Beauty: Gua Sha
Read along for a part two of our interview with Gab Abell from Studium Essentials. Below is everything you need to know about the Gua Sha tools.
I get so many questions about your striking Gua Sha tools that we stock in our store — what are the origins of the tool? What are the skin benefits?
I have a deep love and respect for Traditional Chinese Medicine (hoping to study it as my Honours Degree) which attracted me to Gua Sha Therapy. Gua Sha therapy was first recorded being used in the Ming Dynasty as early as 1368 and was used all over the body on acupressure points to promote the movement of Qi (energy) in the body and to remove stagnation. Gua Sha means to scrape, traditional Gua Sha technique will cause bruising or bring blood to the surface which can be seen for days afterwards, much like cupping. However of course for the face you want to practice Gua Sha technique very gently. You can do Gua Sha with anything from the edges of a jar lid or a chinese soup spoon. Using a Gua Sha tool made from stone holds metaphysical properties and personally I like to use it because I find it contours to the body and face better.
As for the skin benefits, using a Gua Sha tool on the face helps to bring blood to the surface giving the skin a radiant glow. It also helps to iron out those micro muscles that we use (and often tense) daily which can lead to fine lines and dull skin. There’s some pretty cool studies showing that using a Gua Sha tool can help to upregulate the expression of heme oxygenase -1 (H0-1), a gene responsible for cell protection and oxidative stress reduction. I like to think the muscles in the face the same as the body - they need massaging, exercise and stimulation in order to be working at their optimum! Using a Gua Sha tool on the face is kind of like a mini remedial massage and a really lovely way to start or end your day.
Your Gua Sha tools are made with Bian and Agate, what are the significance of these stones?
The use of Bian Stones are said to be the first tools used in acupuncture alongside moxibustion and herbs. Before insertion needles were used often bian stone shaped into flat ‘needles’ would be heated and applied to acupressure points. You can read about the use of bian in The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Classic which dates back 2,000 years. The stone was formed around 65 million years ago when a meteorite collided with Earth in Shandong, China. Bian stone issues infrared waves at 7-20 microns which are said to be healing to the body (general statement I know, but I am still learning). As for the Agate, I love the colour green so that is why I initially chose it. Agate is said to improve feelings of relaxation and helps bring clarity. Regardless of whether you’re into metaphysical properties of stones or not, I can agree that you really do feel blissful after using one.
Is there a best way to use the tools?
There’s a few hints to get the most of your Gua Sha Tool:
— Always make sure you generously apply a face oil before starting, you want the stone to glide not grab at the skin.
— Always start by going over your neck first.
— Go gently and slow, doing 3-5 strokes over each area.
— Hold the stone close to the skin at a 10-15 degree angle (almost flat).
— You want to see the area you are moving over go slightly pink but don’t want bruising on the face.
— You can use the stone at room temperature, hot (rest in warm water) or cold (put in iced water) - just make sure you don’t exposure it to extreme temperature changes otherwise it can shatter.
I’m working on making video tutorials about how to use them but for now my two favourite accounts to follow for guidance are Britta Plug and Dana Omari.
Follow Gab at @studiumessentials and read the rest of our interview here.
Click here to shop the Studium Gua Sha tools.