My Acupuncturist advised me to check out another Acupuncturist who specializes in a technique called Gua Sha. I asked why my Acupuncturist was recommending another acupuncturist and he told me that he has heard about the benefits of this Gua Sha practice and thinks I will benefit from it, plus, he does not know the technique. I took the advise of my Acupuncturist and made a reservation for a New York City car hire and hotel room. Oh, and an appointment with the Acupuncturist.
When I arrived to my appointment, I was impressed with not only the office, but just how well known this Acupuncturist is within the medical community. She practices in her office and at several well known hospitals in New York. My first visit was a consultation which she explained the difference between the Acupuncture technique that I’m used to and Gua Sha. Gua Sha is a East Asian healing technique. Gua means to scrape or rub and Sha is a reddish elevated, skin like rash. Sha describes the blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae. So, Gua Sha intentionally raises the Sha rash (petechiae). That sounded weird to me, but then when I first heard about Acupuncture itself, that sounded weird to me too, but after experiencing the results, it no longer seems strange.
Apparently, this practice has different names depending on which country it’s practiced in. She told me due to my disorder, that I’m a perfect candidate for the practice of Gua Sha. So, I made an appointment for the next day. We I arrived and received my treatment, I was shocked. During the treatment she applied a lubricant on all the major Acupuncture points with the Gua Sha tool. She held the tool at a 30 degree angle to my skin. She then rubbed with a the round edged tool in a downward stroke. An area is stroked, downward, until the petechiae surfaces and completely raised. If I had no Blood stasis the petechiae will not form and my skin will only turn pink. The area which she worked on me were the back, neck, buttocks, shoulders and my arms, but she didn’t apply it on my chest or abdomen. She raised the petechiae everywhere she stroked on my body. She told me the effect will last 2 to 4 days. If it fades very slow, that indicates I have poor blood circulation and there may be a more serious deficiency which will require additional treatments alongside my regular Acupuncture treatments. She advised that I can get Gua Sha treatments up to three times a week. But, that I must at least get one treatment per week.
My petechiae did fade very slowly, but I was fortunate enough, one: to be able to go to New York every week, and two: my petechiae didn’t form only after 4 treatments. I must also mention that the disorder with which I was suffering has dissolved, completely.
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