People rave about how this gua sha tool helps with muscle aches and pains for less than $10

People rave about how this gua sha tool helps with muscle aches and pains for less than $10

You may have heard of gua sha—a huge at-home beauty trend in which you start by lubricating your skin, usually with a nourishing facial oil (though a favorite serum or moisturizer also works), and then "pressing" your skin with a small flat stone. Gua Sha is a Chinese external intervention technique that has been around for over 3,000 years and is known to improve blood circulation, remove stagnant energy, promote lymphatic drainage, and restore balance to your body. People swear that it reduces puffiness, puffiness, and fine lines to give them a natural glow.

What you may not have known is that it also helps with microcirculation, which can relieve muscle aches and pains. Many even use it for neck and jaw pain. And for under $10, it's definitely worth a try.

Amazon

Buy:Gua Sha Jade Stone Tool $7; amazon.com

According to Jason Chong, a traditional East Asian medicine doctor and instructor in Oriental therapies, "Gua Sha works for muscle pain by breaking down adhesions in connective tissue that restrict movement and impede blood flow. This allows for the restoration of function, the return of healthy nutrients with fresh blood circulation, and the removal of toxic waste through the lymphatic circulation."

A study published in the journalPainkillersfound that Gua Sha provided short-term benefits for chronic neck pain. Forty-eight patients were divided in half and divided into two groups. One group used only a heating pad to treat pain, while the others were treated once with gua sha. The group that tried Gua Sha compared to those who used a heating pad noticed a significant difference in pain after a week of Gua Sha treatments.

The good news is that Gua Sha can be done at home to relieve muscle pain. Chong says it's important to note that gua sha should be performed over muscle tissue - not bone or tendons. First, lubricate your skin with some body oil. Apply pressure (you want moderate to strong blows) to your back from top to bottom, moving outward from your spine. “The pressure should be firm but not painful,” says Chong.

Amazon

Buy:Bio-Oil Skin Care Oil $22; amazon.com

Continue this motion for 5 to 10 repeated strokes over an area. "Redness occurs, often looking like a 'scratch'. This is the sign to move to the next adjacent area and repeat until this redness appears. These spots disappear in a few days with healthy water consumption and are an indication of tissue release."

But don't just take his word for it. Satisfied customers are raving about this particular gua sha tool on Amazon—which costs under $10—saying it has helped their muscle pain.

A customer who tried the tool shared, "My family member was in pain and we just used this product and it worked perfectly!"

Another revealed that she uses the tool on her knees, "which sometimes swell," for pain relief. "I use baby oil and then the tool to make scratching massage movements around the tissue surrounding my knees. Now they don't swell as often!"

“This little gizmo is a marvel,” another happy user wrote. "It's probably designed for use on the face (and it's wonderful for that!). But additionally, it's good for use anywhere that hurts a little, and especially as a massager for the soles of the feet. I call it my rejuvenating tool and recommend everyone get one."

It even works for tension headaches, as one relieved reviewer shared: "I started using it for headaches, surprisingly it does a fantastic job relieving tension headaches before my headache medication takes effect."

And at under $10, it's a perfect stocking stuffer for someone you love — or yourself.

Shop more gift ideas for the holidays

Amazon's best-selling weighted blanket is still on sale
Step up your morning smoothie game with TikTok's popular portable blender. This popular facial steamer works for stuffy noses, clogged pores, and more. These Amazon favorite slippers were designed by podiatrists to relieve your aching feet