One of the original forms of physical therapy, gua sha is widely used to treat joint and muscle pain. Traditionally applied in accordance with the meridians, or energy channels of the body, many patients in China and other parts of Asia also use gua sha as a form of preventive medicine and a first line of defense against illness. Gua sha has been used to treat a wide range of both acute and chronic health conditions including headache, fever, digestive disorders, asthma, and respiratory infections as well as women’s health issues, insomnia, and general fatigue.