Guasha is an ancient oriental healing technique gua means to rub or scrape and sha is the term used to describe congestion of blood just beneath the surface of the skin when friction is applied with a slice of water buffalo horn in repeated even strokes along the meridian lines the sha surfaces as red or purple blotches which disappear totally in 3 4 days and do not cause any pain gua sha is a powerful detoxifying treatment which can immediately reduce pain and stiffness and improve mobility