Gua Sha:

20-30 minutes. If appropriate, gua-sha is included in New Patient Visits and Follow-up visits.

Gua sha is a very old, traditional body treatment where the surface of the skin is scraped (but not broken) using a smooth hand-held tool. Gua-sha releases blockages in the body that may be the cause of painful conditions. As the blockages are released to the skin surface, the skin will turn anywhere from a red to deep purple resembling a bruise. As with cupping, this is not painful and will dissipate in a few days. Gua sha is also used to treat colds and many patients find the treatment to be both stimulating and relaxing at the same time.