In my post Acupuncture – Commonly Asked Questions, I attempted to demystify the most popular pillar of Chinese Medicine. Here, I’m focusing the microscope further to start looking at specific acupuncture points, and how to integrate them into your self-health care.
Acupuncture points lie on channels of energy, called meridians, that run bilaterally throughout the body. There are twelve meridians, each one corresponding to a different organ. The post, The Chinese Clock – How Your Organs Keep Time, explains how your energy, or chi, moves throughout these meridians over the course of a day.
The high time for the Large Intestine (LI) is between 5 am – 7 am. Physically, this meridian begins at LI.1, located at the base of the nail on the inside of the index finger, travels up the arm and neck, then ends with LI.20 on the opposite side of the nose, at the nostril.
LI.4 is the fourth point on the meridian, in the web between the thumb and hand.
Because the meridian travels up to the head and nose, this point is good for headaches, especially those related to sinus issues.
It also helps with nasal symptoms due to colds and hay fever. Large Intestine related issues such as diarrhea, constipation, and dysentery are treated by using LI.4.
This is one of the best points for moving energy. If you are in pain due to stagnation (pain better with movement), LI.4 can help. It alleviates pain in the neck, face and even teeth. It is famous for helping with general pain throughout the body, especially when coupled with Liver 3 (see future post).
If you are feeling stuck mentally, or emotionally, LI.4 is your friend. The Large Intestine has to do with releasing that which is no longer useful in your life. If you are still holding on tightly, LI.4 can help you let go.
Using your thumb and index finger of the opposite hand, squeeze and rub the area as shown in the photo. It is probably tender! Only use the amount of pressure you can tolerate without gritting your teeth, or tensing other parts of your body. Continue a few minutes, until symptoms subside. Repeat several times throughout the day.
****Because of its strong tendency to move chi, it is forbidden to massage or needle this point during pregnancy.****
Watch future blogs for more acu-points for self health-care.
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