Gua Sha Face and Neck Massage
Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese treatment that has been touted for its incredible beauty and healing effects, namely in preventing and treating the signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagging, dark circles, and for promoting overall skin rejuvenation from the inside out.
Many women are discovering that there are real dangers involved with the more common clinical anti-ageing treatments. With the popular Botox injection, for example, you’re actually injecting a highly dangerous toxin into your body.The NIH explains: Botulinum toxin, one of the most poisonous biological substances known, is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Still, millions of women would rather risk that than deal with those dreaded wrinkles!
Then of course there is cosmetic surgery, and as with any surgery, it always comes with an element of risk.That’s why many women turn to natural, holistic beauty therapies instead. Treatments like gua sha help to unlock the natural beauty from within, stimulating circulation, clearing away impurities and toning the neck and face. It uses no chemicals or invasive procedures, and therefore it is far safer than the clinical methods.
The costs of a professional gua sha treatment is safe and more affordable than medical alternatives .You can easily learn to perform the technique on yourself when taught proper technique by your therapist.
The effectiveness of gua sha comes from the way it stimulates the deeper layers of skin, as well as the energetic components in the body. Actually wrinkling does not start in the epidermis, the outer layer of skin. Below the epidermis a thick skin layer called the dermis which contains different types of proteins that strengthen the skin and maintain elasticity (elastin and collagen).With aging our skin produces less collagen. After the age of 20, women produce about 1% less collagen in the skin each year. As a result, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile with aging.
During a gua sha session, the layers under the outer skin are stimulated, and micro-circulation is improved. Toxins are released and cleared away, and the overall effect is a clearer complexion, better skin tone and a radiant glow.
Although scientific research has concentrated more on the benefits of gua sha to the body, there is much evidence that proper treatment can reduce the signs of ageing.Results will be encouraging from the very first treatment. Gua sha helps in the following ways:
- It reduces acne, rosacea and blemishes on the skin,
- With repeated treatments it can significantly reduce wrinkles,
- Gua sha Firms up sagging of the face and neck
- It combats the formation of bags and dark circles under the eyes,
- Promotes a more radiant complexion
- Diminishes age spots and skin discoloration
- Gua sha facilitates the drainage of lymphatic fluid from face and neck
- Produces a deep state of relaxation that is incomparable to other types of facial massage.
This information was abridged from an article written by Dr. Ping Zhang. She is a leading authority in the field of holistic beauty and wellness care in the US. She is a researcher and practitioner in the field of anti-aging Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has written several books on Facial Gua Sha and TCM. Kristina Chilton studied with Dr.Zhang in New York and is a certified practioner of Gua Sha face and neck rejuevenation.