Gua Sha: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love the Scrape 😉
Alright, my beautiful readers, watchers, and dedicated stalkers (I see you lurking, and honestly? I respect the hustle), let’s talk about one of the sexiest, most fascinating skills I ever picked up: Gua Sha.
And honey, before we even start, let’s get one thing straight—this ain’t your grandma’s history lesson. We’re dissecting this like the vibrant, living, slightly scandalous practice it truly is.
First, Let’s Dissect the Word (Because I’m Fancy Like That 💅)
“Gua Sha” (say it with me, baby: “gwah shah”).
¡ “Gua” means to scrape or rub.
¡ “Sha” is that sneaky little word for “sand,” but spiritually? It’s the stagnation—the gunk, the inflammation, the bad juju—that’s been crashing on your body’s couch rent-free.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s the energy you need to evict. In Ayurveda? Imagine kapha throwing a block party in your lymph nodes 🎉—and pitta can’t even get through the door. Total traffic jam. No flow. No ease.
Translation: “Your congestion is killing my vibe, boo.”
A History Lesson… with a Side of Sass 🍑
So gua sha is ancient. We’re talking Paleolithic-humans-using-rocks-to-rub-their-own-aches ancient. This wasn’t some bougie spa treatment—it was a folk remedy born from the need to feel good with whatever was lying around. A smooth stone? A coin? The edge of a spoon? Honey, they made it work.
And here’s where Ckiara puts her two cents in…
(Y’all thought I was gonna say “sense,” I know. But cents spend better.)
When people get snooty about “folk remedies,” I cackle. Let’s keep it real: all science started with someone—a witchy woman, a curandera, an herbalist—noticing what actually worked. They were the O.G. scientists… often dismissed with a hefty side of racism.
Meanwhile, modern pharmaceuticals might heal you—but the side effects can range from “sudden butt-bleeding” to “wait, am I dead?” So let’s not act brand new. Both paths have value. Just be a smart, discerning diva about which one you choose.
This Practice Got Around 🌍✈️
The idea of “scraping the bad away” didn’t just stay in China—it packed its bags and traveled the world:
· Vietnam (Cao Gio): “Scraping for wind.” They used a coin to clear out bad vibes and excess wind. Balance, honey.
· Indonesia (Kerokan): Used a coin (historically a heavy Dutch one—colonial irony, I see you) with balm to scrape out “heatiness.”
· India (Ayurvedic Garshana): Dry brushing with raw silk gloves. It’s gua sha’s gentler, glow-up cousin. No marks, just magic.
¡ Ancient Greece & Rome (The Strigil): Athletes scraped off oil, sweat, and dirt. Was it hygiene? Yes. Did it feel invigorating? You bet your marble statue it did.
The Modern Glow-Up ✨
The biggest modern twist? Facial Gua Sha. We took this powerful healing tool and turned it into a sculpting, de-puffing, lit-from-within self-care ritual. It’s like yoga for your face—and honey, the results speak for themselves.
Ckiara’s Unorthodox Professional Take:
Do the marks look intense? Sure.
Are they bruises? Absolutely not.
A bruise is trauma—this is you finally bringing that deep-seated stagnation to the surface. It’s a glow-up in progress.
And can we talk about the “pseudoscience” haters? 🙄 Science is a method of asking questions—not the only source of answers. Some studies DO show gua sha boosts microcirculation. But even without a lab coat, centuries of fine-ass people feeling better counts for something.
My rule? If it works for you—and it’s done safely—OWN IT.
Ready to Scrape Your Way to Glory? 😘
So there you have it. Gua sha is ancient, global, a little bit rock and roll, and a whole lot of self-love. It respects the past while giving you a very present glow.
Now go on and scrape your way to glory, baby…
…or let me do it for you. For some change, of course 😉
#GuaSha #SelfCare #GlowUp #NaturalBeauty #CkiaraNation #ScrapeYourWayToGlory #FacialMassage #HolisticHealth #BeautyBlogger #GetTheLook


Links:
ckiaranation.com ¡
unforgettablesession.net ¡
ckiara.com ¡
Podcast