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Finding Well-being through Emotional Freedom Technique

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by Sara Illig

“The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system,” says the founder of Emotional Freedom Techniques, Gary Craig.

Since beginning my practice in 1996, I have tried to assist my clients in every aspect of finding well-being. Since many things were outside of my scope of practice as a massage therapist, I began researching ways to help through other avenues, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and psychological approaches seeking to explore the physiology of healing. Why was anger showing up as physical pain? Why, when a person is a pain in the neck, does one’s neck actually reflect that pain during massage? It wasn’t difficult to put it together as a mere observer, but to the client it was a mystery.

Stress, anxiety, and emotional ruts all manifest in the body in some way. While stress is a given in our culture, the idea that stress and emotional trauma have a physical manifestation have not always been recognized.

In 2005 a friend introduced me to EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, known today simply as “Tapping.” This innovative therapy helped reduce the discomfort trapped in my tissue by using the very simple method of talk therapy while tapping on meridian points. It quickly relieved my PTSD, anxiety, and depression, opening new doors to the new life before me; for this I will be forever grateful. It also made me realize the importance of sharing the technique with those willing to give it a try.

As I conducted my own experiments, I witnessed firsthand that this modality was effective in addressing more than just depression and anxiety. It worked for neck pain, but also treated chronic pain, eased a chronic case of Bell’s palsy, and helped clients cope with phobias and relationship troubles, enhanced performance, and aided to enhance health and well-being in many more ways. As described in the EFT philosophy as presented by Gary Craig and in Clinical EFT as presented by my mentor, Dawson Church, issues originating in past events created unrelenting emotional or physical discomfort.

What this means for the vast majority of us is that to truly shift our physiology, we must unpack our emotional baggage.

This is often not easy to do.It can be overwhelming to review our long histories—experiences accumulated over many years, and we may find that understanding our emotional patterns is like trying to fine-tune a single instrument amid the cacophony of an inharmonic orchestra. Most people simply cannot do this without training, instead ending up on antidepressants or other mood-stabilizers. These medications can turn down the noise in the short term, but they do not always prove successful in the long term.

In order to truly feel well and be well, we have to listen to our inner dialogues and consult our emotions and physical sensations: we have to do the work. This is where EFT comes in.

EFT is a self-help technique incorporating a needle-less form of acupuncture that involves tapping on meridian or acupressure points, in combination with exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. It offers a clear format for loving and accepting one’s self and aspects of our experiences to release trauma and pain-filled memories. Once these traumatic experiences are neutralized, healing occurs.

EFT’s basic approach first guides you to identify a specific ailment or issue or problem. Then you reflect on your issue while tapping on specific meridian points.
An example of the sequence is as follows:


H – top of the head

EB – inner edge of the eyebrow

SE – side of the eye
UE – under the eye
UN – under the nose

CH – center of chin

US- under the arm

While tapping rhythmically on the points, repeat the guiding phrase
Even though I have this __________________, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

This simple sequence, and the guiding phrases, are often enough to provide relief, but there are variations and an extension of the patterns for repetition. All the pieces can then be integrated for a more in-depth experience and greater effectiveness.

When seeking a professional EFT practitioner, gauge your chemistry and ensure you are comfortable with them . This is crucial because you will be sharing your most private feelings. A good practitioner will help you get to the heart of your issues by asking the right questions and honoring the fact that you are a complex creature. Being at ease with your practitioner will support your willingness to delve more deeply into your truth and will therefore facilitate a greater and speedier recovery and healing journey.

The Power and Beauty of Devastation

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What is devastation? That feeling of uhhhgg! The feeling that I just can’t face today. I just can’t deal with life. I am alone in this. No one else feels this way. Everyone on Instagram and Facebook has a better life than me.  There is no direction, sense of purpose. It turns to apathy; staying in a comfort zone. A preference for comfort over change. It turns into a real force of stagnation and eventual misery. Many use distraction as a method of coping with devastation. It is easy to get involved with superficial things and watch life go by, thereby avoiding the depth of existence.

Indulging the hurt of being alive makes us fall prey to the belief the other people don’t feel as destroyed and devastated inside as we do. We compare ourselves to others and destroy ourselves internally to an even greater degree.  Leading to depression. 

If you are not willing to be destroyed, then you are not up to the creative nature of life…. If you can feel devastation you are still alive. When you allow devastation, you are allowing the next moment to be born after it. Allow yourself to feel so you can be authentic with others. 

Why can’t we shake it? Because we are human. 

Devastation, desperation, failure and similar qualities are going to happen. Its a part of nature, Its going to continue to happen. Get used to it.  In fact, sink into it. No better motivator!

We will feel these conditions or similar human conditions until the day we die. Like death, devastation and the like are necessary qualities of life. The trick is overcoming the friction of these qualities to allow room for creation and growth.

If we can learn how to ride it, we can utilize the creative power behind it. This is how we create from passion. So stop thinking you need to avoid the internal state of devastation, let it be a force of reaching. When you are able to open to it, allow yourself to really feel it, the depth and  truth of the moment is there…waiting to create something new.

Identifying Psychological Trauma

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by Sara illig

Psychological trauma is far more prevalent in society than once thought. Most people tend to think of psychological trauma as PTSD, officially reserved for war veterans. However, those who have been in a car accident, environmental disaster, or some similar shocking event exhibit the same symptoms. What often gets overlooked are the small daily episodes; small agitations of daily life or  violence including domestic and verbal abuse. All of these  over the course of time lead to PTSD or other similar anxiety and stress disorders. Much like the muscular system presents repetitive work injuries from its daily grind, eventually it adds up to a much larger injury and perhaps even becomes incapacitating. The nervous system will become frayed or scarred.

Studies have shown that the brain can not tell the difference between a real and an imagined event. The neural network and chemicals associated with an experience are activated by even simply imagining it. Further, brain scans show that years after a stressful event, when the memory is recalled, the same parts of the brain light up as if the event were occurring in present time.

Lets take a look at the criteria for a traumatic event:

  • The event is perceived as a threat to the person’s physical survival.
  • Their coping capacity is overwhelmed, leaving them with a sense of powerlessness.
  • The event violates their sense of expectations.
  • It produces a sense of isolation, aloneness.

(Psychological Trauma, Church 2015)

So what is the result of exposure to such an intense event or many repeated smaller events? Over the course of time, people suffering with PTSD have brain wiring that is a little different. Under real or perceived threat, the connection between the rational brain and the emotional brain goes offline. The hippocampus and the amygdala may become overactive and unable to communicate with the cortex for an appropriate context for incoming information. This results in chronic stress response. The person may overreact to small or unimportant events or become enraged at little to no provocation. They may shudder at normal physical touch.

They often perceive the world as full of threats and have intrusive thoughts. The area of the brain associated with speech often goes offline under threat and they may not be able to articulate the intense emotions they are experiencing. PTSD or internalized trauma may also show up as physical pain and/or disease later in life. Without assistance, or a method to break the pattern, because of neuroplasticity (building of more neurons associated with the memory) the symptoms may worsen over time.

The good news is the brain is always pruning old unused neural connections as well as establishing new ones by neurogenesis. Neuroplasticity can work in our favor when needing to learn a new skill or in learning intentional techniques that help build new strong neural connections oriented toward a different state of being.

Under the right circumstances even a long consolidated memory may be susceptible to change. A thorough healing may be experienced after a vivid re-exposure and reframing of the experience. It is possible it may take several refrains for it to take permanently but often permanent results may be achieved.

My favorite techniques are Emotional Freedom Technique ( also called EFT or Tapping), EMDR- using eye movements to turn the brain on and desensitize; meditation techniques to retrain your brain to enjoy new brain waves..and breath work to induce calm.. Group sessions are a great way to experience the value of these techniques while keeping your issue private.

These safe mind-body medicine techniques keep the person safely connected in their body and brings them back to present moment while recalling a trauma, which is key to healing. If done in the proper fashion, it often clears the pain completely and has permanent results.

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Dissociation- The Trauma Capsule and Emotional Freedom Technique

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by Sara illig

When a traumatic event occurs, it exceeds the capacity of a person or child’s ability to cope and something called a Trauma Capsule, is often created to help them cope. For self preservation, the trauma gets wrapped in a capsule, setting it aside safely. Dissociation occurs, bringing the individual to a place they can function. If it didn’t get set aside, the rest of their world wouldn’t be able to make sense, they would not be able to cope.

When emotional abuse occurs, it particularly effects self worth and self esteem. It brings in emotions like internalized shame or resentment that make it difficult to trust one’s self.  This too is treated as a traumatic event.

If the traumatized person is a child and the abuser is their parent, it is confusing that the source of abuse and pain is also their source of comfort and nourishment. This is not only true with obvious abuse, but with cases of neglect as well. It forces the individual to put what is too difficult to cope with safely in a capsule tucked away in their psyche. Eventually they will exhibit symptoms somewhere on a spectrum of an anxiety or stress disorder, commonly called PTSD.

As a person is in fear of survival and they are overwhelmed, dissociation, a freeze response sets in. It occurs especially when there is no physical escape from the event. Dissociation as a  freeze response is a similar mechanism to playing possum. In reality, the possum is actually not playing, its body goes int to a frozen response as a survival mechanism; its heart rate slows, breathing slows etc… We do a similar thing, freeze, numb out, leave our body and or feel petrified in the face of inescapable fear.

Emotional Freedom Technique, breath work, meditation and other energy medicine techniques provide a safe way to reconnect. It creates an avenue for body-mind connection while re-framing and releasing the charge around the encapsulated event. This connection is crucial for more permanent and thorough healing to occur. Often, a trauma may be released in a session or two with permanent results. For deep rooted trauma consisting of many events, more session work may be required however, getting to the root events will often alleviate some of the smaller events that are also psychologically associated.

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EFT Resolves Financial Belly Ache

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by Sara illig

“The retirement accounts got hit pretty hard in the collapse of 2009.” he said. “Ive had this mysterious pain in my lower right stomach ever since. Ive been to all sorts of doctors and specialists. I have had every test in the book done and no one can tell me that there is a thing medically wrong with me. I have come to the conclusion that it must be mental or emotionally based.”

The pain was only a little less than it used to be. Of all the things he had tried, counseling, chiropractic, massage, physical therapy, doctors, MRI, he said stretching and yoga were the most helpful, but still, the pain lingered incessantly.The fact that yoga helped at all seemed a good indicator to me that a meridian based therapy was a hopeful direction for his mysterious condition.

During intake, he explained how during the financial crisis of 2009 he had been responsible for handling other’s retirement funds. He received a lot of blame, even got sued by one man. He felt guilty, sad and at the same time knew he had explained the risks of investment to his clients at the time.
Since that time, a knot appeared in his side the size of a baseball.

We began tapping some rounds together…

Even though they blame me… I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though a part of me feels guilty… I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though they think Im an a*# hole and they suffered loss… I still deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Even though they wanted me to suffer too since they were suffering, I am willing to release my self from suffering for all our good. I forgive them in every way I am able for wanting to share their pain with me.
I am willing to be released.

The sensation in the knot began to shift. “Wow! This is great stuff he said.”
We tapped several rounds on the specific event of a man suing him over his loses. Tapping….He wanted me to suffer. I still love myself.
He wanted me to lose. I still accept myself.
It was so stressful I got a knot in my belly! I still love and accept myself.

Rhodiola Rosea a Revolutionary Herb

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by Sara illig

What if I told you that there is a plant, a magical plant that helps fight the effects of stress and aging, sharpens your memory and concentration, maximizes your energy, protects against heart disease and cancer, eases anxiety and depression, improves your sexual function, enhances physical performance and blocks fat for weight loss?

Well there is such a plant; it is an adaptogen known as Rhodiola Rosea. This safe herbal gem has been scientifically proven to do all of the above.

There is an excellent book out on the market called ‘The Rhodiola Revolution’ by Richard Brown, MD and Patricia L Gerbarg, MD. It proved to be an enlightening read including many case studies as well as dosage information for various conditions.

Ready for some more on Rhodiola Rosea?

The best kind of Rhodiola Rosea is grown in Siberia or Alaska. Dont let the brands from Oregon and other places fool you,  it needs sub-arctic and high altitude conditions to grow and develop the properties to help your brain adapt to extreme conditions. It proves a good medicine for those who suffer from anxiety, stress, fatigue, depression and for those who want to boost the immune system, enhance energy levels and physical performance. It is used in the space program to keep astronauts mentally sharp and cognitively healthy  when enduring long periods without gravity. Elite athletes use it for these reasons as well as for enhancing physical performance. Evidence further indicates that Rhodiola Rosea works to repair DNA, protecting against cancer and heart disease.

Rhodiola Rosea greatly enhanced my quality of life. Perhaps it could do the same for you.

In general a low dosage to start is a good idea, if you dont feel anything in 3-7 days you can try a little higher dosage. Most people do well on under 300 mgs. But one should begin with a much lower dose it seems, closer to 100mg. Some people are sensitive and may need as little as 50 mg, while others are in need of a higher dose of around 500mg.

This herb should be taken in the morning 20-30 min before food for best results. An additional dose is sometimes taken 20-30 min before lunch, however, use caution and dont take it late in the day. It could interfere with your sleep. It could also be that during the first week or so your dreams can be very vivid. In addition, since Rhodiola Rosea has some stimulative properties it can be beneficial to take it easy on the caffeinated beverages until getting used to a new level of energy.

I like the brands Ameriden (Rosavin and Rosavin Plus) and another called Gaia. In general though seek a brand that contains 3% rosavins or more. These can be found at your local health food store as well as on the internet.

Ask your doctor about Rhodiola Rosea and the proper dosage for you. And if they dont know about it yet, recommend the book The Rhodiola Revolution to them and see what they have to say.

Enjoy your new found freedom!

 

Massage Cupping Therapy

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Massage Cupping Therapy

Cupping is a versatile and ancient tool that can be modified to accomplish a whole range to techniques from lymphatic drainage to fascial and deep tissue release. This modality uses ‘negative pressure ‘ creating either light suction for drainage, or heavier suction to lift connective tissue, loosen adhesions, soften tight muscles and tone attachments.

In traditional Chinese Cupping, the cups stay in place for 5-15 min, however, they may also be moved over the area. The goal of this approach is to remove stagnation of blood and chi, release trapped (internal) heat , draw out toxins and treat pain, respiratory problems and other conditions.

Massage Cupping is a different approach in that the cups continually move over the area. The therapist will apply lotion or oil before the treatment to ensure smooth movement of the cups. Almost every area of the body responds well to this treatment. Tense muscles are softened quickly and adhesions loosened easily.

To most people the treatment feels GREAT. It is certainly a sensation unlike any other, and may feel different depending on the area of the body and they type of condition it is being used to address. The sensation during cupping is often described as a deep warmth and or tingling sensation which continues long after treatment.

Important:You should make your practitioner aware of any health conditions which need to be handled gently. If you are uncertain ask your doctor if it is okay for you to receive cupping.

What are those marks that cupping leaves? In traditional (Chinese) cupping the marks left after a treatment are a desired effect of the treatment. They are not bruises it is a discoloration that will dissipate and fade anywhere from a few hours to a few days after treatment. With massage cupping, the marks are less likely to occur but you may still find an occasional “cupping kiss” left behind.

What do I do after treatment? For a few (4 to 6) hours after treatment avoid exposure to extreme heat or cold, (chill or drafts, hot showers or saunas), rigorous exercise and stay sufficiently hydrated. Alcohol is not recommended for 24 hours after treatment.

Benefits of Cupping:

clears stagnation
drains and moves fluids
relieves inflammation
Sedates nervous system
expels congestion
stretched muscle and connective tissue
loosens adhesions
brings nourishing blood supply to the skin
fibromyalgia
poor circulation (stimulated locally)
sciatica
cellulite
insomnia and general anxiety
sluggish devitalized skin
toxicity

Remember:You should make your practitioner aware of any health conditions which need to be handled gently. If you are uncertain ask your doctor if it is okay for you to receive cupping.

Sara illig is certified in Ace Massage Cupping Therapy.

Trans-dermal Magnesium Therapy – Magnesium Choride (Magnesium Oil)

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Magnesium Oil is not really an oil rather, it is a brine.
It is made with straight magnesium chloride flakes and water.The magnesium oil I use is the highest quality I could find and comes from the Dead Sea.It contains 31% Magnesium, 80 trace minerals and is low in sodium.
Trans-dermal magnesium therapy is well known to relieve pain in joints
and muscles. Apply as needed to areas of pain and discomfort. Let it sit for 20-30 min before rinsing it off.

Transdermal Magnesium Therapy has many more benefits than smply relief from discomfort read on:

Magnesium Oil

Magnesium is one of the most common and necessary fast acting, safe and effective medicines and is used in both allopathic as well as naturopathic medicine. Magnesium Chloride treatments are used in a wide variety of ways including in emergency rooms to save lives as well as for post sports recovery.

Magnesium chloride treatments address systemic nutritional deficiencies, enhance immune system function, improve cellular function by protecting cells from oxidative damage as well as bringing new energy to cells where applied topically.

Symptoms and Major Diseases Associated with Magnesium Deficiency:

• Anxiety and Panic attacks- Magnesium (Mg) normally keeps adrenal stress hormones under control.

• Asthma-  Histamine production and bronchial spasms increase with Mg deficiency.

• Blood clots- Mg helps by keeping the blood thin-much like aspirin but without the side effects.

• Bowel disease- deficiency causes constipation, which could lead to toxicity and mal absorption of nutrients, as well as colitis.

• Cystitis- Bladder spasms are worsened by Mg deficiency

• Depression-Serotonin is dependent on Mg. A Mg-deficient brain is also more susceptible to allergens.

• Detoxification- Mg is crucial for the removal of toxic substances and heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum and lead

• Diabetes- Mg enhances insulin secretion and facilitates sugar metabolism. Without Mg insulin is not able to transfer glucose to cells.

• Fatigue- Fatigue is often and early symptom of Mg-deficency.This is due to the fact that dozens of enzyme systems are under-functioning.Mg is needed for the production of over 326 different enzymes.

• Heart disease- Mg deficiency is common in people with heart disease. It is administered in hospitals for acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmia. Mg is also used to treat angina, or chest pain.

• Hypertension- With insufficient Mg, spasm of blood vessels and high cholesterol occur, both of which lead to blood pressure problems.

• Hypoglycemia- Mg keeps insulin under control; without Mg,expect episodes of low blood sugar.

• Insomnia, RLS, Sleeping Disorders – Just as Serotonin, Sleep-regulating melatonin production is disturbed without sufficient Mg.
• Kidney Disease- Mg deficiency contributes to atherosclerotic kidney failure. Mg deficiency creates abnormal lipid levels and worsening blood sugar control in kidney transplant patients.

• Liver Disease leading to liver failure- Mg deficiency commonly occurs during liver transplantation.

• Migraine- Serotonin balance is Mg-dependent. Deficiency of serotonin can result in migraine headaches and depression.

• Musculoskeletal conditions- Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramps and chronic neck and back pain may be relieved by Mg supplements.

• Nerve problems- Mg alleviates peripheral nerve disturbances throughout the whole body, such as migraines, muscle contractions, gastrointestinal spasms, and calf, foot and toe cramps. It is also used in treating central nervous symptoms of vertigo and confusion.

• Obstetrics and Gynecology- Mg prevents Premenstrual Syndrome; prevents dysmenorrhea (cramping pain during menses); is important in the treatment of infertility; and alleviates premature contractions, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in pregnancy. Intravenous Mg is given in obstetrical wards for pregnancy-induced hypertension and to lessen the risk of cerebral palsy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Mg should be a required supplement for pregnant mothers.

• Osteoporosis- Use of calcium with Vitamin D to enhance calcium absorption without a balancing amount of Mg causes further Mg deficiency, which triggers a cascade of events leading to bone loss.

• Raynaud’s Syndrome- Mg helps relax the spastic blood vessels that cause pain and numbness of the fingers.

• Tooth decay- Mg deficiency causes an unhealthy balance of phosphorus and calcium in saliva, which damages teeth.

General Uses for Magnesium Oil
http://www.magnesiumforlife.com/generaluses.shtml
For the Skin: Sprayed on sun damaged skin regularly will begin to rejuvenate from the inside out and after a few months will be significantly restored. Helps with wrinkles as well as hair health and growth.

Dental: As a mouthwash sprayed into the mouth it is excellent for the gums and pushes the mouths ph up. Strengthens teeth and is excellent for gingivitis. It is magnesium, not calcium, which helps form hard tooth enamel resistant to decay.

Mucus Membranes: People have used low concentrations for nose and eye washes and even for application in the vagina. (Beware of stimulative effect).

General Tonic: Magnesium Chloride is a strong tonic boosting all aspects of cell physiology and energy production. Magnesium is essential for life as it participates in over 325 enzyme reactions. Expect more energy, strength and endurance and even increased sexual energy.

Sports: Magnesium is perhaps the single most important mineral to sports nutrition. Over 70% of the U.S. population is magnesium deficient. This is true especially of athletes. During vigorous exercise, people loose through their sweat critical minerals, the most important being magnesium. Adequate magnesium level will help your body against fatigue, heat exhaustion, blood sugar control and metabolism.

Pain Relief: Transdermal magnesium chloride treatments are essential in the treatment of sport injuries and the aches and pains of sore muscles.

Natural Immune System Booster: Dr. A. Neveu observed that magnesium chloride has no direct effect on bacteria (i.e. it is not an antibiotic). Thus he thought that its action was a specific, immune-enhancing, so it could be useful against viral diseases.

Memory and Cognitive Function: Magnesium deficit may lead to decreased memory and learning ability, while an abundance of magnesium may improve cognitive function in children and the elderly.

Meridian Scraping Therapy- Gua Sha

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Meridian Scraping  Therapy- Gua Sha

Meridian Scraping/Gua sha is an ancient East Asian healing technique taught by only a handful of Western practitioners.  In China and Vietnam, scraping is commonly used to relieve the aches and fever associated with the common cold.  The Greeks used a similar technique in their daily massage regiments to invigorate the blood and relieve pain.

Scraping therapy can be used to address various sorts of conditions.  Most commonly used to treat body pain, to boost the immune system and to relieve symptoms of the common cold, this modality can also be used to generally balance the flow of qi through the meridians, to resolve certain psychospiritual issues and to innervate areas of poor circulation such as adipose tissue which can have both a detoxifying and contouring effect.

Gua sha provides lasting relief for chronic pain.  There are a variety of both western and eastern mechanisms that contribute to and explain the results.

As the practitioner strokes over muscle spasms that have become entrenched “knots”, the pain-spasm-pain cycle which keeps muscles tensed in a protective response is broken allowing the muscle to relax.

Stroking over an area brings blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to tissue that has been deprived.  The blood then carries away built up toxins like lactic acid.

Frictioning the tissue warms the underlying support structure, fascia.  Fascia crystallizes and individual strands begin to “glue” together for various reasons including misuse, repetitive trauma, overuse and deposits of toxins.  Warming this tissue returns it to its natural gelatinous state and ‘melts’ any adhesions that may have formed.

Once muscular tension and adhesions are released, the body is able to realize its original structure.

Eastern philosophies recognize that exogenous factors like wind, heat, cold, and damp become trapped in the exterior layer of the body causing pain by obstructing the flow of qi and blood in the channels.  Scraping techniques are the most effective way of releasing these pathogens from the exterior and encouraging the free flow of qi and blood.

Besides pain relief, Gua sha has many other benefits.

By removing meridian obstructions, gua sha promotes the free flow of qi and blood, balancing the body and addressing almost any presenting illness.

Blood stasis impedes the production of new blood.  Once the stagnation is removed, new blood will be created again.  Blood is the material basis of our minds.  When deficient of blood, an individual has a difficult time with self esteem issues, creating boundaries and emotional flexibility.  Blood deficiency will present a variety of other problems including muscular pain and lack of flexibility, lack of energy, dizziness, etc…  By engendering the production of new blood, scraping treats both the psychospiritual and the physical problems associated with blood deficiency.

Just like Rolfing or other modalities of deep bodywork, scraping can instigate emotional release.  If the muscles are “holding” emotions, as they relax, these emotions will be freed and should be accepted, experienced, and resolved.  As this happens, old issues that have been trapped in the muscles of the body naturally resolve.

Scraping acts on fascia. Every organ, nerve, vein, artery, and muscle is sheathed in envelopes of fascia.  By stroking the superficial fascia, deeper structures will be affected and their performance will be enhanced.

Lymph glands and vessels are located in the fascia.  The lymphatic system is responsible for draining excess interstitial fluid from tissue, transporting dietary lipids from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood, and protecting against invasion through immune response.  Gua sha will promote the circulation of lymph and free any restrictions within the lymphatic system.

Scraping enhances circulation in general providing undernourished areas with blood to both feed tissue and remove waste products.  As an area is innervated, it will be detoxified and toned by the deep massaging action of the stroke.

A session will last from fifteen to forty five minutes depending on how many areas will be addressed.  As with any sort of bodywork, the areas treated will include both the site of pain and also areas that contribute to the condition – primarily the neck, back, legs, arms, and chest.

First, oil or lotion will be applied.  Then, the practitioner will use a smooth edged tool to stroke over the area.  Stroking will continue until the sha is released.

A red rash called petechiae will appear as the tissue releases.  The discoloration of the rash offers clues as to the nature and severity of the condition being addressed.  It will take several days (generally 4 and up to 7) for the rash to fade.  Stretching and light aerobic exercise like walking will hasten the rash’s healing.

Scraping is similar to  a very deep massage.  One moment might feel excruciatingly intense, the next overwhelmingly relaxing.  The practitioner will respond to your level of sensitivity; however, as with the rest of our existence, there are often moments of discomfort that cannot be avoided in order to bring about growth and healing.

After a session, a cup of warm water is recommended, and be sure to rest and relax.  Also, drink a large amount of water to clear all the toxins released by the treatment. If not, the toxins will settle back into the tissue causing stiffness and soreness or  nausea and lightheadedness.

For a day or so after the treatment,  avoid alcohol, caffeine and strenuous exercise and be sure to protect  any treated area from direct exposure to sun, wind, or cold.

Gua sha is an indispensable tool in the treatment of chronic pain.  In fact, it is a relevant tool in treating almost any disorder given its ability to clear stagnation, to engender the creation of blood, to release the exterior and to innervate and detoxify tissue.