Sweat scraper
Equine sweat scraper
A sweat scraper is a tool used in horse grooming and with other animals, such as dogs. It consists of a handle and a rubber blade. Sweat scrapers are available in both metal and plastic form, and also traditionally in wood (as seen in Mongolia). It is used to remove sweat and/or excess hair from larger pets. It is used in much the same manner as a window cleaner would scrape water or foam from a window with a rubber blade. The typical use of a sweat scraper is now actually to remove excess water after washing a horse to help it cool down rather than for just sweat. Without the use of a sweat scraper, it would take more effort and additional rags to remove the same amount of excess water therefore the proper use of a sweat scraper helps to ensure an effective cool down process.
Strigil
The strigil (Greek: στλεγγίς, romanized: stleggís) is a tool for the cleansing of the body by scraping off dirt, perspiration, and oil that was applied before bathing in Ancient Greek and Roman cultures. In these cultures the strigil was primarily used by men, specifically male athletes; however, in Etruscan culture there is evidence of strigils being used by both sexes. The standard design is a curved blade with a handle, all of which is made of metal.
Strigils were commonly used by individuals who were engaging in vigorous activities, in which they accumulated large amounts of dirt and sweat on their bodies. The people who used the strigil included athletes, the wealthy, soldiers, and more. However, wealthy or prestigious individuals often had slaves to wield the strigils and clean their bodies, rather than doing it themselves.
Strigils were not only significant in a practical sense, but culturally as well. They are often found in tombs or burials, in some cases along with a bottle of oil.
Gua sha
Gua sha (Chinese: 刮痧) or kerokan, is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which a tool is used to scrape people's skin in order to produce light petechiae. Practitioners believe that gua sha releases unhealthy bodily matter from blood stasis within sore, tired, stiff or injured muscle areas to stimulate new oxygenated blood flow to the areas, thus promoting metabolic cell repair, regeneration, healing and recovery.
Gua sha is sometimes referred to as "scraping", "spooning" or "coining" by English speakers. The treatment has also been known by the French name, tribo-effleurage.