What The Heck Is A “Gua Sha Massage”?

When it comes to different wellness treatment options, Gua Sha is one of them that people are often quite curious about. Some people refer to Gua Sha as “gua sha massage”, “gua sha therapy”, etc. It is also sometimes referred to as the “Graston Technique” when used in sports medicine, but may be a bit different depending upon practitioner. Have additional questions? Interested in scheduling an appointment? Want to book a free wellness consultation to discuss Gua Sha or another treatment option? Visit our booking site, send us a message or give us a call today.

So… What Is Gua Sha? Gua Sha is a treatment modality rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that many acupuncturists offer. During treatment, a smooth-edged tool is used to gently scrape areas of the body. Depending upon where you are having a problem and what problem you may have, Gua Sha may be performed on different areas of the body to achieve results. What Does Gua Sha Do? Gua sha can help with stagnant qi, inflammation, circulation and healing when properly performed. A more “Americanized” version of Gua Sha known as the “Graston Technique” has been used since the 1990s in sports medicine to address muscles or scar tissue and can help to stretch and relax those areas. Does Gua Sha Hurt?

When most people hear “scraping” they think Gua Sha may be painful. When performed properly, Gua Sha should not hurt at all. The entire treatment should be gentle and relaxing. If you for any reason feel uncomfortable during your Clearwater Gua Sha treatment, we ask that you immediately say something so that we can access why that would be happening.

Schedule Gua Sha in Clearwater, Florida Today

Ready to schedule Gua Sha in Clearwater? Book your appointment here, send us a message or give us a call today to get started.

Near Infrared Light Treatment, Inflammation Reduction & Long-Covid?

Do you experience inflammation throughout the body? Have you been labeled with “long-covid” syndrome or symptoms? Interested in a more natural approach to the inflammation occurring in your body? Considering near infrared light therapy in Clearwater? Today, Dawn Potter Acupuncture is discussing recent research into photobiomodulation therapy (red/near infrared light treatment), how that research supports inflammation treatment and what it could mean for those experience symptoms due to COVID infection. Have additional questions? Interested in scheduling a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss light therapy? We would be happy to help with any of your needs. Simply reach out today.

What Is Near Infrared Light Treatment? Near Infrared Light therapy is a treatment option that has been used for a variety of conditions with underlying inflammatory issues for over a century. Special lights are used to expose an area to specific wavelengths of light. These lights come in different shape, sizes and configurations depending upon the exact use. Depending upon the exact light, the wavelength emitted can be vastly different as well. This recent research discusses which lights may be best and the different ways they can be used. How Can Clearwater Photobiomodulation Therapy Help? Results from a recent study showed that infrared exposure therapy can interact with the key inflammatory response pathway known to be deregulated among COVID-19 patients. Regulating this pathway may be effective in reducing the overall inflammatory response that may be caused by those experiencing inflammation such as that caused by COVID-19. More in-depth information and results of the research can be found here: Infrared light therapy relieves TLR-4 dependent hyper-inflammation of the type induced by COVID-19

if you would prefer a video that summarizes the information a bit better to understand, you can also watch this video on the topic: Near Infrared Light Reduces Inflammation via TLR4 In Vitro Dr. Dawn Potter's light panels are FDA-approved Class II Medical Devices. They emit 5 wavelengths of red & NIR light: 630, 660, 810, 830 & 850nm. Each wavelength penetrates through the body tissues to a specific depth and has its own special benefits as discussed in the research above.

Near Infrared Light Treatment Risks? When done incorrectly, skin burns can occur during near infrared light therapy, however, when done properly, there are no reported risks and the treatment has been approved for various medical applications.

Start Near Infrared Light Treatment in Clearwater, Florida Today

Interested in starting treatment? Contact us today to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation. We would be happy to discuss which treatment options may be right for your needs.