16 Penn Plaza #22

Bangor, ME 04401

150 Bucksport Rd

Ellsworth, ME 04605

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Bangor Clinic:

Ellsworth Clinic:

Gua Sha

Gua Sha is an ages old, yet timeless therapy that has wide-ranging application. Gua Sha can be used to complement acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapy in our office. Along with its neuromuscular applications, Gua Sha or commonly referred to as scraping can be used to optimize immunity during cold and flu season as well by our acupuncturist in Bangor, Ellsworth and Brewer.

gua sha from your acupuncturist in Bangor and Brewer

How Gua Sha Complements Chiropractic Care, Acupuncture And Massage Therapy

Many people hear the term scraping and wonder what Gua Sha is all about. Gua Sha uses a rounded tool that "scrapes" along the skin's surface to bring up what is referred to in traditional Chinese Medicine as "sha". This term came about because it made the skin appear to look like sand. From a biomedical perspective, to understand Gua Sha is simple. This modality is used to encourage metabolic waste to the surface layers so that it may be eliminated from the body to advance healing. 

In some cases, Gua Sha will be used alone- your treatment will be centered around this specific therapy. At other times, Gua Sha may be used to help move metabolic waste along the spinal column to help a subluxed region realign through chiropractic care. Alongside an acupuncture treatment, Gua Sha is commonly used to reduce headaches, muscle soreness and stiffness, for sports-related concerns and at the first signs of cold or flu. To prevent cold and flu from penetrating into deeper layers and activating a severe immune response, Gua Sha can be used. The region that Gua Sha is performed in will depend on the ailing region and is usually that particular anatomical area. 

The Gua Sha Procedure At Back In Balance Center

The Gua Sha tool is "scraped" along the skin's surface, but not to worry, there will be no skin removal or breaking of the skin's surface. Gua Sha is a safe, topical modality only. Our experienced acupuncturist in Bangor, Ellsworth and Brewer will guide the tool both along and across muscle fibers to encourage metabolic waste to come to the surface of the skin. After your treatment, you may notice a very red area where the scraping took place. In some cases, it may appear slightly blue. It is important to understand that this is not bruising and the colored appearance is a metabolic waste. Drinking plenty of water following your treatment as you would after a massage will help remove this waste from the body and speed up healing. If you will be attending an event and need to wear a backless form of clothing, discuss this with our acupuncturist in Bangor, Ellsworth and Brewer. 

Gua Sha is also a natural complement to massage therapy to help move and remove areas of stagnation. Gua Sha can be applied to the back of the long spinal muscles, along with the neck, down the IT band and more. 

Contact Us Today!

Ready to experience Gua Sha for healing? Call us at (207) 947-8077 now. 

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New Patients Receive a Free Consultation

Bangor Clinic

Hours of Operation

Monday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-2:30 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Ellsworth Clinic

Hours of Operation

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

12:00 pm-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed