A Standardized Copper Bian-Stone Gua Sha Protocol for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Human Subjects

Summary

This protocol describes a standardized, step-by-step procedure for performing copper Bian-stone Gua Sha in human subjects diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. The technique involves the application of a copper alloy scraper to specific meridian pathways (Governor Vessel and Bladder Meridian) and designated acupoints. Representative pre- and post-intervention observational data are included to illustrate the procedural workflow and data collection methods.

Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by persistent, unexplained fatigue lasting six months or longer. This protocol describes a standardized copper Bian-stone Gua Sha procedure for application in human subjects with CFS. The procedure targets the Governor Vessel (from Dazhui DU14 to Yaoyangguan DU3) and the Bladder Meridian (from Feishu BL13 to Shenshu BL23). A copper Bian-stone scraper is used to apply light scraping along the meridians at approximately 5 cm/s, with moderate pressure applied for 30 s at Back-Shu points (Pishu BL20, Weishu BL21, Shenshu BL23). Scraping continues until uniform petechiae (sha) appear or 10 strokes per segment are completed. Sessions last approximately 20 min and are performed twice weekly for two weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessments include the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a TCM syndrome score, and the SF-36 Health Survey. Representative changes in these scores are documented to illustrate protocol execution. This protocol emphasizes standardized acupoint localization, pressure calibration, and safety monitoring to facilitate reproducibility in clinical research settings.

Introduction

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a clinical condition characterized by persistent or recurrent fatigue lasting six months or longer that is not substantially alleviated by rest and cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition¹. The global prevalence of CFS has been reported to be increasing, and prolonged fatigue may contribute to functional impairment across multiple physiological systems².

Current pharmacological interventions for CFS are primarily symptomatic and include anti-fatigue agents and low-dose antidepressants; however, long-term use may be associated with adverse effect....

Protocol

This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fifth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine / the Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangdong(Number: 202511-004-02). Informed consent was obtained from all participants all experimental procedures strictly adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and institutional ethical standards for human research.

1. Diagnostic criteria

1. Define chronic fatigue syndrome as a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent fatigue as the primary manifestation, absence of a clear disease diagnosis explaining the fatigue, lack of....

Results

This study describes a copper Bian-gua-sha scraping treatment protocol for chronic fatigue syndrome with a Phlegm-Dampness and Blood Stasis pattern(Figure 5). A total of 20 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled and completed the trial. All patients were diagnosed using uniform criteria the identical Gua Sha therapy protocol was performed by the same practitioner. Evaluations using the Fatigue Severity Scale SF-36 Health Survey the TCM Syndrome Score were conducted for all pat.......

Discussion

The present protocol describes a standardized copper Bian-stone Gua Sha procedure for application in human subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In the execution of this protocol, changes in Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scores, TCM syndrome scores, and SF-36 domain scores were recorded between pre- and post-intervention time points in the 20-subject cohort. The observed differences are presented as representative data to illustrate the protocol's procedural flow and outcome documentation, rather than to estab.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Alcohol,75% medical grade	Guangdong Province Guangning County Shunning Glucose Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.	N/A	CAS 64-17-5;thanol concentration 75% ± 1% (v/v); Medical disinfectant grade
Copper Bian-stone scraper	Liaoning Province Xiangsha Health Management Consulting Co., Ltd.	Model:H62(C28000)	H62 brass alloy (copper content ≥ 61.2035%); Dimensions: 180 mm × 40 mm × 4 mm; Weight: 160 ± 5 g; Edge radius: 2 mm; Surface treatment: polished
Cotton balls,sterile	Guangzhou Haozheng Medical Devices Co., Ltd.	N/A	Medium size (approximately 0.3 g per ball); 100% medical-grade absorbent cotton; Autoclave sterilized
Examination gloves,disposable	Guangdong Feiyang Medical Supplies Co., Ltd.	Type B (Powder-Free Matte Surface)	Made of natural rubber latex, powder-free; Size: S (small); Non-sterile; Single use only.
Forceps,medical	Shanghai Jinzhong Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.	N/A	Stainless steel; Length: 12.5 cm; Straight tip with serrated grip
Gua Sha oil	Nanjing Tongren Hospital Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.	N/A	Ingredients: Vegetable oil-based (CAS No. 8007-08-7, 8022-37-5), with a mixture of natural essential oils added at no more than 1%;viscosity:approximately 15 mPa·s at 25 °C;dosage per use: Approximately 5 mL