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Along the midline of the human back, simply put, from the cervical vertebrae to the coccyx, runs the Governing Vessel (Dù Mài), which governs the yang energy of the entire body. The ancients referred to it as the “Sea of Yang Vessels.” True to its name, it is like a vast ocean, gathering the yang energy from all the meridians and distributing it to the skin and pores of the body, playing a role in warming the body and resisting external pathogens.
As the saying goes: Keep moxa at home, and the young and old will be free from ailments.
One excellent treatment method in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is moxibustion on the Governing Vessel. By applying moxibustion along 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 states, “When the righteous qi is stored 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, travels up the spine, enters the brain, and ascends to the vertex, following the forehead. If the Governing Vessel is invaded by pathogens, symptoms may include arching of the back, stiffness of the neck and back, clenched teeth, 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 empty and cannot nourish the brain, insufficient marrow leads to dizziness, heaviness in the head, and forgetfulness; if the ears are connected to the brain and the brain marrow is insufficient, it results in tinnitus and deafness; if the Governing Vessel is weak and the meridians lack nourishment, it leads to soreness and weakness in the lower back and spine.
A pale tongue and a thin, weak pulse indicate a state of 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, thin and cold semen, nocturnal emissions, abdominal distension and pain in women, cold womb and infertility, weakness in the lower back and knees, a pale tongue, and a weak pulse, all indicating deficiency.
1. The Governing Vessel can treat mental disorders, febrile diseases, local conditions of the lower back, back, and neck, as well as corresponding internal organ diseases.
The Governing Vessel oversees the yang energy of the entire body; any weakness in yang energy can be treated at suitable acupoints along the Governing Vessel. Conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar disc herniation, osteoarthritis, sacroiliitis, senile osteoporosis, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head are particularly well treated by this method, especially ankylosing spondylitis, which modern medicine has not yet effectively addressed.
The Governing Vessel connects all meridians. Through the comprehensive effects of moxibustion on the Governing Vessel, it stimulates and coordinates the various meridians, linking 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 preventive health goals.
2. Moxibustion 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.
This leads to feelings of increasing fatigue, declining spirits, and lack of enthusiasm for work, all of which indicate that the body’s yang energy is being excessively consumed without adequate replenishment, resulting in a state commonly referred to as “sub-health.”
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.”
3. Moxibustion on the Governing Vessel is particularly effective for women.
According to TCM principles, women are considered to have a yin constitution, which often results in insufficient yang energy compared to men. This leads to a higher susceptibility to cold-related diseases, such as cold hands and feet, dysmenorrhea, etc., primarily due to insufficient yang energy failing to warm the limbs and internal organs, causing cold pathogens to stagnate in these areas, resulting in pain.
Moxibustion on the Governing Vessel can help accumulate yang energy within 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 harmonizing the functions of all internal organs to prevent disease and promote health.
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