Do you wake up looking puffy and tired? Consider a simple technique to de-puff your face, called gua sha (pronounced gwah-sha).

What is Gua Sha?

This time-tested muscular sculpting technique is based in traditional Chinese medicine.

A type of massage that can relieve tension in the face, it also helps lower inflammation, improve blood circulation, increase skin elasticity, and smooth out wrinkles and smile lines.

Benefits of Gua Sha

Regular gua sha facial massage can help contour the face, lift the jaw and eyebrows, lessen dark circles, and reduce puffiness.

Some even report this technique helps relieve sinus pressure, tension headaches, neck pain, TMJ, and migraines.

About Gua Sha Tools

To perform a gua sha on yourself, you need a gua sha tool.

These scraping devices are typically made from jade stone. You may find one that’s rose quartz, obsidian, glass, or even wood.

Each material offers its own benefits. Jade is the most common and generally preferred, since it’s firm, cool to the touch, and soothing to the skin.

Gua sha tools are unique looking. Typically, they are flat and smooth with a shape like an elongated heart. You may come across moon designs, as well as different rectangular or oblong versions.

What they all have in common are smooth, rounded edges. These edges gently scrape over the contours of the face, providing a healing facial massage.

Performing Facial Gua Sha

Here’s how to perform a facial gua sha on yourself.

1. Preparation

   Prep your face by patting over a facial oil. This allows the gua sha tool to slide over the skin smoothly and easily.

   If you prefer using a cream lotion, you may need to apply it more than once during the massage.

   Make sure your hands and the gua sha tool are clean.

2. Jawline

   Hold the gua sha tool at a slight angle (about 30 to 45 degrees). Position the notch of the tool (that’s the top of the heart), so it hugs the center part of your chin along your jawline. You can also use the long, slightly indented, and curved side of the tool.

   With gua sha tool in hand, glide it along the edge of your jawline moving up toward each ear. (Holding your chin firmly with your free hand may make this easier.) Use long, sweeping motions to help contour the area.

   Repeat for a total of five times on each side of the jaw. You may want to hold the gua sha in place for a second or two at the end of each sweeping motion.

3. Forehead

   Move on to the forehead. Divide this area into three sections, starting at the forehead’s center. Glide the gua sha tool up and out toward your hairline. Drag the tool up and over each brow bone, moving from the center of your face out.

4. Cheeks

   Now on to the cheeks. Start on one side of the nose and sweep up toward your ear. Repeat with the other cheek. Move down the cheek two more times on each side, repeating the movement. 

5. Lips

   If you wish to work the lip area, firmly hold the skin above one side of the lip. Glide the gua sha tool over the lips to create a plumping effect. 

Precautions

During the massage, avoid rubbing the gua sha tool up and down or back and forth. This will only stretch and aggravate your skin.

You want to see a little redness on the skin, but never enough that the face starts to hurt.

Frequency

To avoid bruises and bursting capillaries, don’t press too hard when using the tool.

How often should you do a gua sha facial massage?

Consistency creates the best results, so aim for three to five times a week with about three minutes per session.

Beyond the Face

If you have a bloated abdomen, you can also use your gua sha tool to massage your belly.

1. Start by moving the tool in a downward motion across the upper abdominal area six times. Repeat. 
2. Next, go to the lower abdominal area near the hips. Move the tool down and in toward your pubic bone. 
3. Last, move it in a counterclockwise, circular motion about 24 times. 

A gua sha massage on the abdomen can be done every day, but even a few times a week can be effective.

This technique is best performed on an empty stomach, so there’s no interference with the digestive process.

You can also try using the gua sha tool behind your neck to alleviate tension.

For an extra cooling effect, place the tool in the fridge for 30 minutes before using. 

Keep it Clean

Occasionally disinfect the gua sha tool by placing it in boiling water (if the material allows for this).

You can also immerse the tool in a watered-down bleach solution for a few minutes.

If the tool chips or breaks, discard it. 

It may not have the strong emotional appeal of the heart or the strength and sturdiness of the bones, but the lymph system needs our attention too. Fortunately this is changing, as we learn of its supreme importance in keeping us well.

Located outside the body’s cells, the lymphatic system is a fluid space. Twice as long as the blood network, the lymphatic system circulates right alongside it, acting as a drain for cellular waste. It also acts as a defender, supporting the immune system by trapping pathogens and filtering them out.

Unlike the blood system with the heart, the lymphatic system does not have a natural pump. What it has are series of ducts and nodes that help move fluid along. The lymph nodes are located throughout the body, including under the armpits, in the neck, around the groin, and in the digestive system.

Lymph Problems

When we’re dehydrated, tired, lacking in sleep, full of toxins, or fighting an infection, our lymphatic system struggles. This causes stagnation and results in painful swelling and inflammation, and is an indicator that something’s amiss.

Symptoms of Lymph Issues

Here are some common signs of congested lymph:

• Acne and other skin issues
• Cellulite
• Constipation
• Earaches
• Excess water weight
• Fluid retention
• Food and chemical sensitivities
• Inflamed tonsils
• Insomnia
• Nasal congestion
• Pain
• Sore throat

Self-Diagnosis

Try this easy and quick test: depress the skin on the back of your hand with your thumb.

If it takes three or more seconds for the skin to return to its normal color after being pressed, your lymphatic system is most likely sluggish.

Treating Lymph Issues

What to do about underperforming lymph?

Stimulating Flow

These routines all stimulate lymph flow:

• Physical exercise
• Hot yoga
• Sauna
• Infrared light therapy
• Dry skin brushing
• Rebounding on a trampoline
• Deep belly breathing
• Massage

If you wear underwire bras, consider changing to wireless. Many lymph glands are located in the breast area. Underwires are constricting and limit circulation in breast tissue.

Lymph Massage

Massage is a particularly healing and effective option, as it helps stagnant lymph move through the tissues. A professional licensed lymphatic massage therapist gently massages the areas over the lymph canals and encourages the emptying of the lymph nodes.

You can also try self-massage. But keep in mind that it’s best to work gently when massaging lymph. Use a light, stroking motion.

It’s important to note that if your lymphatic system is too congested and your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, a lymphatic massage may be stressful for your body.

Affected areas are often tender to the touch and the skin may appear overstretched.

Self-Massage Tips

• If swelling is in the arms, gently massage your skin upward toward the armpits.
• If fluid retention is in the legs, stroke upward toward the groin area.
• Major strokes should be directed toward the kidneys to help with waste removal.
• Other areas to concentrate on include along the jawline and down each side of the neck.
• Massage around the bikini line area. This is where the leg creases when you lift it.

Essential Oils for Lymph Issues

Benefits

With antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, essential oils can:

• help with blood circulation
• reduce tissue swelling
• stimulate lymphatic movement
• lessen toxins
• decongest lymph

Essential oils also help open drainage channels in the body, like those in the lymphatic system.

Other ways to obtain essential oils’ benefits for the lymph include adding a small amount to a bath, diffusing in a diffuser, or mixing a few drops into a body wash.

Recommend Oils

Lymph-loving essential oils include:

• cedarwood atlas
• cypress
• frankincense
• geranium
• ginger
• grapefruit
• juniper berry
• lemon
• lime
• rosemary
• spearmint
• sweet orange
• tea tree
• wintergreen

Helpful Tips

• Follow the ratio of one drop of essential oil per one teaspoon of carrier oil, unless a recipe instructs otherwise.
• Dilute the essential oils by adding them to carrier oils such as jojoba, almond, avocado, grape seed, or fractionated coconut.

Precautions

Always perform a patch test on the skin before using essential oils. Make sure there’s no redness, burning, or irritation on the skin, or any breathing issues upon smelling the intended oil. Avoid if any of these occur.

Recommended Blends

• Toxin Expeller

  For a lymph toxin expeller:

  • Ingredients

    • 7 drops juniper berry essential oil
    • 5 drops lemon essential oil
    • 6 drops black pepper essential oil
    • 1 ounce avocado oil

  • Directions

    • Blend the ingredients in a dropper bottle.
    • Use small amounts when massaging.

• Lymph Stimulator

  For a stimulating massage for the lymph:

  • Ingredients

    • 5 drops geranium essential oil
    • 6 drops wintergreen essential oil
    • 2 drops tea tree essential oil
    • 1 ounce grapeseed oil

  • Directions

    • Blend the ingredients in a dropper bottle.
    • Use small amounts when massaging.

• Lymphedema Blend 1

  From The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

  • Ingredients

    • Juniper Berry 5 drops
    • Grapefruit 2 drops
    • Cypress 2 drops
    • Sweet Orange 5 drops

  • Directions

    1. Blend essential oils together.
    2. Dilute 1 to 3 drops per tsp of carrier oil.
    3. Use only as much as required.

• Lymphedema Blend 2

  From The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

  • Ingredients

    • Lavender 6 drops
    • Juniper berry 3 drops
    • German Chamomile 6 drops

  • Directions

    1. Blend essential oils together.
    2. Dilute 1 to 3 drops per tsp of carrier oil.
    3. Use only as much as required.

You don’t have to be an endurance athlete to use a percussive therapy device, though they’re very popular among triathletes, ultramarathoners, and the like. Massage guns, which deliver a combo of rapid, repetitive pressure and vibrations to engage both the soft tissue and the outer skin, will relax muscles whether they’re sore from running or hunching over a desk all day long.

Percussive Therapy Device Options

An ideal choice weighs less than three pounds, has a two-hour-plus battery life and a maximum noise level of 55–65 decibels, and comes with four or more attachments.

If you’re in the market for one, things to consider include:

• Price

  Massage guns range from under $100 to $600 or more.

• Need and Purpose

  Look at higher-end models if you’re an athlete or are treating a condition like sciatica or tendinitis.

• Mechanics

  • Percussion Force

    Industry standard is 30–50 pounds of force for moderate intensity.

  • Stroke Length

    Industry standard is 13–16 mm stroke length (how much the head can move) for deep tissue massage.

  • Speed

    Look for more than three speeds with 1,400–2,800 percussions per minute.

• Ergonomics

  The jigsaw and triangular frames found on pricier models offer top-notch ergonomics, but the standard handheld model is also ergonomically sound.