Gua sha or scraping as it is often referred to here is a healing technique used in traditional chinese medicine and other traditional east asian medicinal practices it is based on the principle of the twelve main meridians and eight extra meridians in human body the same as in acupuncture gua sha is used to stimulate the meridian points this causes temporary reddish skin marks which indicates blood decongestion the red marks will disappear in a few days usually between 2 4 days it