Gua Sha is another therapy that dates back to ancient China with the aim of promoting free flowing of Chi or energy as well as blood around the body. The two words in the name of the therapy describe what the therapy is as Gua means scrape or rub and Sha means sand. The therapy is done by rubbing or scraping a metal instrument along the skin. This is done along a muscle or acupuncture meridian and massage oil is used. This is done until the capillaries in the skin fill with blood and small red dots form on the skin like sand.

It is important to say that the red dots do not indicate injury but that there has been a stasis in blood in that location. The dots will fade in a few days and allow the fact for fresh blood to be bought to that area and for the old blood to be cleansed which aids the healing process. Many people in China practise this therapy at home using the side of a spoon and it has been used to treat a large number of conditions. Some of the conditions treated include ever, fatigue, poor circulation, respiratory afflictions, muscle and tendon injury or soreness, digestive disorders, even gynaecological and urinary disorders.