Jade Scraping, Or Gua Sha, For Lymphatic Drainage

Don't call it a comeback: Gua sha has been here for years. This ancient Chinese healing technique—pronounced "gwa sa"—has gained traction in the U.S. beauty and wellness scene over the last few years, and because it's potent, easy to DIY, and blends the best of both beauty and good self-care, now it seems gua sha is here to stay.

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It's a type of massage that incorporates a small stone scraping tool, or board, to help move lymph fluid out of the body and increase circulation. The idea is that the rubbing technique works to clear stagnant energy (otherwise known as "chi" in traditional Chinese medicine) and encourage lymphatic drainage that results in firmer, more toned-looking skin. Although the term broadly refers to the overall bodywork practice—some of the professional body massages can be so vigorous that they result in bruising (here's what a more mellow DIY version is like)—gua sha facials are much more gentle and have become extra popular as they are purported to help create a "natural face-lift" effect.

You'll want to start with a clean face, and for added benefits, first apply your favorite oil or another moisturizer, says mindbodygreen collective member Britta Plug, a holistic esthetician and founder of New York City practice Britta Beauty. Below is her guided instruction, but you may also watch the full tutorial here if you want to follow along with a visual.

The technique is broken up by focusing on specific areas of the face. Here's how Plug recommends to do it, starting on the right side:

All in all, finding a routine that works for you might be very personal. But here are some common ones you should do your best to avoid:

Studies show us that regular facial massages can truly help improve skin quality. For example, one study showed that facial rolling—which lends a similar effect to gua sha—for only five minutes a day improved blood flow to the face1. In another, patients claimed feeling tighter, more supple skin1 after regular massages. (On an overall wellness note, studies do show that massage can also decrease cortisol levels2.) And while we know that obviously, gua sha is meant to help relieve inflammation and encourage lymphatic drainage, the practice may carry surprising other health benefits. Several studies have emerged, ranging from helping to relieve symptoms of perimenopause3, neck pain4, and even migraines5.

One reason gua sha has caught on is that the boards themselves are quite glamorous and #shelfie-friendly, plus they're complementary to the wellness world's ongoing obsession with gemstones. The two most popular gua sha stones are rose quartz and jade (the former representing its commercially successful update in the West; the latter being the more traditional material used in TCM). While we have no peer-reviewed studies to back up claims, plenty in the holistic community believe in the healing powers of certain stones, and yes, they are pretty to look at. We asked licensed acupuncturist Elizabeth Trattner, L.Ac., to help us break down the differences:

Making a time to stick with the ritual will help you reap the most results, many experts note. If you want a personal account of what it might do over the course of several weeks, here's what happened when one editor stuck to the practice for two full weeks. One thing we can absolutely get behind: You can't go wrong establishing a daily self-care practice that helps you feel good and look better.

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Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com. In her current role, she covers all the latest trends in the clean and natural beauty space, as well as lifestyle topics, such as travel. She received her journalism degree from Marquette University, graduating first in the department. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.