River & Sea Transporting Points

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In previous posts we learned that the flow of Qi is very unstable and

superficial in the areas of the body between the tips of the fingers and the

elbows and the tips of the toes and the knees. Each of the 12 major

meridians have 5 special points in these areas called Transporting or

Element or Shu points. In some texts these 5 points are called Well,

Spring, Stream, River, and Sea points.

 

The Well points are good for emotional problems, the Spring for clearing

Heat, and the Stream for clearing Dampness in particular, feelings of

heaviness, and joint pain (Painful Obstruction Syndrome).

 

At the River points the flow of Qi is deeper and wider. Pernicious Evils are

diverted to the joints.

 

The River points are used for cough, ashtma, and upper respiratory diseases.

(Maciocia, p. 339) This applies more to the Yin channels than to the Yang

channels. The River points of the Yin channels also can be used to treat

Painful Obstruction Syndrome. River points also get used when the " disease

affects the voice and there is stagnation of Qi and Blood in the channels. "

(From Spiritual Axis, chapter 44, cited in Maciocia , p. 340)

 

River points can be anywhere along the course of the meridian before it gets

to the elbows or the knees.

 

The Sea points are located at the elbows or the knees. At the elbows and the

knees Qi is vast and slow.

 

The Sea points are used to treat stomach and intestinal diseases. The Yang

Sea points are used mainly, but the Yin Sea points also can be used.

 

The best known of the Sea points probably is Stomach 36 (Three Mile Point).

This is the one that got its name because working it will allow exhausted

solders to march 3 more miles. It's a point that gets used for a lot of

symptoms but particularly for lack of energy. It's located " four finger

widths below the kneecap, one finger width ouside of the shinbone. If you

are on the correct spot, a muscle should fex as you move your foot up and

down. " (Acupressure's Potent Points, Michael Reed Gach, p. 94)

 

Maciocia says this is a major point to tonify Qi and Blood in Deficiency

patterns. (p. 388) It strongly tonifies both Spleen Qi and Stomach Qi

though Sea points usually apply to Yang Organs. (The Spleen is Yin Earth;

the Stomach is Yang Earth.) The reason why this is so important in terms of

energy for the body and of strengthening the body is that the Stomach " rots

the food " and the Spleen extracts the grain Qi from the food. If the

Stomach and Spleen aren't up to par, the person is going to feel tired and

have a lot of problems. There's a breakdown in the body's ability to obtain

Qi from food.

 

The Sea points of the Yin channels also can be used to treat problems in the

Yang Organs. The Yang organs and meridians are Stomach, Bladder, Gall

Bladder, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine (and Triple Heater meridian).

The Yin meridians are the Spleen, Kidney, Liver, Lungs, Heart, and

Pericardium. The Sea points on the Yin meridians of the leg can be used to

treat problems of the Yang Organs. For example Spleen 9, Kidney 10, and

Liver 8 " can all clear Damp_Heat in Bladder or Intestines. " (Maciocia, p.

339) The Sea point of the Pericardium - P3 - can " clear Heat in the

Intestines. " (p. 339)

 

Another term you'll see in regards to Sea points are " Lower Sea Points " .

These aren't really Sea points, but they act like Sea points. The Yang

Organs whose channels run through the arms - Large Intestine, Small

Intestine, and Triple Heater - each have a point on one of the Yang channels

that run through the legs. For example, working Stomach 37 will affect the

Large Intestine. So St 37 is called the Lower Sea Point for the Large

Intestine. St 39 is the Lower Sea Point for the Small Intestine, and

Bladder 39 is the Lower Sea Point for the Triple Heater. (The Triple Heater

can be a confusing concept for those new to TCM. It's an " Organ " without

form, or it can refer to groupings of other Organs. For example, the Lower

Burner (or Lower Heater) is comprised of the Intestines, the Bladder, and

the Kidneys. When you see a diagnosis such as Dampness Accumulation of the

Lower Burner, it means that there's a lot of Dampness in the lower abdomen.

It's so widespread that it's not restricted to one Organ system. It's the

whole lower abdomen. This is a simplified explanation, but it will do for

now.)

 

In summary, " The 'Spiritual Axis' says in chapter 44: 'When the Yin organs

are affected use the Well points; when the disease affects a change in the

complexion colour, use the Spring points; when the disease manifests

intermittently, use the Stream points; when the disease affects the voice

and there is stagnaiton of Qi and Blood in the channels, use the River

points; when the Stomach is affected and the person lacks appetite, use the

Sea Points.' " (Maciocia, p. 340)

 

Victoria

 

 

 

T

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