Category Archives: Earth Element

Treating the Earth

Digestion, Earth Element, Entry exit points, Nausea, Reflux, Seasons, Transitions, Worry, , , , ,

In Australia we are deep into Late Summer, season of mellow fruitfulness, when nature offers up its abundant produce. It’s a time to enjoy and savour the bounty. The Late Summer season of the Earth Element is represented by the 18 days that are sandwiched between summer and autumn. How appropriate is the word sandwich, evocative of the sights, smells and flavours of food; for the Earth Element is very much about digestion. Northern hemispherical readers will be in the Late Winter, also a period of Earth orientation. (See seasonal dates here.)

Last time I wrote about a treatment pattern for the diaphragm. The feedback was such that I thought to share some other patterns that I use often in clinic. While single points are beneficial, patterns of point combinations are far more powerful. Here we will look at a treatment for the Stomach channel, the yang organ/meridian of the Earth Element, and one which is frequently congested.

This treatment works to encourage the flow of Qi down the body by using some of the most important Stomach acupoints. In doing so, it can address conditions where the Qi is not flowing freely down the channel, and may even be flowing upwards, something known as Rebellious Stomach Qi. This may result in digestive disorders such as nausea, reflux, vomiting, bloating.

A second use of this treatment is for people who spend a lot of time worrying and overthinking. Even a lot of study can produce an excess of Qi in the head. These mental gymnastics are draining of the Earth energies. By drawing this excess away from the head and down the body to the feet, it is as if the worry is digested and metabolised.

A third way this pattern can be useful is for those who are ungrounded. Maybe there is a greater amount of Qi in the upper body than in the lower body. Perhaps the person is not in touch with their legs and feet and there is a sense of not having their feet on the ground. This can be helpful for anyone whose centre of gravity is higher than the navel.

THE POINTS

Let’s look at the acupressure points I’ve chosen. This list is not exhaustive, and practitioners can choose other Stomach channel points if it seems Qi is blocked elsewhere.

Qihu ~ Stomach 13 ~ Qi Door

As the name suggests, this is a doorway or opening that allows the Qi to flow down from the head into the body. If this point is blocked, spend plenty of time opening the door.

ST 13: Immediately below the clavicle, 4 cun lateral to the midline, in line with the nipple

Tianshu ~ Stomach 25 ~ Heavenly Pivot

A pivotal point indeed, for it marks the midway point between the upper and lower body, between Heaven and Earth. Some authorities regard this as the most useful point for any abdominal condition.

ST 25: 2 cun lateral to the centre of the navel, halfway between the midline and the nipple line

Susanli ~ Stomach 36 ~ Leg Three Miles

This point needs no introduction as it is one of the best known and most versatile points of all. It was the very first blog I wrote back in 2014. Treats any ailments of the Stomach and is very energising and grounding.

ST 36: 4 fingers width (3 cun) below the base of the patella, and one finger width lateral to the crest of the tibia

Fenglong ~ Stomach 40 ~ Abundant Splendour

Interestingly, this was part of the diaphragm release from last posting. Here it is used in its capacity as the luo-connecting point of Stomach, which balances Qi between it and its partner Spleen. And as a point in the lower leg, it encourages the flow of Qi down to the feet.

ST 40: halfway between the knee crease and ankle, 2 fingers width (1.5 cun) lateral to the crest of the tibia

Chongyang ~ Stomach 42 ~ Rushing Yang

This is a really important Stomach point. It is both the source point and the exit point of Stomach channel. Source points treat and balance the organ directly, while exit points ensure that Qi moves smoothly out of a channel and into the next in the Qi system, in this case, into Spleen. If this point is blocked, there is a strong chance that Stomach Qi is backing up along the channel and not moving through.

ST 42: on the top of the foot, in a slight hollow 2 fingers width (1.5 cun) distal to the middle of the ankle crease

Gongsun ~ Spleen 4 ~ Grandfather Grandson

While this is not a Stomach point, I’ve chosen it in its capacity as the luo-connecting point which balances the yin-yang pair of meridians. It is especially good at drawing excess Qi from Stomach to Spleen. Also, as the master point of the Extraordinary Vessel Chong Mai, it has a powerful influence over all the organs of the abdomen.

SP 4: in the arch of the foot, in a depression at the base of the first metatarsal bone

METHOD

OK those are the ingredients. Here is the recipe.

Start on the left side. Hold ST 13 + ST 25 for 2-3 minutes. Then decide which of the points is more reluctant to open and stay with it, while moving the other hand to ST 36.  Work down the body in a kind of leapfrog pattern, bringing balance between the pairs. Move next to include ST 36, then ST 40. It is conceivable that if ST 13 didn’t release, that you’d be holding it with all the other points, but that is rare. Finally, finish with ST 42 + SP 4.

Then repeat on the right side of the body. The order may well be different on this side, but again work from upper to lower.

This treatment will take around 30-45 minutes. It can be a stand-alone treatment or it could be incorporated with other work.

This week will be a great time to use this treatment as well as at other times of the year when the seasons are changing, when the Earth Element comes to the fore. However, it will be helpful at any time.

Enjoy!

Completing a Cycle

Blood, Digestion, Earth Element, Knee problems, Menstrual disorders, Oedema, Reflux, Tiredness, Transitions, xi-cleft points, , , , ,

Here we complete the year-long series of blogs on the xi-cleft points. Under the microscope today are the Earth points of this category. If you are puzzling over why I’m considering the Earth Element in the late winter in the southern hemisphere, it is because we are now in the 18-day transition phase between winter and spring. For those in the northern hemisphere, the transition is between summer and autumn, namely the late summer, that is more usually associated with Earth. The previous blog looked at how the dates of these transitions are calculated.

The xi-cleft points, sometimes known as accumulation points, are places where the Qi of the channel accumulates and dives more deeply down. They are known to treat acute conditions of the organ.  They are also known to treat stagnation, both in the organ and in the corresponding emotion.

Stomach 34 ~ Liangqiu ~ Ridge Mound

The mound here refers to the rectus femoris muscle of the thigh, which is adjacent to this point. There are many acupoints with mound in their names. Mounds are raised places where we can see further and find greater perspective. Liangqiu can support us in finding balance and perspective around nourishment, both in what food we eat, how we eat, as well as the nourishment we get from relationships and other influences that we let into our lives. One of the ways that Earth can be thrown off its axis is when there is an imbalance between receiving nourishment from others and giving of ourselves to others. Another translation of Liangqiu is “Beam Mound”. A beam provides both support and balance, and this point brings both of those qualities to this issue of nourishing self and others.

Stomach 34 is known for treating a wide variety of stomach related conditions including epigastric pain and swelling, and rebellious Qi conditions such as regurgitation, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting. It treats swelling, stiffness and pain in the knee, difficulty with flexion and extension of the knee, and coldness in the knee and leg. It is also used to treat stagnation in the breasts, which lie higher up the Stomach channel. Mastitis, swelling, pain and abscesses in the breasts can be addressed.

Location of Stomach 34

2 cun above the top of the lateral border of the patella, in a depression between rectus femoris and vastus lateralis. The height of the patella, top to bottom, is considered to be 2cun and so can be used as a guide.

Spleen 8  ~ Diji ~ Earth Pivot

The name of this character, Diji, has many translations: Earth Pivot, Earth Cure, Earth Crux, Earth Motivator, Earth Basket.

Earth Pivot echoes the name of Stomach 25, Celestial Pivot. Indeed, the ancients saw three Earth points as representing the upper (SP 21), middle (ST 25) and lower (SP 8) aspects of the human body, corresponding to Heaven, Human and Earth respectively. Thus, Diji treats conditions of the lower body. The 16th century physician Yan Zhen-shi went so far as to claim, “There is no condition of the lower region that cannot be treated with Diji.” Big call!

The xi-cleft points of the yin meridians are famous for treating blood disorders, especially blood stasis. Since the Spleen is responsible for producing blood and for regulating the distribution of blood and fluids, it can be deduced that Spleen 8 will be particularly useful for blood issues. Any menstrual irregularities therefore respond to this point. This includes irregular, painful or scanty periods. It treats pain and distension of the abdomen, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, oedema and difficult urination.

If we consider the alternative name of Earth Motivator, we can see how it can be used to energise the Earth Element, clearing stagnation, and resolving damp and its accompanying sensations of feeling drained and lethargic. It supports the healthy quality of Spleen that provides upward lift. One of the problems that can occur when Earth is out of balance is that of inertia. Inertia is often interpretated as doing nothing, an inability to get moving. However, it really refers to things continuing in their current state, so it equally applies to the person who can’t stop moving. This point therefore supports appropriate rest and movement.

This last thought makes me think of the tussle that occurs in the transition from late winter to early spring. One day we are pulled to outside activity on a bright sunny day, only to be driven indoors the next by a cold and rainy day. This back and forth between winter and spring can make for some frustration, so I’ll be using Spleen 8 in the next week or so to help me through this transition. Let’s see if it works.

See you again in our southern spring when I’ll be starting a new round of season-related blogs.

Location of Spleen 8

5 cun below the knee crease on the inside of the leg. Divide the distance between the knee crease and the ankle into three parts. The point is one third down from the knee and on the back border of the tibia bone.