Along the midline of the human back, from the cervical vertebrae to the coccyx, runs the Governing Vessel (Du Mai), which governs the body’s yang energy. The ancients referred to it as the “Sea of Yang Vessels.” Just as the name suggests, it is like a vast ocean, gathering the yang energy from all the meridians and distributing it to the skin and pores of the entire body, warming the body and defending against external pathogens.
As the saying goes: “Keep moxa at home, and the young and old will be free from ailments.”
One effective treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is moxibustion on the Governing Vessel. By applying moxa on the Governing Vessel, we can stimulate the body’s own yang energy, which is then transmitted through the complex and orderly meridian system to the entire body, naturally building up the body’s righteous qi.
TCM teaches that “when the righteous qi is preserved within, evil cannot invade.” When the righteous qi is strong, can the pathogens not flee with their tails between their legs?
The Governing Vessel originates at the perineum, ascends the spine, enters the brain, and reaches the vertex, following the forehead. If the Governing Vessel is invaded by pathogens, symptoms may include opisthotonos, stiffness in the neck and back, clenched jaws, headaches, limb convulsions, and in severe cases, confusion, fever, a white or yellow tongue coating, and a wiry or rapid pulse.
The Governing Vessel ascends to the brain and connects with the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian at the vertex, closely related to the liver and kidneys. If the Governing Vessel is deficient and cannot nourish the brain, symptoms may include dizziness, heaviness in the head, forgetfulness; if the brain marrow is insufficient, it may lead to tinnitus or deafness; if the Governing Vessel is weak, it may cause soreness and weakness in the lower back and spine.
A pale tongue and a thin, weak pulse indicate deficiency. The Governing Vessel governs reproduction and is known as the “Sea of Yang Vessels.” If the yang energy of the Governing Vessel is deficient, its warming and consolidating functions are weakened, leading to cold intolerance in the back, impotence, clear and thin seminal fluid, nocturnal emissions, abdominal distension and pain in women, cold in the uterus causing infertility, and weakness in the lower back and knees, with a pale tongue and weak pulse indicating deficiency.
1The Governing Vessel can treat mental disorders, febrile diseases, local conditions of the lower back, spine, and head, as well as corresponding internal organ diseases.
The Governing Vessel governs all yang energy in the body, and any weakness in yang energy can be treated at appropriate acupoints along the Governing Vessel. Modern medical conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar disc herniation, osteoarthritis, sacroiliitis, senile osteoporosis, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head can be effectively treated, especially ankylosing spondylitis, which modern medicine has not yet found effective treatment methods for.
The Governing Vessel can connect all meridians.Through the comprehensive effects of moxibustion on the Governing Vessel, it stimulates and coordinates the various meridians, connecting the internal organs and limbs, communicating between the inside and outside, promoting the flow of qi and blood, balancing yin and yang, resisting pathogens, and adjusting deficiency and excess, thus achieving the goal of preventive health care.
2Moxibustion on the Governing Vessel can also provide health benefits for those without diseases.
In modern society, due to long working hours, staying up late, and consuming too many cold foods (such as frozen foods from the refrigerator), along with increasing cases of air conditioning-related illnesses, these factors greatly deplete the body’s essential yang energy.
As a result, people feel increasingly fatigued, mentally drained, and lack enthusiasm for work, which indicates a significant depletion of yang energy without proper replenishment, leading to a series of conditions often referred to as “sub-health” states.
These symptoms lack targeted treatment methods in modern medicine.However, through the physical treatment of moxibustion on the Governing Vessel, not only can symptoms be improved, but it can also serve preventive and health-promoting purposes, aligning with the modern health philosophy of “preventing disease before it occurs.”
3Moxibustion on the Governing Vessel is particularly effective for women.
According to TCM principles, women are considered to have a yin constitution, which often leads to insufficient yang energy compared to men. This results in women being more prone to cold-related diseases, such as cold hands and feet, dysmenorrhea, etc. These conditions are primarily due to insufficient yang energy failing to warm the limbs and internal organs, causing cold pathogens to stagnate in these areas, leading to discomfort.
Moxibustion on the Governing Vessel can help accumulate yang energy in the body, greatly replenishing yang energy, allowing it to reach the surface to ward off pathogens and internally warm the meridians and organs.
Moxibustion on the Governing Vessel can also significantly improve symptoms such as melasma, freckles, and acne that appear with aging in women. This is achieved by regulating the balance of yin and yang throughout the body, thereby enhancing the functions of various internal organs to prevent disease and promote health.
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