Explainer | What is Gua Sha?
If you’ve ever scrolled through TikTok, you’ve probably seen people sweeping these beautiful, heart shaped stones across their faces alongside claims that it reduced their wrinkles or helped sculpt their overall appearance.
These beauty-boosting stones aren’t just for your face - gua sha has a long history as a supportive health practice. Gua Sha originated in the Ming Dynasty as a treatment in traditional Chinese medicine, and involves using a moisturizing solution (could be anything that adds a bit of slip - a serum, oil, lotion, or even lubricant!) and a smooth material (usually a stone like jade) to massage and stimulate a specific area of the body or face.
White Jade
Our gua sha is made of white jade, one of several traditional materials for the tool. It remains cool to the touch even when exposed to heat, and has a smoother, more slippery feel than green jade.
Benefits of Gua Sha
Chinese studies show evidence that gua sha really works. Here's how.
Gua sha…
- Promotes blood circulation - maintaining the flow of oxygen and nutrients to our organs and tissues is important for keeping them healthy and to help maintain sensation.
- Improves fine lines and wrinkles - while practicing gua sha won’t remove deep wrinkles, it can help reduce new wrinkles and slow their formation.
- Promotes lymphatic drainage - in addition to supporting the immune system, this can help reduce the appearance of puffiness or swelling.
- Relieves tension from muscles - massage with gua sha can alleviate tension headaches, migraines, neck pain and other feelings of tightness throughout the body.
Why include Gua Sha in a sexual wellness kit?
We were inspired to include this white jade gua sha in our Affirmations Bundle during an Office Hours session. As part of a larger conversation about rediscovering sexuality as your body goes through different life stages, Tabu advisor Dr. Heidi Gastler recommended self massage to help you “get your groove back”. Non-penetrative self touch with massage stones like gua sha can be a gentle way to ease yourself back into enjoying the physical sensation of touch.
Gua sha doesn’t just help with sexual wellness from a physical standpoint, but it can have mental and emotional perks as well. When used as a facial tool as part of a beauty routine, using gua sha can also help inspire self-esteem and confidence. And high self confidence can improve libido
How to use
