Gua sha is a traditional East Asian technique that involves gently scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to stimulate circulation, release muscle tension, and support your body’s natural healing processes. It helps move stagnant qi and blood, breaking up areas of tension and promoting lymphatic drainage.

Unlike massage, which presses into the tissue, gua sha works by gliding across the surface to release what’s stuck underneath. Many people find it deeply relieving for tight shoulders, jaw tension, headaches, and chronic pain. After a session, you might notice light marks on the skin—these are normal and usually fade within a few days as your body clears out what’s been released.

At Allies, Gua Sha and Tui Na is offered by our acupuncture and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) team. It may be used on its own or alongside acupuncture as part of a broader, personalized treatment plan. It’s particularly useful for:

• Chronic muscle tightness
  
• Shoulder and back tension
  
• Post-exercise soreness
  
• Circulatory and lymphatic stagnation
  
• Stress-related physical discomfort
  

Tui Na (pronounced twee nah) is a hands-on bodywork therapy rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It uses techniques like kneading, rolling, pressing, and stretching to release tension, improve circulation, and support the free flow of qi (vital energy) throughout the body.

Unlike Western massage, Tui Na follows the body’s meridian lines and acupuncture points, making it especially effective for treating both muscular issues and internal imbalances. It’s often used for pain, stiffness, digestive concerns, fatigue, and nervous system regulation.

At Allies, Tui Na is offered as a stand-alone treatment or blended into acupuncture or energy sessions. It’s rhythmic, targeted, and deeply therapeutic—think of it as massage with a mission.

All Gua Sha and Tui Na services at Allies are offered by trained acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners who are skilled in tailoring each session to your specific needs. Before getting started, your practitioner will explain the techniques, check in about your comfort level, and discuss what you’re hoping to get out of the treatment.

With Gua Sha, you may notice light red or purple marks on the skin afterward—these are normal and fade within a few days. They’re just signs that circulation has been stimulated and stagnation is moving out.

Tui Na is rhythmic and focused, often described as somewhere between massage and physical therapy. Some techniques are soothing and flowing, while others are more targeted and invigorating. Most people feel deeply relaxed and noticeably looser after a session.

Every treatment is customized—this isn’t a cookie-cutter approach. We listen, adapt, and treat your body like the one-of-a-kind ecosystem it is.

We often combine cupping with acupuncture and Gua Sha and Tui Na in one session for a more holistic effect. While acupuncture works with internal energy systems and the nervous system, cupping, Gua Sha and Tui Na focuses on the outer tissues, loosening muscles and preparing the body to receive deeper healing. This layered approach is ideal for pain relief, stress reduction, and long-term recovery.

Research shows that Gua Sha improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and supports the immune system. One study found that it helped relieve muscle pain and tension by increasing blood flow to the area (Nielsen et al., 2007).

Tui Na has also shown benefits for chronic pain, joint stiffness, and stress, with studies supporting its use for both physical and emotional well-being.

These therapies offer effective, hands-on support to help the body heal, restore balance, and release what’s stuck.