Who ever heard of rubbing a stone on your skin so you feel better? Chinese medicine practitioners have—they’ve used Gua Sha (also known as scraping, coining, or spooning) for thousands of years to move the body’s chi and heal a broad range of issues:
Gua sha is “used to treat conditions that have features of blood stasis, pain, and/or inflammation.”15 It helps improve the immune functions of the skin and boosts the immune system’s response16. Inspired by ancient methods, we've adapted the original, heritage-rich techniques to use with babies and pregnancy.
By stimulating microcirculation in the fascia right beneath the skin, gua sha fuels and strengthens your immune system to produce an antioxidant that helps lower inflammation. When that superficial fascia releases, it then transmits relaxation and increased circulation to deeper levels of fascia that also connect to your muscles and organs.
This cascade effect is why gua sha’s simple technique is so effective17.
Greater relaxation and increased circulation move toxins, inflammation, pain, and stress, up and out.
IS GUA SHA SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
A question we often encounter is, "Is Gua Sha safe during pregnancy?" The short answer is yes, when used appropriately and with careful consideration for a woman's specific health needs. Gua Sha, while powerful, is fundamentally a gentle, non-invasive technique designed to promote healing and well-being.
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant changes and unique stressors, and Gua Sha can be an effective tool to alleviate some common pregnancy discomforts, like back pain or headaches. However, certain areas, especially around the abdomen, should be avoided during pregnancy as a precaution.
It's essential to remember that every woman's pregnancy is unique, and what may be suitable for one may not be for another. As always, it's recommended to consult with a healthcare provider or a trained Gua Sha practitioner before incorporating Gua Sha into your pregnancy wellness routine. They can provide personalized advice based on your health history and pregnancy's progression.
So, to all the expectant mothers exploring holistic and nurturing care options – rest assured. Gua Sha, when practiced correctly and under professional guidance, can safely be a part of your journey to motherhood, offering a wealth of benefits for both your physical and emotional well-being.
AT HOME PREGNANCY MASSAGE - HOW TO...
Apply Nurturing Oil and use our gua sha tool to gently feel your way around the muscles in your belly. Try closing your eyes when you do this so you can really tune into the inner-workings of your body.
Hold the tool at a 15% angle, almost flat against the skin. Use light pressure to soothe and relax your stretching muscles as you massage in the oil and gently glide the gua sha tool over your belly, thighs, and other areas where stretch marks might appear. Expect the skin to blush, but if it reddens or feels irritated, use less pressure.
You can also use our specially designed tool on your face and all over the rest of your body for an extra soothing treatment.
Gua sha is increasingly researched and used because it works not just on the site where you use it, but even areas far from that. It works not only for new pain but for old ones, for musculoskeletal issues or digestive ones, and almost anything18.
Licensed acupuncturists will give you, as an adult, a much deeper treatment than you will give your baby or yourself at home.
Gua sha uses a hydrating serum, oil and a specially carved stone that allows you to apply gentle pressure to bone areas like your jaw or elbow or neck. Chinese medicine places great value in the energy of different stones from which the gua sha tools are carved; jade, rose quartz, and amethyst stones tend to be the most popular. Each stone carries its own healing characteristics and is used for certain issues.
Though the stones are the most popular tool, you can also use a Chinese ceramic spoon, a coin, or even the metal lid from a canning jar.
Gua sha is all the rage these days because it’s a simple, gentle, and effective home treatment for facial care, and can now be used all over for babies and moms.
Once you get past the “I can’t do anything except sleep and care for my baby” stage of being a new mom, gua sha is a soothing, relaxing treatment for both of you.
Babies can harbor muscle tension, pain, and stress just from being born, and gentle gua sha can help release it. Because the stone can be warm or cool, it helps soothe tension or fever.
Especially when your child is recovering from illness, gua sha massage is soft and soothing, and can create a gentle flush on the skin.
For new moms and women of all ages19, it helps with c-section scars20, engorged breasts21, muscle aches and pains, insomnia, fatigue22, sweating23, cellulite, and facial lines24.
And all you need for all these benefits is good skincare + the right tool.
Our BEB Organic Soothing & Nurturing Gua Sha Set gives you everything you need. Our stone is a heart-shaped rose quartz (the “love” stone that builds trust, harmony, and self-worth25) that fits comfortably in your hand and mimics the curves of your breasts and body. Our Soothing Serum and Nurturing Oil are 100% free of toxins and 101% full of love and ingredients to feed your baby’s skin from the outside in.
Whether it’s you or your baby who needs a little soothing and a lot of relaxation, gua sha could be the massage that does so much with so little.
But let’s remember that every time you massage your little one, that bonding, relaxation, and health become part of you, too—your stress lowers, your immune system is boosted, and your connection with your baby is deepened.
Who could ask for more?
