It is common knowledge among TCM and Gua Sha practitioners that facial oil or cream should be used for facial Gua Sha. With the recent popularity of Gua Sha, various methods of performing it have emerged. However, using cleansing foam or oil for facial Gua Sha is incomprehensible to experienced TCM practitioners. Please refrain from doing this, especially if you have sensitive skin, as it can cause future damage to your skin.
Your face from holigraphic perspective and from TCM perspective
In this blog, we will explain in detail why using cleansing foam and oil for facial Gua Sha is incorrect. All the resources used are translated from the book written by Gua Sha expert Professor Zhang and TCM doctor Professor Hao. You won't find more reliable information than this.
"Holographic Meridian Scraping Therapy" by Professor Zhang and Hao
If you perfer watching a video, pls check out this video:
@tanmucare It is quite a common sense that you should always use a face cream or oil for your facial Gua Sha among TcM practitioners or for some one whos has basic knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine. Don’t why people are using cleansing foam or oil for facial Gua Sha. That is very wrong and misleading.. Hope this video helps you to understand why.. and perform your facial Gua sha treatment correctly #tanmucare #greensandalwood #facialguasha #guashafacial #skincaretips ♬ original sound - TanmuCare
First and foremost, what is facial Gua Sha?
Source: Holographic Meridian Scraping Therapy
Translation: "Facial Gua Sha involves using special scraping techniques that unblock meridians without causing Sha (red marks). It promotes the flow of nutrients to the skin, enhances the dilation of local microvessels and capillaries, and increases blood volume and circulation in the treated area. This nourishes the skin through improved blood flow and stimulates skin metabolism.
Facial Gua Sha not only improves blood circulation, eliminates stagnation, and detoxifies the body, but it also activates the skin cells' ability to absorb nutrients, secrete, and cleanse. This facilitates the repair and renewal of damaged tissues and is effective for various beauty-related conditions, slowing down the aging process of facial skin."
As you can see, facial Gua Sha activates the skin cells' ability to absorb nutrients with each scraping movement. This means that your skin will absorb the nutrients from the oil or cream, nourishing and improving its condition.
On the other hand, let's consider the ingredients in a cleansing oil or foam. Regardless of how gentle they may be, their purpose is to clean the skin, not to nourish it like an essence, cream, or oil. Prolonged use of cleansing oil or foam for facial Gua Sha can damage your skin barrier, leading to breakouts and redness. While you may not see the damage immediately, continuing this practice is a disaster.
As an ancient technique based on traditional Chinese medicine, we pay great attention to the ingredients in the oil or cream. They need to contain mild ingredients suitable for your skin and promote blood circulation, making each Gua Sha movement effective in detoxifying.
So, what can be used for facial Gua Sha according to the book?
Translation: " There are two types of Gua Sha mediums: Gua Sha oil and cream.
Gua Sha oil is made from non-toxic Chinese medicine and herb oils with strong permeability and good lubrication. The Chinese medicine ingredients have functions such as clearing heat and detoxification, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain and inflammation, which help clear the meridians and promote blood circulation. The herb oils moisturize and protect the skin. When applying Gua Sha, using Gua Sha oil not only reduces pain and accelerates the expulsion of toxins but also protects the skin and prevents infection, making Gua Sha safe and effective.
Gua Sha cream is specially designed for facial Gua Sha, with good permeability and lubrication. The Chinese medicine ingredients in it are mild, and the color is light, causing no stimulating effect on the skin. It promotes blood circulation, improves facial microcirculation, and nourishes the skin."
As you can see, the ingredients in the oil or cream are specialized and should not be overlooked. These ingredients should have strong permeability and good lubrication.
"Strong permeability," as mentioned before, means that all the ingredients will soak into your skin and nourish it. The Gua Sha medium, whether it's an oil or cream, and the scraping technique work together to reinforce each other.
The skin on our face is fragile, especially during facial Gua Sha. Don't let these incorrect methods of facial Gua Sha ruin your face. Choose the right oil or cream that suits your skin type, and it would be wonderful if they have specialized ingredients for facial Gua Sha. Your skin will thank you later!
Feel free to check out this blog about how to perform facial Gua Sha correctly.
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