“Just like your sponges and brushes, gua sha tools can harbor bacteria and dirt, which can cause skin conditions such as sensitivity, irritation, and breakouts.”
A bacterial skin infection is also possible, although unlikely. To reduce this risk, make sure to properly clean your gua sha tool in between uses, or seek treatment from a provider who does.
Massaging the facial muscles, like with a gua sha, encourages lymph flow in the face, a particularly significant area given its high concentration of lymph nodes.
Lymphatic drainage massage is a form of gentle massage that encourages the drainage of lymph nodes and the movement of lymph fluids around the body. It can help relieve symptoms of lymphedema. The fluid in the lymphatic system helps remove waste and toxins from body tissues.
To clean it, it is recommended that you only use water or water mixed with mild soap. Add lukewarm water to a dish large enough to hold your jade piece. Mix in two or three drops of mild, alcohol-free dish or hand soap until totally dissolved. Soak your jade piece in the solution-filled dish for up to one minute.
Any natural stone, including rose quartz, jade, and amethyst used in rollers and other tools, can be porous and hold onto bacteria that cause breakouts. But, as skincare expert and medical aesthetician Cassandra Bankson explains, rose quartz is a crystalline mineral composed of the same materials as sand and glass.
You should see smoother and more contoured skin, especially when performing Gua Sha daily. Congratulations, now you have another holistic healing practice to incorporate into your skin care ritual!
“Just like your sponges and brushes, gua sha tools can harbor bacteria and dirt, which can cause skin conditions such as sensitivity, irritation, and breakouts.”
In use, it nearly always damages the skin. Negative side effects of gua sha range from minor ones—including dermatitis, burns and blood in the urine—to rare major effects including bleeding in the brain and severe injuries requiring skin grafts.
while low-cost plastic Gua Sha tools are convenient for occasional use, high-end mineral stone tools - especially precious jade - provide a noticeably superior Gua Sha massage experience that's both more effective and deeply relaxing.
We found a 400% increase in microperfusion (surface circulation of blood) for 7.5 minutes following gua sha, and a significant increase for the full 25 minutes following treatment that was studied. Scans returned to baseline at the 2-day point.
For crystal healing effects or gentle stimulation, rose quartz may be preferred. Rose quartz is associated with qualities like emotional healing, peace, and calm in crystal healing. Its gentle vibration is thought to help relax muscles when used in gua sha.
As the gua sha massage tool used by the practitioner, it applies downward pressured strokes over a treatment area on your body. And, these strokes raise small, red-rash or bruises marks to appear on your skin – which is the petechiae. It also means that it causes extravasation of blood from peripheral capillaries.
"At the end of your rolling routine, remember jade is a semi porous stone. This means anything you use with it over time will be absorbed so you should always clean your roller after each use to prevent bacteria buildup," says Snyder. "You can do this with soap and water or with alcohol."
In some cultures, there's a belief that once jade is put on, it starts absorbing and becoming one with your energy, creating a personal bond; removing it could disrupt this connection. There's also a superstition that taking off the bracelet can lead to bad luck or negate its protective and healing properties.
Pre-clean oils and other debris from the stones using soap and warm water. Rinse off the stones and if desired, wipe dry. Gently wipe the stones evenly using PREempt Wipes or spray each stone with RTU Spray. Allow the stones to remain wet for 3 minutes to kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Possible side effects of lymphatic drainage massage can include: Increased urination/bowel movements: after the massage, the lymph waste will need to be removed from the body. This leads to an increase in urination and bowel movements, as these are the methods the body uses to eliminate lymph waste from the body.