There are some very simple ways of enhancing our personal health and well-being. Many times we look at cleansings as hard to do, unpleasant, and sometimes results in the exacerbation of symptoms.
I’m going to present a couple cleanses now; cleanses that are pleasant to do, require very little equipment, and lead to powerful results. Spas were originally developed as ways of purifying the body, enhancing the immune system, and strengthening and building reserves. Many of the pampering techniques that we use in spas were devised to be cleansing systems.
The first of these cleansing systems I’d like to present is called skin scraping. The Chinese refer to scraping as guasha. It has been used overtly in other health and wellness techniques, but usually is not the core of the technique. Rolfing, in the original form, had, as a side effect, a type of stimulation of the skin and underlying tissue. We referred to as skin drag. It wasn’t pleasant as when we use of oil -like in a Swedish massage, so many rolfers started using massage oils and lotions-and back in the 60s -a little water on the fingertips to minimize skin drag.
Guasha supposedly brings sha or toxins out to the surface of the skin. It shows up as a redness, dimpling and a speckling of the skin that often results in a deep red , blue, turning purple or black in the skin. The Chinese would see this as a very effective quasha session. if the coloring does appear, it leaves in a few days. Because guache is usually performed in parts of the body that are covered by clothes The discoloring is seldom seen.
This is a picture of the tools frequently used in quasha. They are liniment or lotion, and a blade. This picture has two different styles of guasha blades. They’re both made of carved buffalo horn but in different shapes. The curved shape helps work around the finger bones but I also like it on my back. The sharp pointer is for places like in the ear and between the toes or specific small spots.
There are other tools that can be used for guasha. The Vietnamese frequently use a large worn coin. I have seen rounded jar lids used in much the same way as the coin or the wguasha blade.
The process of scraping:
The Back:
The most frequent use of scraping is along the spine over the long spinal erector muscles of the back. The back scraping is frequently used for lung and bronchial conditions as well as for tired back muscles to help prevent spasms. The scraping strokes begin right below the head and continue down the back on either side of the spinal column all the way down the sacrum to the tailbone. Each stroke should push a little hill of flesh ahead of it. Five or more strokes down each side of the back should bring about some pink coloration and maybe look like rashes or welts. Later on, a bruising look may emerge. Some older people may get this discoloration very easily, showing bruising where the stroking is done. This bruising can be called senile atrophic dermatitis in medicine. Another session of stroking should not be done until the redness and bruising is totally disappeared. This is not to say that the bruising or discoloration is wrong, it actually may be a result of increased toxins waiting to come out of the body. But please wait until the body resolves one session before initiating a second session. Typically the amount of discoloration diminishes from session to session as you progress.
In addition to vertical strokes down the back from the head to the tailbone, horizontal strokes may be used, from the spinal column out to the edge of the torso. These can include strokes along the trapezius to the point of the shoulder,
from the spinal column out, crossing the shoulder blade to the point of the shoulder,
and lower, from the spinal column out to the axilla or armpit area.
This can be continued downward to include the lower back.
Extreme practices, for professionals only (if ever)
Some practitioners continue past the point of pink or red coloration until little red specks like blood come up right below the surface. This could be continued until it looks like you have a bruise right below the skin or as it’s called a hickey. And, in some of the more extreme practices of guasha, the stroking is continued until blood actually breaks through the surface. Sometimes acupuncture needles are used, especially the spear shaped needles, They help bring the blood to the surface. I don’t practice any of these more extreme forms of scraping. They seem a lot like the bleeding practices of early American medicine. These practices do have some medical relevance but not to be practiced generally.
The “facelift”, less the surgery
The face work is usually started on the forehead. Placing one hand to cover the hairline so as not to pull the delicate hairs in the process, place the tool at the bridge of the nose and stroke upward, moving that role of tissue, until reaching the hand covering the hairline. Use five upward strokes here. The next strokes are to the right and to the left of that central line until the whole forehead is covered, each area with five strokes. The forehead can also be stroked outward from the midline to the right and left edges of the forehead, once again five strokes in each direction.
The next area to work is immediately below the eyes. starting from the nose and going below the orbit, just slightly catching the skin below the eye and move the role outward until reaching the hair. This area below the eyes can be very sensitive and must be done with equal sensitivity. The tool may actually go up over and inside the edge of the orbit. After completing five strokes from the nose to the hair on the right and on the left, move on to the jaw line. Starting on the upper lip and move horizontally across to the ear. Once again five strokes on each side moving the roll of tissue ahead of the blade. Then go from the lower lip and chin outwards to the hair and below the ear five strokes on the right and five strokes on the left moving a roll of tissue with the tool. Then go from the angle of the mandible and stroke upward in front of the ear to the hairline; 5 strokes on each side. The next stroke is from the outer edge of the smile and nose across the labial fold, also known as smile lines, out to the ear. Five strokes on each side completes this. The neck can be very sensitive using this technique but it can be done gently and with consideration for things like plaquing in the carotid artery, and juggler veins. Always stroke upward very gently from the collarbones up to the jaw line.
These techniques are generally carried out by a qualified practitioner. Using sufficient care, sensitivity, and knowledge gained from your health practitioner, these techniques can be done on yourself at home. Just remember to use a good quality oil or lotion with no toxins, sensitive touch, and mindfulness.
Scraping other areas of the body
The arms, legs, feet, and hands, as well as the front of the torso,may receive benefits from scraping therapy. It’s often done along acupuncture meridians. The stroking generally goes from midline out to the periphery on the arms legs, feet, and hands, but may be done in the opposite direction also. There are some unique strokes used around the joints, between the finger bones of the hand, the toe bones of the feet, the ankles, wrist, elbows and knees. You can actually do these the same way as the other stroking but just be very gentle and sensitive. On the front of the torso the stroking is frequently in the upward direction or in the outward direction from midline to the sides. Once again the acupuncture meridians are often used, but I don’t follow the meridians myself, with a few exceptions.
After your scraping session
A nice warm bath in sea salt or epsom salt may be taken after a session of scraping. This can help relax and continue the drawing out of toxins. After bathing you may want to apply and oil or lotion, only after examining the ingredients to be sure that this lotion or oil can nurture you instead of adding toxins to your system. I prefer a product called Enliven, a face soil, that contains emu oil, soluble vitamin C, vitamin E, and a couple other nutrients. There are good oils on the market; lotions frequently have preservatives which could have negative effects on the skin and our physiology. Just be aware of the ingredients that you’re using.
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