10/03/2026
A study published in Explore investigated the physiological effects of Gua Sha in 11 healthy adults using laser Doppler imaging to directly measure blood flow in the skin and underlying tissue. After a single Gua Sha session on the back, local microcirculation increased approximately 4× during the first 7.5 minutes and remained significantly above baseline throughout the full 25-minute measurement period (P < .001). Every participant also reported an immediate decrease in muscle pain, including pain at the treated area and, in some cases, areas farther away. The researchers concluded that the large increase in local circulation may contribute to Gua Sha's pain-relieving effects, although the study was small and did not establish the exact mechanism.
Other controlled human studies have reported measurable effects on pain. A 2011 randomized controlled trial published in Pain Medicine studied 48 people with chronic neck pain and compared a single Gua Sha session with a local heat pad. After 7 days, the Gua Sha group showed a 29.9-mm greater improvement in pain severity on a 100-mm visual analog scale than the control group, along with improvements in neck function and quality of life. A separate randomized trial involving 54 women with breast engorgement after childbirth found that Gua Sha produced greater immediate reductions in breast pain, discomfort and engorgement than conventional hot packs and massage. Together, these studies suggest measurable short-term effects on local blood circulation and certain types of musculoskeletal or soft-tissue pain, although larger and longer clinical trials are still needed.