TCM Gua Sha 刮痧 Technique For Lymphatic Drainage

Gua Sha 刮痧 or Kerokan, is part of traditional Chinese medicine, a tool is used to scrape people's skin in order to produce light petechiae. The most traditional method is using a ceramic spoon or a saucer. 

Since DIYing this all over my body at home, the effects are tremendous. This post is for facial lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, this kind of massage aims to help the body maintain proper blood circulation, body fluid balance, and immune functions.

I carry my own blend of essential oil roll-on wherever I go, I also use it before I scrape my face. I reuse that one glass bottle so I don't contribute to environmental waste.

It acts as my perfume as well, calming for me and soothing for others at the same time. 

I also repurposed another old bottle, previously used for a store bought muscle ointment, I fill that up for my body.

It's on the left, the ceramic saucer on the right.  

It's so much neater than a messy bowl, multiple cluttered bottles! Essential oil is far more natural than any commercialised muscle ointment, not to mention it smells so much better! I use it even when I get a sports injury and it works so well. 

I used a ceramic saucer to get into the sides of my nose and behind my ears, it's important to use enough oil so there's a balance between glide and friction. 

Dab the oil onto pulse points - the two temples, middle of forehead, the sides of the nose and behind the ears. Massage any "knots" in a clockwise motion until it releases, you will feel any headache going away with it. Aaaahhhh how relaxing!

It's great for clearing nasal congestion, getting rid of face bloat and water retention. It works well for beauty aesthetics, the alleviation of face and neck muscle tension at the same time. 

People with trauma often have tense muscles, especially around the neck and face area, due to clenched jaws, stress from triggers and a natural reflex to tighten the neck muscles in preparation for fight or flight. 

Image from here

Then apply your favourite face & neck cream all over, to scrape the face along the flow of the system. It will be a downward motion behind the ears and upward motion for the neck. 
It's also great if you can't sleep, this and a hot magnesium foot bath will relax you enough to rest well. 
I used to have a pink quartz flat Gua Sha tool and a free gift of a pink quartz roller. The Gua Sha tool is much better for tiny nooks, it's too flimsy for the body. The roller is pretty pointless as well, also too flimsy, it wasn't doing much.
So don't bother wasting your money on them! 
I will be sharing the body massage version soon. I have some tricks up my sleeve as per normal, it takes some experimenting to get it right, it took me a while to refine it.
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I'm part of Abracadabra Home Organising, we're helping people reclaim back their space by decluttering and accumulating wealth by staying on budget, check us out on Instagram and Facebook.

I do product reviews and show you tricks to maximise your existing products so you save money while reducing consumption, good for the planet and also your pocket. 

Eshet chayil, God is a She

Min 

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