“The source of all diseases originates from blood, and the cause of a hundred diseases is due to Qi. When the meridians are unblocked, all diseases disappear, and the blood flows clear like jade.” This shows how important it is to unblock the meridians.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that insufficient Qi leads to poor blood circulation, and poor blood circulation results in stagnant fluids, which in turn prevents toxins from being expelled. Once the body is “blocked,” various diseases will follow. How can we unblock the meridians and keep diseases at bay? Identify the following acupoints and massage or tap each point for at least 10 minutes daily!
1. Qi is blocked – Qi Stagnation!
Frequent sighing, chest tightness, irritability, depression, a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, and breast tenderness in women are often signs of Qi stagnation.
Unblocking method: “Exit Qi Point” – Shanzhong (Zhongfu)
The Shanzhong (Zhongfu) acupoint is located at the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples, at the level of the fourth intercostal space.
There are many acupoints in the body that can unblock Qi, but many renowned TCM experts prefer Shanzhong (Zhongfu) as the first choice. The Huangdi Neijing states that “Qi gathers at Shanzhong,” which can regulate the Qi of the entire body, commonly referred to as the “Exit Qi Point.”
With the pressures of work and life, it is inevitable to feel irritable and pent-up. Tapping Shanzhong (Zhongfu) can smooth the flow of Qi and alleviate worries; for women, tapping this point can not only prevent and treat mastitis but also enhance breast beauty.
2. Blood is blocked – Blood Stasis!
Easy bruising, facial spots, bleeding gums, a dark purple tongue, occasional stabbing pain in the chest and ribs, reduced urination with dark urine, and dry skin are all manifestations of blood stasis.
Unblocking method: Regulating various pains caused by blood stasis – Hegu (He Gu)
Hegu (He Gu) is located at the web between the thumb and index finger. A simple method to locate it is to bring the fingers together; the highest point of the muscle bulge at the web is Hegu (He Gu). If located correctly, pressing Hegu (He Gu) will produce a distinct sensation of soreness, numbness, and swelling.
We know that blood flows within the body, and if blood circulation is slow and obstructed, problems will arise where there is stasis.
For example, if stasis is in the lungs, there will be chest pain and coughing blood;
if stasis is in the heart, there will be chest tightness, heart pain, and cyanosis of the lips;
if stasis is in the liver, there will be rib pain;
if stasis is in the uterus, there will be lower abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and dysmenorrhea;
if stasis is in the limbs, there will be localized swelling and bruising;
if stasis is in the vessels, there may be hemiplegia, etc.
……
Why does blood stop flowing?
TCM believes that “Qi is the commander of blood.” When Qi flows, blood flows. Therefore, a significant reason for blood stasis is related to Qi issues. If Qi is deficient, it is like wind lacking the strength to move a sail, unable to provide forward momentum; if Qi is stagnant, the flow of Qi itself is problematic, and blood will naturally stagnate. Thus, to resolve blood stasis, one often needs to address Qi issues. One important acupoint for this is Hegu (He Gu), which can promote the flow of Qi and blood, invigorate Qi, and regulate various pains and skin spots caused by blood stasis.
However, it is essential to note that when tapping the back of the hand at Hegu (He Gu), it must be done thoroughly.
3. Dampness is blocked – Damp Evil!
Sometimes, during the return of the south winds, with excessive humidity and heavy Yin energy, one may easily develop eczema, urticaria, and acne, experience heaviness and fatigue in the limbs, lack of energy, and always feel sleepy; these are often signs of damp evil invasion.
Unblocking method: The most effective acupoint for dispelling dampness – Chengshan (Chengshan)
The Chengshan (Chengshan) acupoint is located in the center of the back of the calf, at the midpoint of the “人” shape below the calf muscle.
Gently grasp the calf with four fingers and press the acupoint with the thumb; each side should be massaged for 5-10 minutes. You can also massage or tap both sides simultaneously. Many people feel a distinct soreness and swelling when pressing Chengshan (Chengshan), which indicates the presence of dampness in the body. After some time of massage, one may feel a slight warmth in the body, indicating that the Yang energy of the bladder meridian is becoming effective, and the damp evil is escaping with the rising body temperature.
The foot Taiyang bladder meridian governs the Yang energy of the entire body, and Chengshan (Chengshan) is located on this meridian. Pressing Chengshan (Chengshan) can invigorate the body’s Yang energy, dispel damp evil, uplift the spirit, and relieve fatigue.
4. Heat is blocked – Heat Toxin!
When we mention “heat toxin,” you might not imagine what it is, but the symptoms of heat toxin blocking the body are quite common: feeling hot all over, skin easily becoming red, swollen, and painful, prone to acne, and experiencing muscle and joint soreness throughout the body; these are the main symptoms of heat toxin.
Unblocking method: Heat-clearing acupoint – Quchi (Qu Chi)
Quchi (Qu Chi) is located at the elbow. To locate the acupoint, one should sit upright and bend the elbow; the midpoint of the line connecting the Shizhu (Shizhu) acupoint and the outer epicondyle of the humerus is Quchi (Qu Chi).
In TCM, Quchi (Qu Chi) is the meeting point of the hand Yangming large intestine meridian, which is abundant in Qi and blood. The Qi and blood in the meridians flow like water into a pool, thus Quchi (Qu Chi) has a strong regulatory effect on the Qi and blood of the entire body. Regularly pressing or tapping this point can release exterior heat and clear heat toxins, especially suitable for cooling heat and relieving summer heat.
Since Quchi (Qu Chi) is the meeting point of the large intestine meridian, and the large intestine is interiorly related to the lungs, which govern the skin and hair, Quchi (Qu Chi) can enhance the release of exterior pathogens and harmonize the nutritive and defensive Qi, achieving the effects of dispelling wind evil, clearing blood heat, and stopping itching and pain. It is often used in conjunction with Xuehai (Xue Hai) for treating skin diseases such as urticaria, eczema, sores, and erysipelas.
5. Cold is blocked – Cold Evil!
As winter approaches, if one is excessively exposed to cold, it can harm Yang energy, leading to symptoms such as fear of cold, cold waist and limbs, pale complexion, and susceptibility to diarrhea.
Unblocking method: Yang’s Yang to warm and dispel cold – Dazhui (Da Zhui)
The Dazhui (Da Zhui) acupoint is located at the lower end of the neck, in the depression below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra. When lowering the head, one can feel a prominent bone; that is the seventh cervical vertebra.
The Zhenjiu Jia Yi Jing states: “Dazhui is at the first vertebra, in the depression, the meeting point of the three Yang meridians.” The Dazhui (Da Zhui) acupoint is a point of the governing vessel, which has the function of regulating and supervising all Yang meridians in the body, hence it is referred to as the “Yang among Yangs”. All three Yang meridians of the hands and feet converge at the governing vessel’s Dazhui (Da Zhui) acupoint, thus it is called “the sea of Yang meridians.” Stimulating Dazhui (Da Zhui) can enhance Yang energy, dispel cold, and invigorate the spirit!
When pressing Dazhui (Da Zhui), if you feel a knot or lump under your hand, that is an external manifestation of cold energy accumulation. Regularly massaging or tapping Dazhui (Da Zhui) can replenish Yang energy and indirectly supplement the body’s kidney Yang – Yuan Yang. When the kidney’s Yuan Yang is abundant, it can maintain a strong ability to resist external pathogens.
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