All About Ayurvedic Bodywork

I love a good massage. Who doesn’t? A great massage allows for a chance to unwind, reset, and heal. As a practicing massage therapist for the past 14 years, I’ve been working to give my patients what their body and mind craves during each and every bodywork session. And I have to admit, it’s been hard work, both physically and emotionally.

So I was intrigued when one of my Ayurvedic teachers shared with me that, “Many massage practitioners tire themselves out instead of letting the oil do the work.” At first I was confused. Let the oil do the work? What does this mean? Aren’t I the one doing the work? How would the oil know what to do?

Well, my recent study of Ayurvedic bodywork has brought me some answers.

Ayurvedic bodywork is different from a “normal” massage. And a lot of that has to do with the oils being used.

Everybody has a constitution that is uniquely their own, along with constantly shifting daily patterns that sway from balanced to imbalanced. Taking this into account, at the beginning of every Ayurvedic bodywork session I choose an oil that is appropriate for you in this moment to bring about balance.

The chosen oils are heated to a comfortable temperature and applied to the body. The heat along with the help of specific massage techniques and marma/acupressure points facilitates the penetration of the oil through the skin, deep into your tissues, with the final destination being every individual cell in your body. So the focus of Ayurvedic bodywork, beyond relaxation and pain relief, is to touch the deepest aspects of ourselves and promote cellular renewal.

You know those people that glow with good health? In Ayurveda it’s said that glow comes from abundant ojas. Ojas has many functions in our body, one being longevity and deeply rooted health. And ojas is sustained, in large part, by using the proper balance of oils and healthy fats in our diet and on our skin.

Ojas is like a savings account; it’s best to replenish it whenever you make a withdrawal.

You lose ojas through:

• Stress

• Illness

• Sexual activity

• Lack of sleep

• Generally pushing your body beyond its limits

If you avoid using fats and oil in cooking or applying oil to your skin, your ojas savings account will drop to a negative balance. This may cause you to become brittle and dry in the body as well as experience anxiety, critical thoughts, or obsessive thinking. Using oil on your body for therapeutic purposes builds your vitality, calms your mind and helps you live a more balanced life.

Interested in trying some new therapies to increase your own ojas? I am now offering two different Ayurvedic bodywork treatments at Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts.

Each of these treatments works to:

• Build ojas

• Strengthen the immune system to prevent illness

• Nourish the cells, tissues and energetic channels

• Impart softness, strength and smoothness to the body

• Decrease the effects of aging

• Bestow good vision

• Increase longevity

• Benefit sleep patterns

• Make skin glow

• Strengthen the body’s tolerance to stress

• Stimulate the internal organs of the body, thereby increasing circulation

I hope this has piqued your interest in Ayurvedic bodywork and look forward to supporting you in your health goals at the clinic. You can learn more about each appointment and book an Ayurvedic bodywork appointment on our book-now page.

*The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

Why we bleed patients on purpose

As Chinese medical practitioners we have a variety of modalities to choose from. Most, if not all, of our patients receive acupuncture and cupping, maybe some moxa now and then, or some tension relieving guasha. Digging deeper into the Chinese medical toolbox reveals treatment options that are less well known AND can be incredibly effective in the proper circumstances.

One of these lesser known treatments is micro-letting, AKA using a small lancet to prick an area of the body and draw a few drops of blood. Micro-letting is traditionally part of both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines, along with many other traditional medical systems. And if you’re thinking, “That sounds positively medieval,” you’re not alone. However, read on to discover the science behind this powerful treatment tool. It’s going to get a little technical, but I promise you it’s worth it.

Our veins are part of two distinct circulatory systems:

• the deep venous system 

• the superficial venous system

An example of the superficial system are those veins you can see in your arms and legs.  

The deep veins lie deeper in our muscle tissue, underneath our fascia (sheets of connective tissue that attach, stabilize, and separate muscles and other internal organs.) The depth of this system allows the deep veins to operate under higher pressure and handle higher volumes of blood.  

The two systems are connected by perforating veins, so-called because they perforate the fascia.

The efficiency of blood flow in the deep veins depends on venous pressure vs. tissue pressure:

• Venous pressure is the pressure pushing the blood through the veins back to the heart

• Tissue pressure is the pressure exerted against the deep veins by the tissue surrounding them

If you experience an injury or inflammation, swollen tissues press against the deep veins, impeding blood flow back to the heart.

Our friends the perforating veins offer an alternative route for blood flow back to the heart, so if blood is having trouble flowing through the deep veins in a particular region of the body, blood can travel through the perforating veins to the superficial veins and then back to the heart.

In other words, our venous system acts like an intricate highway structure where if one portion of the road is congested with lots of traffic, you are rerouted to another road that can get you to your destination quicker. Micro-letting is the tool we use to reroute blood flow when it’s congested and is having issues reaching its desired destination.

Take for example compartment syndrome. This is when tissue pressure in an area of the body is greater than venous pressure in that area.

This happens typically after an injury. The tissue swells and presses against the veins, impeding blood flow.  

A similar situation can occur with an inflamed organ, nerve or joint.  

While Western medicine describes a few cases of impaired blood flow in the deep veins such as deep vein thrombosis and compartment syndrome, Chinese medicine recognizes a multitude of different phenomena where increased tissue pressure in joints, muscles or organs can impede venous blood flow.  

By micro-letting blood at appropriate points, we are drawing congestion off the muscle, nerve, artery or organ through the perforating veins. This removal of congestion can relieve pain (sometimes instantaneously!) and dramatically hastens the healing process.  

What can bleeding treat?

Micro-letting is particularly effective for conditions which involve nerves: sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, optic neuritis, droopy eyelid, nerve pain following surgery, carpal tunnel, shingles pain, neuropathy, etc.  

But it treats much more!  A partial list includes:

• Acne

• Joint sprains

• Neck pain

• Back pain

• Facial pain

• Knee pain

• Foot pain

• Rashes and other dermatological conditions

• Anxiety

• Arthritis

• Bell’s Palsy

• Cardiac conditions

• Headaches/migraines

• Concussion

• Cramps

• Digestive complaints (Crohn's, IBS, IBD, reflux)

• Painful periods and other gynecological conditions

• Hemorrhoids

• High blood pressure

• Insomnia

• Liver conditions

• PTSD

• Sore throat

• Spider veins

Isn’t it nice when something so simple can be so effective?

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*The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

Gua Sha: what it is, what it does, and why it feels awesome

Gua sha is the practice of press-stroking or scraping the surface of the skin to produce intentional redness and petechiae, known as “sha”. It’s also known as scraping, spooning, kerokan, or coining. Gua sha is an ancient practice rooted in Chinese medicine and culture, treasured for its versatility and powerful healing impact. In much of south and east Asia, therapies like this are a common form of folk medicine, often performed among family members for ailments of all kinds. From a Chinese medicine perspective, when things become stuck, pain and dysfunction result. Gua sha moves what is stuck, resolves pain, and improves function. Gua sha has beneficial anti-inflammatory and immune system protective effects, helps prevent and treat acute infectious illness, reduces pain, treats acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues, and supports internal medicine concerns like digestive or respiratory disorders. More gentle gua sha techniques can be performed on the skin of the face to encourage a bright, smooth, and lifted complexion. When done properly, gua sha is very comfortable and safe.

In recent years, gua sha has become popular in the mainstream. Gua sha tools and appropriated techniques have become a hot commodity in the beauty industry. Many chiropractors and physical therapists practice Graston Technique for muscle pain and tension, a system derived from from gua sha techniques. Because gua sha is a therapeutic intervention, it is best to receive gua sha treatment and learn gua sha techinques from a trained Chinese medicine provider.

What can gua sha treat?

Gua sha can be used for a variety of concerns, such as....

• preventing the onset of colds and reducing fever

• asthma, chest congestion, chest tightness

• breaking up scar tissue from injuries or surgeries

• tight muscles and "knots" anywhere in the body

• promoting lymph fluid circulation and detoxification

• plantar fasciitis pain and tension

• supporting digestion and promoting regular bowel movements

• general wellness and preventative care

• when performed with light, non-marking pressure on the skin of the face, it encourages movement and drainage of mucous from the sinuses, moves lymphatic fluid, reduces puffiness, sculpts the tissues, and supports a vibrant, smooth complexion

What does gua sha feel like? Does it hurt?

Gua sha feels like firm, steady, stroking pressure against the skin. During a treatment, the skin is lubricated with oil to ensure a smooth, easy glide. Everyone’s tolerance for gua sha varies. Some people love firm pressure, while other people do best with very light pressure. Light pressure usually feels extremely soothing. When medium to firm pressure is applied, it feels like a deep massage, and can occasionally “hurt so good”, but should never be painful. The intensity of pressure is guided based on what is most appropriate for your symptoms, and what feels best for you. Gua sha performed on the skin of the face and the front and sides of the neck is very gentle to protect the delicate skin and structures of these areas.

What are gua sha tools made of?

Essentially, anything with a smooth edge that you can easily hold on to can be a gua sha tool.

In folk healing traditions, gua sha might be done with a porcelain soup spoon or a coin - it’s called “coining” in some regions for a reason! There are also an abundance of manufactured gua sha tools in a variety of shapes in sizes, made from materials like stone, bone, horn, plastic, or metal. In the clinic, we often use disposable jar lids, porcelain soup spoons, or stone tools.

Is gua sha safe?

Although the red color of “sha” can be surprising the first time you see it, when done appropriately the practice of gua sha is safe and non-invasive, and can be used on patients of all ages. Gua sha may not be appropriate for everyone, however - read on!

What are the contraindications (reasons not to get gua sha)?

• If you are very weak, are dealing with a prolonged disease, or have low blood pressure, you may be able to receive gua sha, but it would be gentle treatment and you should give yourself plenty of time to rest afterward

• If you have a bleeding disorder or taking blood thinners, gua sha treatments may or may not be appropriate, depending on your unique situation

• Pregnant people should not receive gua sha on the trapezius, low back, sacrum, or abdomen

• Gua sha should not be done on areas of severely dry/flaky, infected, broken, sunburned, burned, inflamed skin, acne, or cysts

• Gha sha should not be performed on areas of edema, ascites, or swelling

• Gua sha should not be performed over broken bones, herniated discs, dislocations

• People should not receive gua sha if experiencing severe health conditions such as cardiac failure, renal failure, liver failure

How often do I need gua sha?

That depends entirely on your body and your situation. Acute or short-term symptoms tend to resolve more quickly than long-term symptoms. We have some patients who come every week for treatments involving gua sha, while some patients only get it once a month or once a seasons. Because it has a cumulative effect, for chronic issues we recommend coming weekly for 4-6 treatments including gua sha, acupuncture, and other modalities to get the best results, then re-evaluating.

If you had a recent treatment with marking gua sha, please wait for the sha to completely fade before performing gua sha again on that same area.

Gentle facial gua sha can be performed daily if done properly.

How do I take care of myself after receiving gua sha?

Avoid exposure to the wind, drafts, direct sun, and cold for at least 24 hours, preferably until the sha is gone! Keep the area well covered and warm.

If activity has been reduced due to pain or stiffness, and feels better after gua sha, build up the activity level slowly to prevent re-injury and to rebuilt strength and mobility.

Avoid large quantities of cold, sour, or salty foods and drinks after gua sha treatment. From a Chinese dietary therapy perspective, cold stagnates and congeals the qi, worsening pain! Sour foods contribute to nervousness and increase pain conditions. Salty foods can also worsen pain by increasing swelling and puffiness.

How do I schedule, or learn how to do gua sha myself?

At the clinic, gua sha can be included in acupuncture appointments as appropriate for the patient and their chief concerns. Your provider will help determine if gua sha is right for you during appointment!

To perform gua sha on yourself safely and effectively, it is best to learn from a trained Chinese medicine practitioner. We love educating our patients on how they can do gua sha themselves as part of their own self-care routine! If this is something you’re interested in, ask about it at your next treatment.

We also strongly recommend the gua sha educational tutorials and traditional Chinese facial tools from Dr. Paige Yang, LAc of Yang Face.

Source:
Nielsen, A. (2014). Gua sha: : A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice. London: Elsevier Health Sciences UK.

*The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.