If you often wake up with a puffy face or deal with chronic swelling, you’re probably looking for at-home routines that can help. Gua sha for lymphatic drainage is one option that’s gained a lot of attention lately, and when done correctly, it can reduce facial swelling.
But as gua sha becomes more popular as a beauty routine, I’m seeing incorrect techniques all over social media and beauty blogs. As a certified lymphedema therapist and lymphatic specialist, I want to show you a proper gua sha lymphatic drainage routine you can safely do at home.
What Is Gua Sha?
Gua sha is a massage technique that uses a smooth, flat tool that’s traditionally made from jade or rose quartz, but you can also find it in other materials, too.
You glide the tool across your skin using gentle pressure and specific stroke patterns.
The technique comes from traditional Chinese medicine, where it was originally used to relieve muscle tension and pain. People would use it on the body with firmer pressure to help with circulation and muscle recovery. Now, people often do facial gua sha.
For lymphatic drainage with a gua sha massage, use light pressure and directional strokes to move lymphatic fluid through your face and neck.
People also use gua sha for general facial benefits like reducing fine lines, improving skin texture, or just as part of their skincare routine.
As a physical therapist and certified lymphatic specialist, I recommend gua sha to my patients who struggle with face swelling or live with a chronic condition like head or neck lymphedema.
Learn how to tell if you have poor lymphatic drainage in your face and may benefit from gua sha.
Is Gua Sha Good for Lymphatic Drainage?
Yes, gua sha can be very helpful for lymphatic drainage.
The gentle, sweeping motions help improve your lymphatic flow and move stagnant fluid toward your lymph nodes, where it can drain.
You can use gua sha for general beauty purposes if you tend to wake up with facial puffiness or want to reduce morning swelling. But it’s also a great form of lymphedema self-care if you live with this condition.
In addition to lymphatic drainage, gua sha can also help relieve stress, improve blood flow, and relax tight muscles. Overall, it can be an enjoyable part of your self-care routine.
Learn more about the benefits of lymphatic drainage massage.
How to Use Gua Sha for Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic drainage has become a popular buzzword, especially in the beauty industry.
As a result, I’ve seen quite a few tutorials online teaching gua sha techniques without fully understanding how the lymphatic system works.
For example, some tutorials tell you to brush upward strokes on your neck, but that doesn’t move fluid toward the lymph nodes in your collarbones. It moves it in the wrong direction for lymphatic drainage.
Following incorrect techniques can cause more swelling or irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. That’s why it’s important to learn a gua sha routine for lymphatic drainage from a reputable source.
I’m sharing a gua sha facial massage routine I recommend below, and you can also follow along with this video:
1. Get your gua sha tool
Make sure your gua sha tool is clean before you start.
If you don’t have a tool, that’s fine! I often use my hands for lymphatic drainage on my face. Gua sha tools are helpful, but they’re not essential.
What matters most is doing the right movements in the right direction, and, in my opinion, you can do those with your hands just as effectively.
2. Activate your lymph nodes
Use your hands to massage the lymph nodes around your collarbones.
All the lymphatic fluid from your head and neck eventually drains through this area, so you need to open it up first before you perform gua sha.
Place your hands directly on your skin and do 10-15 gentle circles in either direction on each side.
3. Stimulate lymph nodes behind your ears
Split your fingers into a V shape and place them on both sides of your ears. Do 10-15 circles around your ears to activate the lymph nodes there. These nodes are major drainage points for your face.
You only need to apply light pressure!
4. Decongest your neck
Now pick up your gua sha tool and start with your neck.
Hold the tool flat against your skin with light pressure. Move the fluid from below your ear down to the lymph nodes at your collarbone. Do 3-5 strokes on each side of your neck.
You’re moving fluid down, not up! Moving it up may have anti-aging benefits, but for lymphatic drainage, you want to move the fluid down to the lymph nodes at the base of your neck.
5. Massage your jawline
Place your gua sha tool at the center of your chin. Move the fluid along your jawline toward the lymph nodes right below your ear. Gently sweep with 3-5 strokes on both sides.
6. Massage under your lip
Place your gua sha tool just under your lower lip, and move straight down to the lymph nodes under your chin. Do 3-5 strokes.
7. Sweep your cheeks
Start at the side of your nose and sweep across your cheek toward the lymph nodes below your ear. Do 3-5 strokes on each side.
If you have more fluid buildup or if the motion feels good, you can do more strokes in this (or any) area.
8. Work under your eyes
Place your gua sha tool at the inner corner of your under-eye area and sweep out toward your ear. Be even more gentle here because the skin under your eyes is thin and sensitive.
Do 3-5 light strokes on each side.
9. Glide across your forehead
Start at the center of your forehead and sweep out toward your temples and ears. Do 3-5 strokes, moving from the middle outward.
10. Address any lingering swelling
Go back to any areas where you still feel puffiness or inflammation. Do a couple more strokes in those spots to help move the fluid along.
11. Move fluid down to your collarbones
You’ve moved all that fluid out of your face, but now you need to move it down to the lymph nodes around your collarbones so it can drain from your system.
Use your gua sha tool to sweep down both sides of your neck toward your collarbones. Do 3-5 strokes on each side.
12. Stimulate your lymph nodes again
Finish by re-stimulating the lymph nodes to keep them draining the fluid. Use your hands to do circles around your ears and around your collarbones at the base of your neck, just like you did when you got started with this routine.
What Is the Best Gua Sha Tool for Lymphatic Drainage?
Most gua sha tools will work for lymphatic drainage as long as they have a smooth edge and feel comfortable in your hand. The material doesn’t make a huge difference in how effective the massage is. What matters is using the right technique!
That said, here are my favorite options:
Overall, you can use virtually any smooth-edged tool you like, made with any gua sha stone. Sometimes, it’s helpful to experiment with different tools to see which you like best!
Take a look at this before and after a lymphatic drainage massage.
FAQs
How often should you gua sha for lymphatic drainage?
You can do gua sha for lymphatic drainage daily or whenever you notice puffiness and swelling. I recommend staying consistent for the best results. If you’re dealing with chronic facial swelling or lymphedema, doing it every morning can help keep fluid from building up throughout the day. If you only have occasional puffiness, you can do it as needed when you wake up swollen or feel like your face needs drainage.
Should I do gua sha at night or in the morning?
Either time works. Most people prefer doing it in the morning because that’s when facial swelling tends to be worst after lying flat all night. But if you like doing it at night as part of your skincare routine or find it relaxing before bed, that’s fine too. Pick whatever time fits your schedule and feels best for you.
How long does gua sha take to see results?
You should see less swelling and puffiness right after you finish the routine. Your face will look less puffy and feel less tight. But gua sha doesn’t permanently change your face or lymphatic system, so you’ll need to keep doing it regularly to maintain those results. If you stop, the fluid will build up again, especially if there’s an underlying cause like lymphedema.
What stone is good for lymphatic drainage?
Jade and rose quartz are the most common stones used for gua sha tools, but you’ll also see tools made from amethyst, obsidian, or stainless steel. The stone itself doesn’t really affect how well lymphatic drainage works. Pick whichever material feels comfortable to you and fits your budget.
What oil should you use with gua sha?
I don’t use oil in my lymphatic drainage routines because I find that the tool glides fine on clean skin. But if you want to use a facial oil or serum to help the tool glide more smoothly, you can. Just use something light that won’t clog your pores and avoid anything too thick or heavy.
Get More Lymphatic System Support
I have a few different guides that can help you build out your lymphatic drainage routine and self-care regimen.
These resources will give you more techniques and information to support your lymphatic system, especially if you deal with chronic swelling:
