17 Gua Sha Stone Benefits and Why You Should Have One

DISCLAIMER: The following post is intended for educational purposes only. Discuss allergies, sensitivities, and medical conditions with your doctor before use. Don’t insert/ingest them. Avoid them on wounds, rashes, scars, and sensitive skin. Keep away from kids and pets. 

Gua Sha literally means scrape, stroke, and press marks. It’s an Ancient Chinese massaging tool for rejuvenating the face, neck, and shoulders. 

What is Gua Sha Stone good for? Does a Gua Sha stone actually work? How to use a Gua Sha stone? 

Gua Sha Stone improves blood circulation, collagen, relaxation, skin tone, chakras, detox, stress relief, pain management, psychic abilities, sound sleep, passion, and fertility. It removes lymphatic fluid and toxins from the skin via scraping motions.

I’ll teach you where Gua Sha massages come from, 15 different shapes, and how to use them in skincare and spirituality.

What is a Gua Sha Stone?

A Gua Sha Stone is a one-part tool with rounded edges and flat faces, designed for smooth scraping massages on the face, neck, and other body parts. It’s made from crystals like Jade or Rose Quartz and is called bian or flat in Chinese.

Gua Sha is best for relieving tension, boosting circulation, draining lymphatic fluid, and healing by Reiki. Did you know it’s also known as Guasha, Bian Stone, Gua Sha Board, and Gua Sha Spoon?

I love Gua Sha and highly recommend it, although I had to take a break from Gua Sha in 2021 due to a skin allergy (called skin writing or Dermographism). I restarted using it after the allergies went away last year. 

If you’re allergic and wondering about it, this is what you need to do: don’t use Gua Sha on sensitive skin. While many pregnant women opt for detox facials with Gua Sha stone, it’s important to allow it only under the discretion of a qualified professional.

Note: Always dilute essential oils with a skin-safe carrier oil instead of directly applying them. 

Here are some shapes of Gua Sha Stone with their target body parts: 

What Does a Gua Sha Stone Do?

Different types and parts of the Gua Sha stone target detoxing by clearing or untangling tensions in different parts of your face and body. It’s an ancient massage technique for adults. 

Professionals dab oils on your face to prepare it. Then they massage oils into your pores using a Gua Sha board at a tilted angle. Different types of Guasha stones target tensions, blockages, and knots in different body parts. 

17 Gua Sha Stone Benefits

The ancient scraping technique using smoothened crystals is still trending because they’re easy to do, cost around $10, and are perfect for packing into your skincare routine. Learn how to do Guasha for physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. 

Relaxation and Strength 

Did you know Gua Sha is great for sore muscles? It can help relieve muscle tension and works best with a relaxing oil, like lavender, especially in circular motions.

You can gently massage your neck, arm, foot, or shoulders with a cleft-shaped board for respite after a hectic day at work to gain power and relief.

Blood Circulation and Detox 

Gua Sha was originally used for improving blood circulation around the face, cheeks, or jaws with circular, upward strokes. It drains lymphatic fluid and reduces puffiness. 

Does Gua Sha slim your face? Yes, Guasha massage can eliminate waste, fluid, and toxins to give you a slimmed-down or sculpted look. Use a wing-shaped Gua Sha board with almond or rosehip oil to improve blood circulation and detox.

Energy Cleansing and Charging 

Massages affect us in many ways besides how awesome they feel. You can use it to clear blockages or charge chakras by stroking with any type of board around your chakra locations. Use a powerful oil, like sandalwood, and visualize your intention at this time.

Do you know where to keep crystals on your body for cleansing and charging chakras?

Reduce Cellulite and Wrinkles 

Does Gua Sha change your face? Yes, Guasha boards improve oxygen supply to the nooks and crannies of your skin to release tension and break up fascia (a type of connective tissue). Cellulite, lines, and wrinkles on your face go down, resurfacing a youthful face. 

Heart-shaped Guasha boards with lavender oils are good for this, even around the thighs and calves. 

Stress Relief 

Massaging the neck, shoulders, temples, feet, back, and chest with soothing scents, like chamomile, relieves tensions, knots, and blockages in your body’s energy centers. 

I suggest using a Gua Sha board shaped like teeth or squares to target tensed areas with straight strokes. 

Menstrual Relief

Whether cramps or weakness make your menstrual cycle challenging, Rose Quartz and Jade Guasha boards offer soothing companionship and support.

Try using Clary Sage oil for massaging your lower back with a fish-shaped or dolphin-shaped board to help with menstrual relief. 

Reiki Healing 

Did you know you can channel universal Qi with Gua Sha? While Reiki practitioners channel healing energies into the chakra locations without touching, experts can massage with S-shaped boards in slow or deep strokes along the 7-chakra locations.

Anti-Inflammatory 

Gua Sha stones can calm and cool the body by soothing inflammation. I love doing gentle massages with the board in nearby chakras when I feel inflamed in the elbows or knees. 

I suggest using antiseptic or antibacterial oils, like peppermint, coconut, or lemon. Go for a rounded board for this. 

NEVER use Gua Sha stones on broken skin or inflamed areas.

Fertility 

A fish-shaped Gua sha board made of Rose Quartz is the holy grail of fertility massages. You don’t need to use it on your abdomen or sensitive areas, but hips, lower back, fingers, and the bridge of your nose. Healers say rose oils are good aphrodisiacs for fertility massages. 

Collagen Boost

Guasha massages promote blood circulation and lymphatic flow on top of breaking fascia tissues. It helps the body with anti-aging by absorbing more nutrients that make collagen and elastin. 

Dolphin and S-shaped boards are great for upward and outward strokes around your neck, cheeks, and jaw, especially with carrot seed or helichrysum oil.

Headaches 

If your sinus headaches are wreaking havoc, do a session with S-Shaped Guasha boards around your temples, eyes, brows, forehead, neck, and shoulders. 

Go for the eucalyptus, rosemary, or lavender essential oil for clearing headaches due to the Crown Chakra blockages. 

Psychic Abilities 

Because the seventh, sixth, and fifth chakras are located around the face, you can open them with Gua Sha massages using pressing motions in this area. They help you tap into metaphysical benefits, like mindfulness, intuition, clairvoyance, and wisdom.  

I love using curved and folded Guasha boards with frankincense, myrrh, bergamot, or lavender oil to meditate and open the higher chakras while doing Gua Sha.

Acne Scars 

Both ridged and sawtoothed Guasha boards are good for breaking up the scar tissue on fully-healed acne scars. You must employ firm strokes to stimulate lymphatic drainage and reduce scar tissue, ideally with tea tree or rosehip oil. 

Don’t try Gua Sha on any type of scar unless you’re an expert. 

Sound Sleep 

Did you know Gua Sha is one of the massages good for deep sleep? My husband and I often give each other these massages (I get it at night, and him in the morning) by setting 10-minute timers via Alexa. 

We switch between heart-shaped and S-shaped boards with gentle strokes around the shoulders, neck, and feet. Try chamomile, vetiver, bergamot, and sandalwood oils for this.

Pain Management

Guasha boards in the fish and wing shapes are scraped along the jawline, lower back, and hips for pain related to TMJ and sciatica. 

Experts suggest using a soothing oil, like peppermint or lavender, on trigger points like the jawline and outward from the center of the hips. Consult an experienced acupuncturist, massage therapist, or chiropractor for this. 

Passion and Love 

Did you know the Heart Chakra is also associated with romance and love? Massaging each other with Guasha boards can increase intimacy and passion between couples. Aphrodisiac oils, like neroli, sandalwood, jasmine, and rose are great for this. Use heart-shaped boards.

Mood Enhancer 

Once I suddenly felt hopeless and detached, my husband did Guasha massages around my temples, neck, shoulders, and back, which pumped me up. He used sweeping motions with S-shaped and N-shaped boards for this. Use bergamot oil if you want his advice. 

How To Use Gua Sha Stone on Face? 

Gua Sha stone is massaged on the face after dabbing it with oils. Can you use Gua Sha stone without oil? Yes, you can use Guasha stone for face without oil. Avoid them to prevent skin irritations and rashes. 

What is the correct way to use a Gua Sha? 

• Step 1: Clean the Guasha board and your face.
• Step 2: Dab dots of skin-safe oil or facial serum all over the area you wish to work on. 
• Step 3: Hold the Guasha board at a 15-degree angle at the center of your forehead and stroke outward to the temple for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Step 4: Use the flat or angled edges to massage your cheeks toward the temple or your shoulders in upward strokes for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Step 5: Use the rounded edge to massage the under-eye region to your temples for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Step 6: Use the pointed ends to massage along your jawline, mouth, eyebrows, and neck for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Step 7: Wash your face with cold water and a mild cleanser then moisturize it with a gentle lotion. 

Enjoy your Guasha glow!

Tips for Using Gua Sha Stone and Aftercare 

Here are some aftercare tips to keep in mind before doing Guasha:

• What kind of oil do you use for Gua Sha? 

Oils like jojoba, rosehip, almond, grapeseed, or argan oil are good for Gua Sha massages on the face and the neck. Go for thicker oils, such as coconut, shea butter, or cocoa butter, when massaging other parts of your body.

• Which serum to use with Gua Sha? 

Use hydrating and toning serums with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, green tea, aloe vera, or tea tree when doing Guasha.

• Should I wash my face before and after Gua Sha? 

Yes, you should wash your face before and after Gua Sha. Use a scrub and wash with warm water before Guasha to remove dirt, grime, and debris. After the session, wash with lukewarm or cold water to soothe irritations. 

• How to clean Gua Sha stone after use? 

The best way to clean Guasha stone is by cleaning alcohol. You can also use lukewarm water to clean the stone before and after every use. Dry it with a soft cloth before keeping it in a safe place. 

• Where to and where not to use Gua Sha Stones? 

You can do Guasha massages on most body parts, like the face, neck, shoulders, jaws, palms, arms, legs, calves, and back. Avoid using it in sensitive areas, like nether regions and wounds. 

Avoid doing Guasha if you suffer from allergies and skin sensitivities, like eczema and psoriasis. 

Is Jade or Rose Quartz Better for Gua Sha?

Due to their metaphysical properties, Jade and Rose Quartz are good for doing Guasha. Not one is better than the other. Jade brings harmony and nourishment, while Rose Quartz works on well-being and inner strength. 

Let’s compare Jade vs. Rose Quartz Guasha stones based on their physical and metaphysical properties. 

Jade and Rose Quartz Gua Sha stones open the Heart Chakra, attracting love, prosperity, abundance, and joy toward you. 

Jade is used for Gua Sha more than Rose Quartz, especially if you go back in time. 

The rule of thumb is to go for Jade if you want balance and Rose Quartz for soothing effects.

Do you know other Guasha stones? Amethyst, Obsidian, Buffalo Horn, and Wood are some alternatives. 

FAQ 

• Is it okay to use Gua Sha every day?

Yes, it is good to use Gua Sha once a day. Go for a morning routine to depuff, clear, and tone your facial muscles after waking up. Nighttime routines are great, especially with overnight serums. Skipping a day or two is also good to avoid irritating your skin.

• How often should you use a Gua Sha Stone?

It’s good to use Gua Sha three to four times a week, ideally on alternative days. 

• How long does it take to see the results of Gua Sha Stones?

It takes two to three hours to see the results of Gua Sha stones, and results are typically evident after the first session if done properly. 

• What happens if you use Gua Sha too much?

If you do too much Gua Sha, it leads to damaged blood vessels that may be irreparable. Avoid adding too much pressure when scraping, and check your angle if you feel any pain. 

Guasha massages use scraping motions that naturally lead to redness afterward due to broken blood vessels. If you’re too aggressive, the damage may be more permanent. 

• What time of day is best for Gua Sha?

Guasha is recommended once daily in the morning or evening but best in the mornings. Skin experts say it reduces puffiness in the mornings and improves relaxation in the evenings. 

You can do it on alternate days, but remember to have a 24-hour break between sessions. 

• Can Gua Sha cause pimples?

Yes, breaking out after a Guasha session is possible if your skin contains blackheads or pimples. 

• What motions to avoid during Gua Sha?

Don’t stroke the Gua Sha stone downward because it moves the Chi energy downward. 

Start Doing Gua Sha Daily!

Gua Sha stones are tools to massage your nose bridge, cheeks, chin, neck, shoulder, palms, arms, legs, calves, foot, back, and hips in circular, outward, or upward motions. 

We learned about 15 shapes and Gua Sha stone benefits for the face, like collagen boost, glow, detox, blood flow, and more.  

Did you know Gua Sha is less metaphysics and more science? It’s a holistic healing method to improve the skin by releasing tension and blockages in your body and spirit. 

Using the Guasha face stone once a day with semi-circular strokes aimed outward or upward works wonders!

You can target different body parts on different days or squeeze a 5-minute session before the usual makeup or moisturizing regimen. Guasha stones are great for forehead wrinkles, under-eye bags, and saggy jawlines. 

Stay blessed ~