Is scraping effective in removing internal heat?

In daily life, there are many methods of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, especially some physical therapy methods, which are very simple to operate in traditional Chinese medicine treatment. For example, cupping, scraping, etc. Although acupuncture is also a kind of Chinese physical therapy, it requires certain medical knowledge to perform. So the question is, after scraping the body, can it help the body to get rid of internal heat?

Gua Sha is based on the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary meridians in traditional Chinese medicine and follows the principle of "treating the symptoms in an emergency". It uses manipulation techniques to strongly stimulate the meridians, causing the local skin to become red and congested, thereby having the effects of awakening the mind, rescuing fainting, detoxifying and eliminating evil, clearing away heat and relieving exterior symptoms, promoting qi and relieving pain, and strengthening the spleen and stomach.

The effects of scraping on the skin can be roughly divided into two categories: one is preventive and health-care effects, and the other is therapeutic effects.

1. Preventive and health-care effects

The preventive and health-care effects of scraping therapy include two categories: health care prevention and disease prevention. The site of action of scraping therapy is the skin on the body surface. The skin is the most superficial part of the body exposed to the outside, in direct contact with the outside world, and plays a role in adapting and defending against changes in the external climate. The skin has these functions mainly due to the function of Wei Qi in the body. Wei Qi comes from the upper part of the body, is pushed by the lung Qi, and first circulates in the skin. When the Wei Qi is in harmony, "the skin is soft and the pores are dense" (Lingshu Ben Zang). Healthy people often do scraping (such as taking the back Shu points, Zusanli points, etc.) to strengthen the Wei Qi. If the Wei Qi is strong, the ability to protect the surface is strong, and it is not easy for external pathogens to invade the surface, and the body can be healthy. If external pathogens invade the surface, and symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, nasal congestion, and runny nose appear, timely scraping (such as taking the lung Shu, Zhongfu, etc.) can eliminate the external pathogens in time to prevent the external pathogens from spreading into the internal organs and causing serious illness.

2. Therapeutic Effects

The therapeutic effect of scraping therapy can be manifested in the following aspects:

(1) Activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis

Gua Sha can regulate the contraction and relaxation of muscles, so that the pressure between tissues can be adjusted to promote blood circulation around the scraped tissues. Increase tissue flow, thereby playing the role of "promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis" and "removing blood stasis and promoting new blood".

(II) Adjusting Yin and Yang

Scraping has a significant effect in adjusting the balance of yin and yang in the internal organs. For example, for those with hyperperistalsis, using scraping techniques on the abdomen and back can suppress the hyperperistalsis and restore it to normal. On the contrary, for those with decreased intestinal motility, it can promote their motility to return to normal. This shows that scraping can improve and adjust the functions of internal organs and balance the yin and yang of the internal organs.

(III) Relaxing muscles and unblocking meridians

Muscle attachment points and damaged soft tissues such as fascia, ligaments, and joint capsules can send out pain signals, which through the reflex action of nerves put the relevant tissues in a state of alert. Muscle contraction, tension, and even spasm are reflections of this state of alert. Its purpose is to reduce limb activity and thus relieve pain. This is the body's natural protective reaction.