Lupus (Stomach 36)

[Guest guest]

> All treatments of Lupus should have LI-11, SP-10, ST-36, LI-4

(major 4)

> for Qi Stagnation, Blood Stasis

> Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, regulate Qi, invigorate Blood

> Acupuncture plus: Plus Ren-17, BL-17, Liv-3

> Herbal formula: Xiao Yao San plus Xue Fu Zhu Tang

 

Thanks, Stan. Readers who suffer Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis may

want to experiment with acupressure on the " major 4 " .

 

I want to go into some detail about St (Stomach)-36 since this is a

point that gets used for a lot of things. It's nickname is " the 3-

mile " (actually 3-li) point because the legend is that exhausted

Chinese solders could march an additional 3 miles (li - Chinese

measurement) after working this point. Yep. This is a point that

gets recommended for fatigue. St-36 strengthens both the Stomach and

the Spleen, and it tonifies both Qi and Blood. It's also a point

that often works fairly quickly for fatigue when used in acupressure.

(Even in cases of severe fatigue one may experience a slight

lessening of fatigue within hours. (Acupressure tends to work slower

than acupuncture, and a regular routine of acupressure can have

cumulative results.)

 

The key to St-36 relieving fatigue is the way it strengthens the

Stomach and Spleen. In TCM physiology, the Stomach " rottens and

ripens " the food we eat. The Spleen then extracts the " Grain Qi "

from the food and carries it to the Lungs where it mixes with

the " Air Qi " the Lungs extract to become the body's Qi. In both

Western and Chinese medicine if the Stomach/ stomach and Spleen/

spleen aren't working properly, the person isn't getting the Qi or

the nutrients s/he needs for optimal health.

 

St-36 also helps in cases of constipation, " in particular for

constipation of a Deficient nature " . (Giovanni Maciocia, The

Foundations of , p.389.)

 

" It also brightens the eyes and can be used for blurred vision and

declining eyesight in old age. " (Maciocia, p.388.)

 

There are some additional things that St-36 can do when needled in

acupuncture. (I don't know if this will work with acupressure as

some special needling techniques are used.) St-36 can be used to

dispel Cold, regulate Nutritive and Defensive Qi, raise Yang when

used with Ren-6 and Du-20 and moxibuston (used in cases of organ

prolapse), expel Wind and Damp (like in cases of Painful Obstrction

Syndrome (arthritis)), and relieve edema. (One of the functions of

the Spleen Qi is to transform and transport liquids in the body. If

the Spleen is weak, it can't perform these functions adequately, and

edema can result.) (Summation taken from Maciocia, pp. 388 - 389.)

 

A reminder that LI (Large Intestine) 4 is contraindicated in pregnant

women as the use of the point can bring on premature labor.

 

Victoria