spoiler alert, it's always our practice to fact check what we're reading on the internet, especially when it comes to skincare and skin health. our opinion below is based on scientific research and studies with actual results. no hype, just facts.

fact or fiction

we’ve done the fact checking for you using scientific research from trusted journals, reviewed results of clinical studies and trials to compose a transparent perspective on this massage tool trend that's rooted in ancient Eastern culture. 

perhaps not surprising, Western medicine and science is catching up with ancient practices from Eastern medicine and culture. the Gua Sha stone facial massage is no doubt trending in your social feed, too.

the amount of peer reviewed research is still limited, yet emerging studies are shedding light on the skin benefits of the ancient Eastern medicine ritual of Gua Sha massage when used safely. (read: we're advocating a feather-light gentle facial Gua Sha massage to nurture your skin's health and improved surface texture.) 

recent studies have demonstrated clinical results connected to regular stone massage using Gua Sha techniques. specifically, improved effects of the circulatory system are being studied. stone massage helps carry blood and other body fluids through the lymphatic system, which is directly related to the proper function of our immune system. 

one human study showed that practicing Gua Sha massage boosted the circulatory activity by 1.85x on average. [1] increasing blood supply to tissues is one of the key factors in skin health and has a positive impact on our skin as we age. another study found that Gua Sha resulted in a increase in microcirculation by 4x. [5]

skin science and natural effects of aging

this circulation impact is important to overall skin health, and Positive Aging skin health. naturally with age, skin receives less blood flow which inhibits the natural cyclical regenerative process our skin goes through.

a decrease in circulatory function of the skin appears in the form of visible damage - wrinkles, effects of photoaging including discoloration, redness and overall skin texture are some examples attributed to the skins natural aging process. 

beyond the surface appearance of our skin, continued studies are emerging on the extended benefits of using the Gua Sha techniques in a broad area of treatment - beyond cosmetic skin impacts - with interesting and surprising results. 

holistic benefits, beyond the surface

here at Love and Light Botanicals we are primarily interested in its supporting benefits to skin health to reduce and prevent visible signs of damage due to the natural aging of our skin we couldn’t help but peak at some of this extended research.

we read studies that explored everything from improving weight lifting ability [2], faster sports recovery and better sleep [3] to chronic neck pain [4]. 

the conclusion

so, there you have it. the humble yet effective Gua Sha massage technique is anything but an internet fad. giving homage and credibility to ancient practices that have withstood the test of time.

this is a fascinating topic gaining Western scientific interest and proving the potential for holistic health benefits when used safely, and we recommend incorporating Gua Sha massage into your skincare routine 2-3x a week.

references

1. Dubinskaya A.D., Yurova O.V., Rogatkin D.A., Glazkova P.A., Glazkov A.A., Krasulina K.A., Selivanova D.S., Vvedenskaya O.Y., Shiverskikh Y.V. Changes in Microcirculation During Gua Sha Massage // Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. - 2023. - Vol. 22. - N. 2. - P. 112-119. doi: 10.38025/2078-1962-2023-22-2-112-119
2. Wang X, Jia B, Zhong H, et al. Effects of Gua Sha therapy on weightlifting training: a randomized trial. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine = Chung i tsa Chih Ying wen pan. 2019 Aug;39(4):575-581. PMID: 32186106.
3. WANG Xingze, YU Jie, CHEN Peijie. Effects to Resist Sport Fatigue Based on the Testing of the Heart Rate Variability with the Gua Sha Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine[J]. Journal of Shanghai University of Sport, 2021, 45(7): 76-83. doi: 10.16099/j.sus.2021.07.008
4. Maximilian Braun, Miriam Schwickert, Arya Nielsen, Stefan Brunnhuber, Gustav Dobos, Frauke Musial, Rainer Lüdtke, Andreas Michalsen, Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese “Gua Sha” Therapy in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Pain Medicine, Volume 12, Issue 3, March 2011, Pages 362–369, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01053.x
5. Arya Nielsen, Nicola T.M. Knoblauch, Gustav J. Dobos, Andreas Michalsen, Ted J. Kaptchuk,
6. The Effect of Gua Sha Treatment on the Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study in Healthy Subjects,
7. EXPLORE, Volume 3, Issue 5, 2007, Pages 456-466, ISSN 1550-8307,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2007.06.001.