sha is about treating the whole body to target the face. The head, neck, shoulders, arms, back, and even legs and feet should be involved for effective results.
Hi, It's Clive
Director of Komorebi Institute
Hi, It's Clive
From researching underfunded healthcare in Uganda, to running a thriving chronic illness clinic in North Africa, to collaborating with hospitals in Sri Lanka to train staff and empower communities - My journey has been dedicated to democratizing access to beauty and health.
