Gua sha is an alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to help improve circulation. This ancient Chinese healing technique may be a unique approach to better health. During a gua sha session, a technician scrapes your skin with short or long strokes using a smooth-edged instrument known as a gua massage tool. They apply massage oil to your skin and then repeatedly scrape it in a downward motion. The treatment is intended to address stagnant energy (called Qi) in the body, which practitioners believe may be responsible for inflammation. By rubbing the skin’s surface, gua sha aims to break up this energy, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.