Tag Archives: diaphragm

Breathe Easy

Bladder 17 Geshu Diaphragm Shu

Focus on the breath is a cornerstone of meditation practices, martial arts, Tai Qi and Qigong. This points to the importance of good breathing  practices in maintaining body-mind health. Indeed, air is a vital component in the production of Qi in the body.

An impediment to taking a full breath can arise when there is constriction in the diaphragm. This is the large muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, and which is the primary muscle of respiration.

Body-centred therapists recognise the role that diaphragmatic constriction plays in patterns of emotional holding. The pioneer of somatic therapy, Wilhelm Reich, regarded the diaphragm as one of the eight segments of potential body-armouring.

In my clinic I often work with the diaphragm. Some people have difficulty taking a full breath, or their breathing ‘catches’, or they hold their breath for a short time between breaths, and the breathing is not smooth. Many of these constrictions in the breathing process are associated with emotional holding. Therefore, when working at the emotional level, it is important to free constrictions in the diaphragm.

One of the most important acupoints for this work is Bladder 17 Geshu Diaphragm Shu. This point is the hui-meeting point of Blood and is said to treat any conditions of the blood; this is the main function of this point given in acupuncture manuals. My focus here is on its function implied by the name, Diaphragm Shu. The word shu means to transport, suggesting that the point transports Qi to the diaphragm, relaxing while at the same time invigorating the muscle.

I find that there is a strong correlation between tightness, congestion or stagnation at this point, and tightness at the Liver and Gall Bladder shu points which lie below (inferior to) it. The emotions associated with these Wood organs are anger and frustration which are often held in and stored in the body. Constricting the breath, usually unconsciously, is one way of controlling these and other emotions, and the diaphragm plays its part in this control.

When working on someone else, I have them lying face up (supine) on a table. I reach underneath the back with cupped fingers, to hold Bladder 17 with the tip of my curled middle finger, left side first, then right. This allows my other hand to hold other points which will help to release this main focal point. I have three favourite points that I use, all for different reasons.

(1) The first of these is not an acupoint but lies on the Conception Vessel (Ren) between CV 14 and 15. Call it 14.5 if you like. It is the tip of the xiphoid process, a piece of cartilage that extends from the lower part of the sternum and to which the diaphragm and other muscles attach. Holding the tip of the xiphoid together with Bladder 17 is a great way to release the diaphragm and allow breathing to become freer and easier.

(2) If this doesn’t work as well as I would like, I go to the next point combination, holding Bladder 17 with Bladder 40 behind the knee. Bladder 40 is a point famous for releasing any of the back-shu points, drawing congested Qi down the inner Bladder line in the back and down the backs of the legs.

(3) The final combination in the toolbox is Bladder 17 with Stomach 40. This method draws on the principles of microsystems, where a body part represents a larger area of the body. In this case the lower leg represents the length of the spine in the torso. BL 17 is half-way along this length, mirrored by ST 40 which is halfway along the lower leg. This might sound strange, but it does work, and sometimes this point will be the one that releases BL 17 the best.

When to use this protocol

Use when someone tells you that they are having difficulty getting a full breath or when you observe that there is a catch in the breathing or a holding of the breath. If there is back pain around the bottom of the shoulder blade, this work can relax the back musculature. Use also if emotions are arising and the person struggles to express or release them. Also consider if there is suppression of anger. Frequent sighing may indicate diaphragmatic constriction. There can also be an indication on the pulse. This “diaphragm pulse” is diagnosed when it feels as if the skin in protruding between your fingers at the junction of the distal and middle pulse positions.

There are of course other ways of working with the breathing. These include Lung points (especially LU 1) and the muscles of the neck, particularly the scalene and sternocleidomastoid muscles which are involved in lifting the ribcage during inhalation. If tight, these should be addressed in conjunction with diaphragm work. In fact, in cases of deep emotional holding, releasing the upper segments of armouring should precede this work.

Working on yourself

It is very difficult to hold these points directly on yourself. Instead, lie back on a pair of tennis balls tied together in a sock. Place the balls on either side of the spine at the level of the bottom (inferior angle) of the shoulder blade. If this is too much pressure, lie on a softer surface, or use a rolled-up towel across this area. This allows you to hold the tip of the xiphoid process in combination. While you won’t be able to reach the other points in the legs, you can use your mind to hold them with intention.

This work forms part of the workshop “Working with Emotions in Five Element Acupressure” which is part of the Five Element Acupressure training program.
Details here.

BL 17 is located two fingers width (1.5 cun) lateral to the junction of the 7th and 8th thoracic vertebrae, approximately level with the inferior angle of the scapula
Tip of the xiphoid process, the cartilage that attaches to the bottom of the sternum
BL 40 in the centre of the knee crease
ST 40 is half way between the base of the patella (kneecap) and the prominence of the outer ankle bone, and 2 fingers width (1.5 cun) lateral to the crest of the tibia bone

Staying Flexible

Liver 6 ~ Zhongdu ~ Central Capital

Boy, what a spring it’s been in southern Australia: powerful forces blowing through, upending the calm serenity, unexpected gusts shaking things loose. I’m not just referring to the weather here, though it has been very windy and stormy of late; I’m also talking about the uprising, often jerky energies of the Wood Element that create a surging force, putting pressure upon any of our Wood issues that are unresolved.

I mentioned last time my unexpected gall bladder protestations. In response I’ve begun taking some supplements that cleanse and support the liver and gall bladder, only to find that my dreams have been unusually frequent and vivid. Sleep sometimes feels like a long-running Netflix drama series. This is because the liver houses the hun, spirit of Wood, which organises our dreams at night. Flushing the liver can affect the dream life.

Anger has also been prominent for many people this spring as the rising tide of Wood energy lets us know how balanced is this Wood emotion within us. I’ve had many clients comment on their frustration levels recently. And I’ve noticed that these emotions are spilling over into angry public protests over the Covid lockdowns.

Which brings us to an acupoint that can address some of these issues, the xi-cleft point of the Liver channel: Liver 6, Zhongdu, Central Capital. Its name refers to its location in the centre of the shin bone, to the cleft or hollow in which it is located, and perhaps because the xi-cleft point is where Qi accumulates as does the population of a capital city.

As a xi-cleft point, it is very good for clearing stagnation along the whole length of the Liver channel, starting at the big toe, travelling up the inside of the leg, around the groin, into the abdomen and through the diaphragm before finishing below the breast. It is particularly known for treating acute conditions of the genital area, urinary pain, uterine pain, and lower abdominal pain. It can also address numbness in the hands and feet and emaciation of the legs.

An overarching function of the point is that it spreads and smooths Liver Qi. One of the main functions of the Liver official is to promote smooth flow of blood and Qi throughout the body. Central Capital is a significant point to support this function. One of the ways that stagnant Liver Qi can present is in constant sighing, brought on by tightness in the diaphragm which prevents Liver Qi from ascending. Another point we’ve looked at in the past, Liver 14 in the chest , can be paired with Liver 6 to address this condition.

Zhongdu can also treat stagnation at the psycho-emotional level which might present outwardly as frustration, irritability, anger and judgement of others; or internally as collapse, hopelessness, despair, and judgement and criticism of oneself. For some, there is a flipping back and forth between the two responses. In both scenarios, the Liver Qi is not moving smoothly up the body as it needs to.

One of the major issues that the Wood Element presents us is about how we manage the limits and boundaries we encounter. How we deal with the inevitable roadblocks we meet in life will tell us much about the health of our Wood. When you meet an obstacle to your forward movement, how do you tend to respond? A healthy Wood will be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances. If plan A isn’t working, we look around, make wise assessments, change the plan, and move forward. If you collapse at hurdles or try to crash through them, consider alternatives and work around the barriers. Working with Liver points will support your adaptability and flexibility, and Central Capital can be central to this support.

Location of Liver 6

The point lies 7 cun above the prominence of the inner ankle bone. As there are 15 cun from the knee crease to the ankle on the inside of the lower leg, the point is slightly less than halfway up. It lies on the back border of the tibia bone in a hollow between the tibia and the gastrocnemius muscle.

It makes for a nice pairing with Gall Bladder 36 which we looked at last time. GB 36 is at the same level as Liver 6 but on the outside of the leg.