Top oils and lubricants for Gua Sha
Mediums for Gua Sha
We must use a “medium” between the Gua Sha tool and our skin to safely and effectively release facia, increase circulation, break down scar tissue, and restore healthy skin and lymph flow.
I elaborate on which mediums are best for specific applications in the practice segment.
Below is a general overview of options
Dry scraping: this can be done over your clothes. The main benefit of dry scraping is that there is little to no prep time. It can be done on the go, in between meetings at work, or while you are waiting for a date. The effect is milder when practiced over clothing. That can be a good thing if you are approaching a tender area and wish to muffle the sensation.
In the bath or with a warm towel: Gua sha application in the bathtub after you’ve soaked for about 15-20 minutes is a wonderful option. Your skin is warm and hydrated and you can use soap as your lubricant or oil. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to your bath water such as Cyprus, Frankincense, and Grapefruit - all promote circulation and enhance the effectiveness of your gua sha session. Using a warm towel over your exposed skin as you turn around in the bathtub will deliver the warmth deeper into your tissues and it can be effective in treating stiff, painful, or cold areas in your body, such as the hips or shoulders.
Your hair: When gua sha scraping your scalp, oils is not needed, since your hair is your medium (if you have hair on your head that is ;). Other hairy body parts are also ok for gua sha without oil or lubricant, since the hair serves as a buffer between your scraping tool and your skin.
Lubricants:
Choose an organic, cold-pressed, food-grade lubricant for your gua sha.
Your skin is your largest organ and what you put on your skin makes its way into your internal bodily systems. Don’t use vaseline or mineral oil (baby oil) since these cheap lubricants are petroleum-based and can do more harm than good. Your kitchen might be already equipped with organic cold-pressed olive oil or unrefined coconut oil, both of which are highly hydrating and a wonderful choice. Consider looking at what is already at your home, or readily available locally, in your region of residence.
Sesame oil is popular throughout Asia. It is warming in nature and a good choice if you experience cold conditions such as cold feet and hands. It's rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, omega-3 and omega-6. It is known to protect against UV rays, and can be used as mild sun protection. It's anti inflammatory, and nourishing for the hair, skin, joints, and bones.
Coconut oil is cooling in nature and is best to use in hot climate conditions or if you experience heat-like symptoms such as inflammation, fever or easily getting red or irritated. Like sesame oil, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.
Jojoba oil is one of my personal favorites. It is made from the nut of the Jojoba plant, native to north and central America. It’s noncomedogenic, which mean its makeup is so similar to the oil (sebum) our body naturally produces that your skin can’t tell the difference. Therefore it regulates sebum production. This makes it an excellent choice to add moisture and protection to our skin and hair. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and hypoallergenic (non-irritating, allergic reaction is rare). It is known to help the production of collagen, heal wounds, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and heal other skin damage.
Beef tallow moisturizes and nourishes your skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple. It's antimicrobial, antifungal, compatible with skin's natural oils, contains anti-inflammatory properties, and is nutrient dense with vitamins A, D, E, and K
Argan Oil is made from the kernels that grow on the argan trees native to Morocco. Argan oil is rich in antioxidants like polyphenols and vitamin E that help protect against environmental damage, scavenge free radicals, and thus consider anti-aging as it supports maintaining our skin's youthfulness. It is safe to take internally and externally and used for protecting and moisturizing the hair as well as the skin.
The marula fruit tree (Sclerocarya birrea) is native to southern Africa. The trees grow wild and were once rare, but are now cultivated. Once considered sacred, the marula tree was linked to fertility and happy marriage in ancient times. The fermented fruit of the marula tree was also thought to intoxicate elephants, who seem to adore its delicious taste as much as people do. Many parts of the marula tree are used as ingredients in food and traditional medicine throughout Africa. Each marula fruit contains a hard, brown nut with pliable, white kernels at its core.
Marula oil is primarily extracted from these kernels, but can also be obtained from the nut’s outer husk. Marula oil is rich in protein and easily absorbed, making it an effective skin and hair treatment. Marula oil is high in antioxidants , essential fatty acids, and amino acids. It's widely used as an ingredient in skin care products, and appears to be beneficial for oily, acne-prone, dry, and aging skin. It's also effective at keeping hair soft, supple, and moisturized.
Prickly pear seed oil, derived from the nopal cactus, which is native to North and Central America, offers numerous benefits for skin, aging, and acne. Rich in non-pore clogging linoleic acid, it is anti-inflammatory and helps restore the skin's barrier, making it ideal for those prone to breakouts. As a potent antioxidant, it contains high levels of vitamin E—150% more than argan oil—providing protection against sun damage and environmental harm. Additionally, its vitamin K content reduces redness and protects elastin, beneficial for rosacea-prone skin. The oil is also rich in polyphenols, betalains, and amino acids, enhancing skin moisture, radiance, and overall health. These combined properties make prickly pear seed oil a versatile and powerful natural skincare ingredient.
Buriti Oil is produced from the seed of Moriche palm fruit, native to South America (Brazil and other countries). It is high in antioxidants and is thought to be the richest source of natural beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Essential for healthy hair and skin, this vital vitamin helps boost your circulation to give your skin a healthy glow. The fact that buriti oil is so high in beta carotene and oleic acids is why it is one of the best face oils for aging skin.
The benefits you'll see from using buriti oil:
- Natural buriti oil SPF can boost the effectiveness of your daily sunscreen (but it will not replace your daily UV protection routine).
- Powerful antioxidants fight free radicals that cause signs of premature aging.
- Non-irritating with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Moisturizes and helps prevent water loss. Increased levels of oleic acid make it excellent for people with dry or aging skin.
- High levels of vitamin A may stimulate collagen production and anti-aging effects.
- Buriti oil is an excellent choice for people with dry hair. It will provide conditioning and reduce brittleness and breakage.
- Beneficial for scalp conditions such as dandruff.
There are many other great oils you can use such as olive, almond, avocado, and apricot. Any unrefined, organic, cold-pressed oil could do. If you are not sure, the rule of thumb to consider is: if you can eat it, you can apply it!*
*There are of course, natural safe and beneficial oils for your skin, that are not edible such as jojoba, for example.
Naturally formulated salves or creams are lovely since the added thickness of the butter or wax provides more lasting lubrication and feels velvety and luxurious to the skin. You can also use healing salves with CBD or other healing herbs.
For the face, a thinner oil such as Marula, Aragan, Buriti, Prickly pear and Jojoba are all excellent options, especially if you have sensitive skin. You may use any other face oil or cream you enjoy.
Specialty blends: When choosing your lubricant, consider what’s naturally available in your area, and your primary health concerns. There are many options to choose from. High-quality herbal oils can add welcomed benefits to your self-care ritual. Your gua sha scraping technique will stimulate the skin to better absorb the oil application. It is a win-win.
Mahanarayan Ayurvedic oil is a traditional blend of herbs formulated to improve circulation, repair muscle damage, and for lymphatic drainage. Therefore, it is an excellent choice if you are ready to invest in specialty products for your self-care ritual.
A simple formula I use is combining jojoba oil with beeswax, and adding a few drops of Cyprus + Frankincense + Grapefruit essential oils, as they aid in softening scar tissue and improving lymphatic drainage.
There are many great products created to improve circulation, lymphatic drainage, sore muscles, and erasing scar tissue. Depending on your needs, you can choose specialty blends to meet your goals, but please always read the list of ingredients, and if there are "suspects" on the list, investigate. Choose 100% wholesome, organic, sustainable products whenever possible.
A note about water-based lotions: Many lotions that combine water-base and oil-base ingredients use synthetic emulsifiers and chemical preservatives. When using gua sha, I recommend using oil-based products. The oils linger on your skin surface to allow smooth scraping, while water-based lotions usually get absorbed into the skin faster than you would want them to for gua sha.
Let's grab some good oil and get going >>
