Tag Archives: digestion

A dyslexic guy walks into a bra

Anxiety, Depression, Digestion, Heart problems, Insomnia, Joy, Psycho-emotional, , , , , , , , ,

I’m a sucker for the snappy one liner and this one from George Carlin is a cracker. And this is just the tip of the funny bone. From puns to pies in the face, the parrot sketch to shaggy dog stories, from stand-up to the Groucho put-down, there are countless things that make us giggle, snicker, titter, chuckle and plain laugh out loud.

A good sense of humour is a great asset and support on the rocky road of life. Dating sites are full of people looking for a partner with a GSOH, presumably someone who will laugh at their jokes.

Laughter is not confined to the arena of joke-telling. Experiencing something unexpected can produce laughter. We can laugh spontaneously, feeling the joy of simply being alive. Laughter is the sound of joy bubbling out of the heart.

There are medical benefits too. Neurophysiology indicates that laughter is linked with the activation of the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that produces endorphins.  The old adage that laughter is the best medicine is being borne out by modern science.

There are many Fire points that can help us to access this lighter side of life. It is interesting to note that the first point of the Heart meridian lies tucked in the armpit, one of the classic places to be tickled. Another is Heart Protector 8 in the palm of the hand which we looked at earlier in the summer. I once had a series of acupuncture treatments  that included this point and every time it was needled I went into fits of giggling that had me and my acupuncturist in stitches.

Another important point that can help to access the laughter of the Heart and its many other qualities is the Heart Protector point Daling – Great Mound. When there is lack of joy or deep sadness, this point is helpful, for it calms the shen, spirit of the Heart. Indeed it is a good point for any emotional stress including anxiety, hysteria, grief, fear, fright and panic. When there is a feeling of vulnerability or insecurity, or a person is suffering relationship trauma, Daling is called for.

At the physical level, Great Mound regulates the Heart and relaxes the chest. It treats palpitations caused by fright, intercostal pain, eczema and other skin conditions arising from heat. It settles the stomach and intestines. Locally it can treat tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The classic text, TheSpiritual Pivot, described the Heart Protector as the channel that pertains to the Heart, so Daling was originally indicated as the source point of the Heart rather than Shenmen, Heart 7 which we looked at earlier. Therefore this is a powerful portal to the Heart and its qualities of joy, contentment, radiance, equanimity, love and laughter.

By the way, did you hear the one about…

 

Location of Heart Protector 7

HP 7

 

 

The point lies in the very centre of the wrist crease on the front of the arm. It lies between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

Gate of Hope

Acupressure Points, Anger, Breathing, Depression, Digestion, Pain Relief, Point Location, Psycho-emotional, Vitality, , , , ,

Gate 1Depression is an all too common condition these days. Feelings of flatness, hopelessness, pointlessness or simply a feeling of being down and blue are some of the characteristics of depression. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, one of the causes of depression is an imbalance in the Wood Element arising from stagnation in the Liver Qi which can in turn be a result of suppressed anger. Since anger is the emotion that corresponds to the Wood Element, constricted anger can affect its  yin organ, the Liver, resulting in a suppression not only of anger, but of vibrancy, aliveness, motivation and the willingness to move boldly through life.

When healthy, Liver Qi rises up from the feet and legs, through the groin and abdomen to the chest, empowering action and engagement with life. It is akin to the sap rising up a tree to nourish its branches and leaves. A common place for this uprising Qi to become stuck is in the chest at the last point (14) of the Liver meridian, Qimen, Gate of Hope.*

When Liver 14 becomes blocked, there can be constriction in the diaphragm leading to frequent sighing. There may be pain, distension and fullness in the chest as well as epigastric pain, nausea, reflux and vomiting.

At the psycho-emotional level blocked Qi at Qimen may result in an inability to see the way forward in life, feelings of gloominess, hopelessness and resignation. Opening the Gate of Hope can expand the horizons, allowing the person to see the limitless possibility that life has to offer. It provides support to meet the challenges of the world with zest and vigour, direction and purpose.

When Qi moves freely from here to the next point in the cycle, Lung 1, there is inspiration to aspire to greater things, support for the planning and creativity to express these aspirations in the world, and the strength and flexibility to carry them forward. All of these qualities are the gifts that are available to us when our Wood Element is in balance.

At the level of spirit, the spiritual issue of the Wood Element is finding one’s true path in life. What is the essential orientation and direction of your particular existence? What is the path through life that best expresses and unfolds your individual soul? Gate of Hope can support you as you ponder these existential questions.

* Gate of Hope is JR Worsley’s name for Liver 14; its traditional name is Cycle Gate since it marks the completion of the whole cycle of the meridian points which begins with Lung 1.

LV 14Location of Liver 14

The point is located in the sixth intercostal space, on the nipple line, i.e. 4 cun lateral to the midline. First locate the tip of the xiphoid process which is the knob of cartilage that attaches below the breast bone. Move your finger across the ribcage until you are in line with the nipple. Then come up until you land in a rib space. On a woman, this is the rib space below the breast. The point will probably be sensitive. Hold the point with steady pressure for 2 to 3 minutes or until you feel the Qi moving freely. If the point is really stuck, try holding it in combination with Lung 1 which we learned in an earlier post. (See The Breath of Heaven, April 14, 2014.)