Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Facial Gua sha has wonderful benefits for the face and body but maybe not what you think! In this episode of the Gua sha Show, Clive delves into the effects on connective tissue and blood circulation and what this means in understanding Facial Gua sha. He looks at modern Chinese ideas about the benefits and then gives his version based on ancient Chinese ecological principles.
Hello and welcome to episode 11 of the Gua sha show. Today we’re exploring the benefits of Facial Gua sha. If we go back a few episodes to Episode 4, I talked about the benefits of Gua sha and in that show I promised to focus on Facial Gua sha in a later episode. So here I am.
Now, let’s just start off with a few things I want to make clear. I don’t approach Gua sha from a beauty background. I’ve spent years battling illness and balancing health and it was all about correct diagnosis, appropriate treatment and the skillful management of getting someone on the path back to good health. Around 10 years ago I started to apply the same analytical approach to the face, because there really isn’t any difference, and the appropriate treatment and the management on the path this time to beauty.
But hang on. Let me clarify what I mean about beauty because I often don’t mean the same beauty that people think I mean. Ecology in Motion, which is the Gua sha I created, is taken from the grand principles of the ancient Chinese and these were fundamentally ecological in nature. So whenever I talk of the face and body you’ll hear me use words that you might not normally associate with the face. More like you’re watching the natural history channel. I’ll often talk of the blooming flower which is the potential of every single human being on this planet. You plant a seed in the ground, you water it, you take care of it, you ensure it has enough sun and shade, and it slowly grows. At the right time, when cared for properly, a colorful flower appears and opens up to show us what the dark green plant had hidden inside it all the time. It just hadn’t shown it.
This is representative of all people who have this seed of potential inside them and when it’s allowed to bloom, their inner beauty shows itself.
If you’re interested in getting to this place of beauty then you’ve got to know what might nurture it and also might be preventing it. You’ve got to know how you might help someone get closer to their potential and glow like the last embers of the sunset hits your face.
So what I’m including here maybe isn’t what you’re expecting. I’m not interested in the unsubstantiated claims of how Facial Gua sha is going to create miracles on your face. The more I look into how Facial Gua sha has developed recently, the more divorced it is from where it came from. And just seems to be based around the sale of a tool and throw in a few scraping techniques and banal simplistic explanations.
So with my feet are still firmly placed in Chinese medicine, let’s take a peek at the benefits.
And where better a place to start than with what Chinese sources say about Facial Gua sha. It’s easy for you to see what’s said about the benefits of Facial Gua sha in English (or in your language if it’s not English). Just do a search on the internet. You’ll get all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff. So let’s give you something that may be a little harder to get, so here’s a quick run down of a range of Chinese websites explain the benefits of Facial Gua sha.
Okay. There are some nuggets of information in these Chinese explanations, so let me explain a bit more. I think there are two really important things to understand if you want to Facial Gua sha and understand what you’re doing.
The first is that you’ve got to think about the fascia or the connective tissue. An important area to look at in Facial Gua sha is the stretching of loose connective tissue and the subsequent response of things called fibroblasts. Now what’s a fibroblast? It’s a type of cell which forms the structural framework of tissues in our bodies. They’re the main connective tissue cells present in the body. When you do Gua sha on the skin you have an effect on these cells.
What happens is when you stretch them mechanically as you might with a Gua sha tool, they change size and shape. They’re not changing size and shape from the strength of brute force but by appropriate stimulation. Now this change is thought to affect the cell-to-cell signaling process within the connective tissue - so will change how the cells communicate together not only in the local area but further afield. So what this means is that as well as the cellular and biochemical changes, connective tissue may become tighter or looser in response to changes in tissue. This is pretty important to know, right? Think about those loose structures letting everything slip downward on the face.
And the fascinating effect of this in terms of Facial Gua sha is the possible changes that would also come as a result in interstitial fluid pressure (that’s basically body water) and transcapillary fluid flow (like a valve system to maintain fluid levels). The connective tissue change has a direct effect on these and is thought to help in the regulation of liquid. Think about puffiness or swollen areas in the face. This explains in terms of connective tissue how pressure with the tool can indirectly help drain fluid. Without actually touching the fluid area.
Another very important thing to consider is the changes in blood circulation and blood perfusion. Tissues and organs within your body are able to mostly regulate their own blood supply. An area of your body has a localized ability to increase its blood flow in order to meet any metabolic and functional need it has. After a meal, you need more blood to the digestive process, for example. This local blood flow regulation is something which changes after Gua sha treatment and is also something which will affect other local blood flow areas nearby and possibly also the main circulation system.
So there are two important processes at play with Facial Gua sha - one in the connective tissue and one in the local blood circulation. Both of them are going to have an impact on the skin on your face and the health of your body.
The trouble is that neither of them are in play if you’re just doing light pulling motions over your face without an understanding of what’s underneath. In order to affect the connective tissue changes, you have to understand the connection with the facial connective tissue and the rest of the body. Luckily the ancient Chinese already did this and gave us something called the sinew channels which are muscular-tendino connections which run throughout the body and are based on movements. You should be familiar with muscles being grouped - examples are the quadriceps, gluteals and hamstrings - but these groupings are far more extensive and believe it or not all based on the simple movements of plants.
And in order to affect the circulation system, you have to understand the blood circulation connection with the rest of the body. Guess what? The ancient Chinese already did this and gave us the river/channel system so we can see clearly which part of the face is connected to which circulatory system.
So if the Facial Gua sha you’re practising is too divorced from the origins of Gua sha, the benefits of Facial Gua sha are probably going to be limited in scope. Instead of aiming for the flourishing blossom of health and beauty in one beautiful package, you’re limiting yourself to a few wrinkles.
So my advice is break off the superficial shackles and open yourself to a fascinating world that transforms what you do with Facial Gua sha!
A: Facial Gua sha is a traditional Chinese therapy that involves using a smooth-edged tool to gently massage and scrape the skin on the face. This technique aims to improve blood circulation, reduce puffiness, and promote a healthy, glowing complexion.
A: Facial Gua sha offers numerous benefits including opening up the meridians, improving blood circulation, reducing wrinkles, shrinking pores, and enhancing skin tone. It also helps in removing toxins and increasing the skin’s ability to absorb nutrients.
A: Yes, Facial Gua sha can delay aging by promoting better nutrient absorption and increasing blood flow to the skin. This helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging, resulting in a youthful appearance.
A: Facial Gua sha is generally suitable for all skin types. However, it’s important to use the right technique and pressure to avoid irritation. Those with sensitive skin or specific skin conditions should consult a professional before trying Facial Gua sha.
A: For best results, Facial Gua sha can be performed 2-3 times a week. Consistency is key to achieving and maintaining the benefits of this practice. Always follow the proper technique to ensure optimal results and avoid skin damage.
A: The primary tool for Facial Gua sha is a Gua sha stone, typically made from jade or rose quartz. It is essential to choose a high-quality tool and keep it clean to ensure the best results and maintain skin hygiene.
A: While Facial Gua sha is primarily focused on improving skin health and appearance, it is rooted in principles of Chinese medicine that emphasize overall well-being. By promoting better blood circulation and reducing stress, it can contribute to your overall health.
A: When done correctly, Facial Gua sha is generally safe and free of significant side effects. Some people may experience slight redness or minor bruising, which typically resolves quickly. It’s important to use gentle pressure and the correct technique to minimize any adverse effects.
Director of Komorebi Institute
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.