Category Archives: Fear

COLD

Readers may have noticed that here has been a slight hiatus in blog posts. This has been due to a combination of the muse taking a holiday, and my writing energies being directed to another project. But a gentle prod from a reader (thanks Evelyn) and the unusually cold winter in southern Australia have inspired me to begin another series of posts.

One of the resonances through which the Five Elements manifest is that of climate which is closely correlated with the resonance of season. Here’s how they line up:

WATERWOODFIREEARTHMETAL
WinterSpringSummerLate SummerAutumn
ColdWindHeatHumidityDryness

The resonances are realms of life through which the vibrations of the Elements are expressed. The vibration of the Water Element expresses as the season of winter, the climatic condition of cold, the emotion of fear, the organs of bladder and kidney, and so on. When there is an imbalance in an Element within a person, it is likely to express itself through a number of these resonances. In this post we will focus on the way that the climate of cold can influence other resonances of the Water Element. We’ll explore the other climates in their respective seasons over the next year.

The Chinese character for cold is hán and depicts a man trying to protect himself from the cold by staying in his shelter and covering himself with straw.

Fortunately, we have better ways of keeping warm these days, but for many, the cost of heating is unaffordable, and ongoing exposure to the cold can become debilitating to the health. A recent UK government report stated that living constantly in an environment below 18 degrees Celsius (64 F) begins to affect one’s health, and that negative health effects may occur, such as increases in blood pressure and the risk of blood clots which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. It is well documented that the more severe the winter, the greater the number of deaths, especially in those over 60 years.

From the Chinese medicine perspective, these effects of cold are known as cold invasion. In fact, all of the climatic factors are considered to be ‘external pathogenic factors’. In other words, they are pathogens that invade the body in the way we might consider bacterial and viral infections as invaders.

The risk of cold invading the body is clearly greatest in wintertime, though it can occur in other seasons. Being yin in nature, cold injures yang, causing contraction in the body. This includes contraction of the skin, the muscles, the tendons and ligaments, all of which can produce stiffness and biting pain. When cold combines with wind, this allows for the penetration of viral respiratory conditions such as the common cold. In this case wind is the spearhead of the cold invasion. Other symptoms of cold pathogen can be watery, clear or white discharges, period pain, fertility issues, epigastric or abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

These latter conditions arise when there is penetration of cold into the stomach, intestines or uterus. But the deepest effect is upon the yin organ of the Water Element, the Kidneys which house the jing or Essence. This is especially true for those of a certain age whose Kidney Qi is already in short supply, and who may complain of feeling the cold in their bones.

How can we protect ourselves from cold invasion, or treat ourselves when cold has taken a foothold?

The first thing is to bring warmth. Wear extra layers of clothing to trap the body heat, including a hat or beanie, a neck scarf, and an extra layer around the abdomen to warm the kidneys. Use heating pads and heat the room. A hot water bottle on the belly is a lovely way to bring warmth into the body. Drink warm liquids and eat warming foods and herbs like ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cayenne and turmeric.

 Movement and exercise will help to heat the muscles, tendons and ligaments. A more powerful way of warming the body is through Qigong which cultivates as well as circulates Qi. Try any of the ten thousand forms! An ancient, basic, but reliable form is the Ba Duan Jin or Eight Strands of Brocade. These movements are designed to strengthen all the organs and channels. The sixth of these exercises specifically strengthens the Kidneys.

Qigong is not just movement, but also incorporates breathing to gather the Heavenly Qi. Conscious breathing into the belly centre (lower dantian, or hara) warms the body remarkably and strengthens the Kidney Qi. Tibetan monks have a practice known as tummo, the practice of inner heat. This is a series of breathing and visualisation practices that raise body temperature and metabolism. There are notable cases of competitions to see who can melt the most snow around them or dry the most layers of wet cloth on their bodies. (Don’t try this at home.)

More recently, Wim Hof, known as the Iceman for his ability to withstand low temperatures, has popularised a system breathing practices. This involves forceful breathing followed by breath holding which can strengthen the immune system and resist the cold.

There are acupoints that are known to expel cold once it has penetrated the body. The following are some which we have met over the years in this blog, and I have linked to those posts.

• My favourite point to treat cold is Governor Vessel 4 Mingmen Gate of Life. This point strengthens Kidney Qi and addresses the balance between the Fire and Water Elements.

• Stomach 36 Susanli Leg Three Miles, was my very first blogpost in 2014. This highly versatile point can in this case, expel cold if it has penetrated the Stomach.

• Stomach 25 Tianshu Heavenly Pivot for cold invading the intestines.

Triple Heater 5 Waiguan Outer Frontier Gate. This point strengthens the exterior and rebalances the body thermostat.

• When cold with wind has affected the head and neck, use Gall Bladder 20 Fengchi Wind Pond and Governor Vessel 16 Fengfu Wind Palace.

As we navigate the second half of the southern winter, I encourage you to find ways to protect and defend against the cold. I’ll be back in the Spring with a look at the climate of Wind.

Restoring Flow

Kidney 5 – Shuiquan – Water Spring

Our cold, wet winter continues in South Australia. And because of Covid outbreaks, our government has kindly given us a chance to explore the depth of Water more deeply by sending us into a 7-day lockdown.

Meanwhile, the recent heavy rains have left my back garden sodden, serendipitously evocative of the Kidney point we are exploring today.

Kidney 5 – Shuiquan – Water Spring is one of a loop of points from KI 3 to KI 6 that lie like a billabong behind and below the inner ankle bone. A bit like my garden at the moment. These are all important points, KI 3 the yuan-source point, KI 4 the luo-connecting point, KI 5 the xi-cleft point and KI 6 the master point of the Extraordinary Vessel Yin Qiao Mai.

As we saw in the previous post on its partner point Bladder 63, the xi-cleft points of the yin meridians are used to clear disorders of the Blood as well as to treat acute conditions of the organs.

There is close connection between the Kidneys, uterus, Blood and menstruation. Given this and the fact that the yin xi-cleft points are known for treating Blood disorders, Kidney 5 is an excellent choice for treating all menstrual problems. These include irregular or delayed menstruation, amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation) and dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation). Shuiquan is also known for treating abdominal pain, infertility, uterine prolapse and cystitis. It does all of these things by promoting movement of Qi and Blood in the lower burner and harmonising the Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) and Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai).

Water Spring, as the name suggests, promotes the smooth flow of water. It is therefore used for treating conditions of the urinary system including painful, frequent, difficult and dribbling urination.

Kidney 5 has the capacity to purify the nature of the Water Element. It can be considered as a secondary source point, cleansing and refurbishing the Water in a similar way to the source point’s (KI 3) function of restoring us to original Qi.

It thereby brings a fresh perspective. Water Spring restores, refreshes and brings new vigour to all levels of the body, mind and spirit.

In cases where fear and depression are both present, this point is called for. Use when a person is frozen in place, rooted to the spot, afraid to even go outdoors, can’t budge from where they are out of fear of moving forward. For people who have created a prison round themselves, this point utilises the immense power of Water to smash through the prison walls, enabling the Water to flow freely once more and allowing the person to access the full depth of their potential.

Location of Kidney 5

First locate Kidney 3 (white dot), immediately posterior to the high point of the inner ankle bone, in the deep hollow between the tibia bone and the Achilles tendon. KI 5 (blue dot) is one cun directly below (inferior to) KI 3, in a depression above (superior to) the insertion of the Achilles tendon.

For information about Five Element Acupressure courses in Australia
www.acupressure.com.au