Explainer | How gua sha can relieve pain, relax muscles and improve circulation - its scraping motion releases blocked energy, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Gua sha, a Chinese massage therapy, reduces muscle soreness and relieves neck, back and shoulder pain – common problems associated with working from home

According to Chinese traditional medicine, gua sha - scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool – removes energy blockages and increases blood flow

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Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that can help to banish pain. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 5:45pm, 3 Apr 2022Updated: 11:43am, 8 Apr 2022

Corrected [10:03am, 8 Apr, 2022]

[10:03am, 8 Apr, 2022]
This report quoted Clara Chan as saying gua sha dates back to around 2.6 million years ago. In fact, she told the Post it dates back to the Stone Age. The Stone Age is variously interpreted as having begun around 10,000BCE or to have lasted 2.5 million to 3 million years. Chan has clarified that she was referring to a time 2,500 years ago.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many people working from home have developed physical ailments – muscle tension, back, neck and shoulder pain, numbness and weakness in our arms – and suffered headaches and migraines.

The causes? Poor sitting posture, non-ergonomic workstations and decreased blood flow thanks to a lack of physical activity.

An ancient Chinese massage therapy known as gua sha can help relieve the tight knots in our bodies, reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.

“Gua sha involves the use of a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape or stroke the skin,” says Clara Chan, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner from Oriental Health in Hong Kong.

Gua sha can help relieve tight knots, reduce muscle tension and improve circulation. Photo: Getty Images

“The scraping motion works on the myofascial layer of membranes that surround, connect and support the muscles. This releases existing energy – qi – blockages, making it an effective way to ‘release’ pain.