Gua means to scrape or rub. Sha is a ‘reddish, elevated, millet-like skin rash’ which comes up when practitioner scrapes the surface of the skin using a smooth edged tool. Sha is the term used to describe Blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae. Gua Sha is a technique that intentionally raises Sha rash or petechiae.
Sometimes used for infantile treatment but also for adults it is an especially good technique to relieve the symptoms of the common cold or obstruction of the meridian channels.