Touch of Radiance

The Stomach Meridian

The Stomach meridian is known as the official of “rotting and ripening,” which means it is responsible for preparing the food we eat in order for the Qi to be extracted and used by our body. It is also referred to as the Bubbling Cauldron or the 100 Degree Soup, and we must maintain proper temperature and moisture for the Stomach to function efficiently. The Stomach relates psychologically to our ability to accept and digest new information, as well as our ability to adapt to change. The pathway for Stomach begins on the face, just below the eyes, and travels down the front of the body to the front of the legs, ending on the second toe. There are a total of 45 points on the Stomach meridian.

The Stomach meridian is the first step in our digestive process, and if it is out of balance we may experience nausea, low or excessive appetite, or other digestive disorders. Stomach is the yang meridian associated with the Earth element, and its partner is Spleen. Other correspondences include the color yellow, the sweet flavor, dampness, the flesh and muscles, the mouth, anxiety and empathy, adulthood, late summer and the transitions between seasons. Stomach energy is at its peak between 7 am and 9 am.

To support the Stomach meridian, try wearing yellow more often, singing, and paying particular attention to eating mindfully. Chew your food well, and try to avoid eating while working, driving, and watching television. Eat with people you enjoy and engage in pleasant conversation as you nourish yourself, or when eating alone, notice and appreciate the flavor and texture of each bite. The sweet flavor of the Earth element is not candy and cookies, but rather sweet potatoes, squash, beets, fruits, grains, and even meat. Try to avoid sugar-sweet foods, and increase your consumption of Earth sweets. Other foods that specifically affect the Stomach include Brussels sprouts, turnips, shiitake mushrooms, grapefruit, kiwi, pineapple, hazelnuts, and tuna.

Large Intestine 4

Large Intestine 4 (Joining Valley or He Gu) is a very powerful acupressure point. Do not use this point during pregnancy. Some of the many uses for Large Intestine 4 are: headache, toothache, pain, cough, sore throat, constipation, and delayed labor. It is found on the hand, in the middle of the second metacarpal bone, on the radial side. That means the edge of the hand bone to which your index finger attaches, about halfway between the base of your finger and your wrist. Use your thumb or fingertip to press and hold this point for several slow breaths.

The Large Intestine Meridian

The Large Intestine meridian is partnered with Lung, and they both belong to the Metal element. Large Intestine is known as The Great Eliminator, and it gives us the ability to let go and release. The pathway begins on the index finger and travels along the arm, over the shoulder to end on the face just to the outside of the nose. There are a total of 20 points on the Large Intestine meridian.

Physically the large intestine, also known as the colon, is responsible for producing fecal matter and eliminating it from the body. It accomplishes this, in part, by absorbing water from the intestinal contents to be reused by the body. In Chinese medicine as well, the Large Intestine’s function is elimination. Dryness is the climate of the Metal element, and when Large Intestine is not functioning properly the body may become overly dry. We often notice dryness in our skin, which also relates to the Metal element. Other associations include the color white, the season Autumn, old age, grief, the pungent or spicy flavor, and the nose. The time of day that the Large Intestine is at its peak is 5:00 to 7:00 AM.

When Large Intestine is out of balance, we may experience difficulty in letting go. Physically, this means a person with a Large Intestine imbalance might have constipation or diarrhea, but also skin conditions such as acne and rashes could result. In the emotional realm, it might cause someone to have a hard time dealing with grief. This could be either the inability to express it at all or being stuck too long in the grieving process. There is also a connection with childbirth, as the mother must “let go” of the baby, and postpartum depression may result if she is emotionally unable to do so. Intellectually, we can get stuck on some topic and experience mental “constipation” as well.

To support the Large Intestine, many of the same suggestions for Lung may be appropriate: wear white more often, watch a sad movie and let yourself cry, practice meditation, and consider adding more pungent or spicy foods to your diet. It is also possible that removing an excess of spicy foods from the diet may help if the opposite extreme is present. Specific foods that act on the Large Intestine include spinach, mushroom, eggplant, avocado, banana, rhubarb, fig, pine nuts, and tofu.

Lung 1

Lung 1 (Central Palace or Zhong Fu) is a useful acupressure point, excellent for breathing problems, asthma, sore throat, and shoulder and upper back pain. It is known to clear the chest and emotions, and strengthen the lungs. First find the depression just below the outside end of your collarbone, then go about an inch below that depression onto the muscle (pectoralis major). It is usually tender on most people. Use your thumbs to hold this point while taking deep, slow breaths.

The Lung Meridian

The Lung is a good place to begin our study of the twelve major meridians because its main function is the intake of Qi. As we breathe in fresh, clean air, our Lung meridian extracts Air Qi to descend and disperse it throughout the body. The Lung also has an important role in immune function, as it relates to the skin and our physical boundary to the world around us. As part of the Metal Element, the Lung is paired with the Large Intestine. Physically and psychologically, the Lung represents our ability to receive and our ability to let go.

The Lung pathway begins just below the collarbone, in the pectoralis muscle. It travels down the arm to the thumb, and there are a total of 11 acupressure points on the Lung meridian.

The Lung relates to the color white, the season Autumn, old age, dryness, grief, the pungent or spicy flavor, breathing, the nose, and the skin. The time of day that the Lung is at its peak is 3:00 to 5:00 AM. A person with a Lung imbalance might have breathing difficulties, skin disorders, rashes, dryness, fatigue, runny nose, and a tendency to sweat with very little exertion. Weakness in the Lung may also cause a person to get sick easily with colds and flu.

To nourish your Lung, try wearing white more often, letting yourself cry over a sad movie, and practicing breathing exercises and meditation. Pungent foods affect the Lung, so adding more ginger, garlic, and onions to your diet may be helpful. Other foods which nourish the Lung include radish, pear, melon, peanut, and egg.