Positives

• In two manual-lymph-drainage case reports for post-COVID cough, breathlessness, and fatigue, patients showed decreases in physical fatigue, post-exertional malaise, mental fatigue, back pain, and depression alongside increased concentration, energy, and sleep quality PMC.
  
  
• Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment for Long COVID frequently includes gua sha alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary intervention, cupping, and breathing exercises — with practitioners reporting symptom improvement in mixed-modality protocols badgut.org.
  
  

Negatives

• Gua sha intentionally creates petechiae and bruise-like marks that can stay tender for days to a week, and patients with bleeding disorders, eczema or psoriasis face a higher risk of complications Healthline.
• Despite traditional use for circulation and pain, the scientific evidence base for gua sha remains thin and patients are commonly warned away from miracle medical claims with no backing Medical News Today.

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Home gua sha tools (jade or stainless-steel scrapers, $15-$60) work for facial lymphatic drainage and gentle neck/shoulder work; for body work and deeper protocols, a TCM-trained acupuncturist or massage therapist provides safer technique Carolina Pintos Therapy.