Eight Branches

🪷 Red, dark red, or purple — what does it mean after gua sha?

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, the colour and appearance of sha may provide information that practitioners consider as part of their overall assessment.

🔴 Light or bright red
Traditionally associated with less pronounced stagnation.

🔴 Dark red
May be interpreted as more pronounced stagnation.

🟣 Purple or deep purple
Traditionally associated with more significant blood stasis or stagnation.

But there’s an important point: the colour of sha alone is not a diagnosis.

A TCM practitioner considers the appearance of sha alongside the person's symptoms, tongue, pulse, and overall presentation. The intensity of gua sha, treatment area, skin sensitivity, and individual response can also affect what appears on the skin.

✨ In TCM, observation is about looking at the whole picture, not just one sign.

Curious about the theory behind gua sha and other traditional therapies?

Learn more at Eight Branches College.

🌱 Winter 2027 applications are now open!

Whether you're looking for a career change, want to build on your healthcare background, or simply have a deeper interest in holistic health, Winter 2027 could be your opportunity to take the next step.

At Eight Branches College, students develop a foundation in TCM theory, acupuncture, diagnosis, and clinical practice, with flexible learning options and many classes delivered online.

✨ Ready to get started?
Apply via bio link and take the first step toward your future in Acupuncture & TCM.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Guasha & Cosmetic Guasha Workshop✨

A Hands-On TCM Continuing Education & Self-Healing Workshop

Learn the theory, assessment, and hands-on techniques behind Traditional Chinese Medicine Guasha including both therapeutic body guasha and cosmetic guasha.

📅 November 15, 2026 | Sunday
⏰ 10:30 AM–5:30 PM
📍 In Person at Eight Branches College
💰 $380 | Early Bird $350 by October 9
🪨 Professional Guasha tools + oil included
👥 Open to TCM professionals, enthusiasts & anyone interested in self-healing

Join Christine Yang, R.Ac. & R.TCMP, for an immersive one-day workshop combining TCM theory with practical, hands-on training.

🌿 What You’ll Learn
• Guasha theory & principles
• Diagnosis & assessment
• Guasha case studies
• Hands-on Guasha demonstrations
• Cosmetic Guasha techniques
• Body Guasha techniques
• Guided hands-on practice

Christine Yang, R.Ac. & R.TCMP, a graduate of the Eight Branches College, advanced her expertise in Guasha through intensive training in China under Master Li. Master Li dedicated his entire life exclusively to mastering Guasha for a wide range of complex health challenges. By blending this rare, specialized lineage with classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Christine honours historical practices to deliver the profound healing and therapeutic power of Guasha.

Reserve your spot today via link in bio!

🌿 Herb of the Month: Goji Berry 枸杞子

As summer comes to an end and we transition into early autumn, changes in weather and daily routines can affect our overall balance. Many people may experience dryness, fatigue, or a need for extra nourishment as the season shifts.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Goji Berry (枸杞子) is traditionally used to nourish the body, support eye health, and help maintain overall wellness during seasonal transitions.

🌿 What does it help with?

• Supporting eye health, especially with tired or dry eyes
• Nourishing the body during seasonal changes
• Supporting overall energy and wellness
• Promoting balance as we move into autumn

🌿 Goji Berry is often found in:

• Herbal teas
• Soups and nourishing recipes
• Traditional TCM herbal formulas
• Wellness blends

🍂 In TCM, herbs are selected based on an individual's unique pattern and should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

👉 Follow us to discover one TCM herb each month—explained simply, seasonally, and practically.

Where does an acupuncture needle go after treatment? 🪡

Safe needle handling is an essential part of clinical practice.

Once a needle has been used, it should be treated as a sharp and disposed of immediately in an appropriate sharps container. Needles should never be reused or casually handled after removal.

These may seem like small steps, but proper sharps disposal and infection prevention are fundamental skills for safe clinical practice.

Thinking about a career in acupuncture and TCM? Follow us to learn more about what happens inside the classroom and teaching clinic.

From Ayurveda to Acupuncture 🌿 Meet Deepa, our Eight Branches graduate!

Deepa’s journey in healthcare started long before Eight Branches. After becoming an Ayurvedic physician in India, she continued her career in Canada as an Ayurvedic practitioner and Registered Massage Therapist.

For her, studying TCM wasn’t about starting over; it was about building on what she already knew and expanding how she could support her patients.

She chose Eight Branches College to deepen her knowledge and gain hands-on clinical experience in acupuncture.

Today, Deepa continues her work in healthcare and plans to integrate acupuncture into her practice after completing her licensing requirements.

Her next goal? Continuing her education toward the Doctor of TCM pathway. ✨

Your journey into TCM may look different. But it can start here.

👉DM us to learn more.

Gua Sha more = heal more? Not necessarily. 🌿

It can be tempting to think that more redness, more intensity, or more frequent sessions will lead to better results, but that's not how Gua Sha should be approached.

The timing of your next session depends on your individual response and how quickly the treated area recovers. Before treating the same area again, the skin should have recovered, and any tenderness or significant bruising should have resolved.

Gua Sha is not about creating the most dramatic marks. It's about using the appropriate technique and intensity for the individual.

When it comes to TCM, more isn't always better. It's about the right approach for the right person.

🌿 Learn more about Gua Sha at Eight Branches College.

💜 Does purple Gua Sha mean your body is full of toxins?

Not necessarily.

While Gua Sha can produce temporary red or purple marks, the colour is not a simple measure of how many “toxins” are in the body or how effective the treatment was.

Gua Sha should be individualized based on the person, the area being treated, and the desired therapeutic approach.

🌿 More colour doesn't always mean more benefit.
Learn more at Eight Branches College.