This little flat hand-held, pocket-friendly tool is back in the news for its ability to chisel out those fab cheekbones and a sharp jawline, de-puff eye bags, and turn up the dial on skin brightness. Delna Mistry Anand speaks to Uma Ghosh, award-winning TV Producer, Entrepreneur, Certified Health and Wellness Coach to find out more about this amazing tool with tips on her technique for a perfect gua-sha ritual.
What is Gua Sha and what is it used for?
Gua sha is an ancient Chinese technique which roughly translates in English, as ‘scraping’ (Gua) in ‘sand’ (Sha). Traditionally used on the entire body to ‘scrape away illness’, this technique involves using natural tools such as bian stone, jade or ox horn with a lubricant to scrape and rub parts of the skin repeatedly in one direction. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this helps to activate circulation of blood and oxygen in the body, allowing the lungs, heart and muscles to function efficiently. With good circulation, the white blood cells in the immune system will be transported around the body as needed. When this technique was adapted to facial care is not known. It follows the same foundation, but the strokes are much gentler when used on the face.
What are the benefits of using a Gua Sha stone?
The main benefits of Gua Sha include lymphatic drainage, increased blood circulation, stimulated facial muscles and most importantly, Gua Sha actually re-trains the skin. We hold a heap of blocked emotions and toxins in our facial muscles, so when these are released, the skin is re-trained and starts behaving the way it is truly meant to. This not only results in the clearing up of several skin related issues such as acne or dark circles, but also restores a sense of calm and emotional balance.Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle MacPherson and even Justin Bieber, are using Gua Sha these days.
Is it a fad or an authentic tool to holistic beauty?
During the lockdown period, many people around the world have turned to DIY beauty solutions, with no spas or salons to visit. Gua Sha stones gained immense popularity as they are proving to be a simple yet powerful tool in the home skincare routine. With nothing to ingest or inject into the body, these non-invasive beauty tools are truly a must-have.
Can Gua Sha routine replace a salon facial?
Like anything which produces good results, Gua Sha needs to be done consistently to have a positive impact. A salon facial can surely give you a glow for a day or two. But a regular, dedicated Gua Sha routine is more about developing a rapport with your skin, understanding it and working with it. Over time, much like how yoga helps the body, this ritual will help improve the function of your skin which in turn helps heal many skin conditions such as deep lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, rosacea, acne, acne scars, pigmentation, dark circles and puffiness. It re-trains the muscles of the face, relaxing them, strengthening, lifting and toning. I personally haven’t had a salon facial for the past 4 years, as I have been consistent with my Gua Sha and can see the deep level results it has had on me.
Can Gua Sha be used on the body as well?
Yes, Gua Sha can be used all over the body to improve circulation. It helps to relieve muscle and joint pain as well as more severe conditions. Gua Sha helps blood circulation which is so important for our overall well being. It boosts our immune system by moving bacteria and toxins away and out of the body via the lymphatic system. Once you have the correct technique, this can become a very important way to boost your immunity.
How can one use Gua Sha at home?
To achieve best results, learning the correct Gua Sha technique is necessary.
You can start by applying serum or oil that suits your skin and then start gently applying your stone in an upward motion. Start by placing the flat side of the tool at the base of your neck and stroke it upwards at a 45-degree angle to the face. You can also place the flat side of the tool on your shoulder or chin and stroke upward to where your jaw and ear meet. Ensure that you don’t use this tool if you have any rashes, sunburns, cuts, or blood coagulation issues.
To help you learn this technique, you can follow me on Instagram (umagd) and YouTube (The Uma Show) where I have demonstrated easy to follow techniques. And if you’re interested in the extensive training of Gua Sha techniques, you can also look out for my upcoming Gua Sha workshop.
How did you get introduced to this modality of clean skin care?
I remember seeing my mother use a pumice stone in the earlier days to rub the skin on her feet, or give herself a gentle oil massage on her days off. It was her way of replenishing herself, and it always made me happy to see her relaxed.
Such time-tested beauty care is so simple yet so effective, and I always gravitate towards this ancient knowledge. Most cultures have a treasure of such knowledge and Gua Sha is one of them. And it is so relevant, especially in today’s times. Selfcare is a spiritual practice and so empowering.
I also love the fact that there is a growing community of women who are taking health and beauty in their own hands. And it has given me a chance to see this community grow stronger. Being in a kinship of women who are learning to be confident and comfortable in their skin is beautiful. This is what has drawn me towards holistic beauty modalities. Having said that, I am not against modern science and technologies, in fact I am always amazed at the newest discoveries. But when it comes to my own body, I prefer the holistic route.
Where can we buy a trusted good quality Gua Sha stone?
Every detail matters, right from the architecture of the piece to the material (stone) used. It seems trivial but the results on using a good quality Gua Stone are astonishing. One of the most common questions is about which stone is the best. And to that, my response is always – which stone are you drawn to? We are energetically drawn to a certain type of stone, so go with that instinct. With regards to the shape, I would trust an expert in beauty tools, to ensure a high standard.
There are many Gua Sha Stones in the market. I went into a lot of research and experiments and finally designed one using Black Bian stone, a stone known for its healing wonders on the body. The stone has been carefully constructed after extensive research to specifically hit the right spots on your face and neck, helping to lift and tone your skin and muscles.
You may check https://theumashow.com/session/gua-sha-stone/ for more information or to order your own Gua Sha stone.
Uma Ghosh – Holistic Health & Skin Coach, Holistic Beauty Educator and Entrepreneur
Delna Mistry Anand teaches meditation for the modern mind, integrating techniques for
mindfulness-based stress reduction, spiritual guidance and more. Using a combination of
healing modalities along with traditional practices of meditation and pranayama (breathing techniques), she leads people to reconnect with their inner wisdom and bring about their own spiritual healing in a deep and profound way. Delna is a certified life Coach, meditation teacher, sound healing practitioner, Reiki master, alternative healer and a gifted intuitive mentor.
Connect with Delna on @delnaanand