Clearing Blockages and Stagnation
Acupuncture involves inserting hair-thin needles at specific points on the body, called acupoints, to stimulate the meridians and the energy they carry. Stimulation of acupoints helps move qi, resolve stagnation, and balance the body and its systems. Acupuncture is widely used to relieve pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions.
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture except that it uses finger pressure, rather than needles, on acupoints. Acupressure is considered to be less powerful than acupuncture, but it can be used effectively at home as part of a self-care regimen to promote healing, reduce stress, and alleviate fatigue.
Acupuncture can be a powerful therapy in our nation’s battle against opioid dependency. To begin, studies from around the world have proven that acupuncture is an effective alternative to opioids in pain management; if pain patients can be prescribed acupuncture instead of opioids, we entirely circumvent the risk of dependency. For people who are trying to overcome a dependency, acupuncture has been shown to reduce cravings for opioids and to modulate or even eliminate some of the uncomfortable symptoms experienced during withdrawal. After withdrawal, we can turn to acupuncture to restore health to the whole body, including neural networks in the brain, and we can target the treatments to help heal particular organ systems, elemental imbalances, qi blockages, and so forth.
In the face of a national opioid epidemic, medical systems in the United States are looking more and more to nonpharmacologic strategies for pain. Numerous federal regulatory agencies have advised or mandated that health-care systems and providers offer drug-free treatment options for pain, including acupuncture, physical therapy, spinal cord manipulation, yoga, tai chi, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Among these, acupuncture stands out as the most specific in targeting the endorphin neurosystem that mediates the pain response. 22
In the spring of 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a guide, called the “FDA Blueprint for Prescriber Education for Extended-Release and Long-Acting Opioid Analgesics,” that recommended doctors become informed about nonpharmacologic options for pain control to help avoid the overuse of opioids. Thereafter, a joint commission made up of members from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine formed at the FDA’s request to assess the abuse and misuse of opioid medications. The resulting report systematically summarized the evidence for acupuncture’s clinical benefits in treating pain. The commission’s research resulted in a mandate for hospitals to provide nonpharmacologic pain management treatment modalities such as acupuncture by July 2018. 23
Acupuncture is now being recognized as a first-line treatment for pain, before opiates are prescribed, to avoid the development of opioid addiction. It is being implemented in hospital settings as diverse as surgery recovery, stroke rehabilitation, and pain clinics to treat a variety of pain and mobility issues. It has even been found to be useful in the emergency room; a randomized trial of acupuncture versus morphine to treat emergency department patients with acute pain concluded that acupuncture worked better and faster than morphine, with far fewer side effects. 24
Acupuncture has also been shown to be an effective adjunctive analgesic for postsurgical treatment, reducing the use of opioids across a wide range of both minor and major surgical procedures. 25 Some studies have reported that acupuncture can reduce the consumption of opioid-like medication by more than 60 percent following surgery. 26
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek help from their doctor. 27 A comprehensive review of studies on nonpharmacologic pain-reduction treatment modalities found that acupuncture is one of the most effective for this kind of pain, and in early 2017, the American College of Physicians published guidelines for the treatment of low back pain strongly suggesting the use of acupuncture, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, and so on. 28
When the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and branches of the U.S. military began using acupuncture for pain and stress management, the use of opiates and other pain medications among personnel decreased dramatically. Opioid prescriptions decreased by 45 percent, muscle relaxants by 34 percent, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by 42 percent, and benzodiazepines by 14 percent. 29 As a result, the military is rapidly incorporating acupuncture into its treatments for service members. 30
In the context of this book, it would be impossible to notate the hundreds of studies that have been performed demonstrating acupuncture’s efficacy in treating pain syndromes. It has been found to be effective in relieving pain for a wide range of conditions that includes osteoarthritis, allergic rhinitis, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, chronic lower back pain, headaches and migraines, postoperative pain, and many more. 31 I’ve cited just a handful of the most relevant studies here; you can find many more online via the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed database.
As far back as 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) accepted acupuncture as a therapy for drug addiction. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) accepted acupuncture as an integrative therapy for addiction in 1997; 32 more recently, a detailed research review concluded that acupuncture is a viable treatment option for opioid addiction. 33
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for opioid addiction because it stimulates the same endorphin cycle that opioids do, thereby minimizing cravings for the drugs, and it also eases withdrawal symptoms. Those symptoms can vary in intensity depending on the intensity of the addiction and the rate of withdrawal. Someone who abruptly halts an opioid habit, for example, will experience rapid detox and potentially severe withdrawal symptoms. Stepping down slowly by reducing opioid use gradually is generally a less intense process.
Whether a person is going through rapid detox or a gradual cessation, acupuncture can be highly effective in ameliorating physical symptoms. It works to normalize the digestive system, avoiding the nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea associated with withdrawal, and it lessens muscle cramping, spasms, and achiness. It also reduces cravings, soothes the nerves and emotions, and promotes good sleep. In this way, it helps the patient through the withdrawal process and minimizes the chances of relapse.
Study of acupuncture’s mechanism of action during withdrawal is ongoing, and many questions remain. Nevertheless, it’s known that acupuncture has a direct impact on the brain by activating the body’s endogenous opioids and opioid-receptor sites. One study noted, “Neurochemical and behavioral evidence have shown that acupuncture helps reduce the effects of positive and negative reinforcement involved in opiate addiction by modulating mesolimbic dopamine neurons.” 34 Research with rats has shown that acupuncture ameliorates the symptoms of morphine withdrawal. 35 And auricular acupuncture (acupuncture of the ear) has been shown to evoke a relaxation response that lessens cravings in opioid recovery patients. 36
The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), established in 1985, has developed an increasingly popular “acudetox” treatment strategy for addiction recovery. It offers, among other protocols, a three- to five-point auricular acupuncture protocol that has shown great effectiveness as an adjunct detoxification and relaxation therapy to help recovering addicts through withdrawal. Today more than 1,000 addiction treatment centers across the United States use the NADA protocol as an adjunctive therapy. 37
The NADA acudetox protocol is not a stand-alone treatment; it is designed as an adjunct support treatment. However, the great benefit of the protocol is that it requires little training for practitioners compared to the 4 years of medical school that licensed acupuncturists are required to attend. This makes it an affordable and adaptable healing modality that can be easily implemented in opioid recovery centers.
Acupuncture works by normalizing qi flow. If qi is stagnant, acupuncture gets it moving. If qi is imbalanced, acupuncture releases it from organs where it is excessive and brings it into organs where it is deficient. In this way, acupuncture restores balance and harmony to the organs, allowing our own self-healing mechanisms to work properly.
As we’ll discuss throughout this book, opioids do a lot of damage to the body. The drugs themselves are toxic, causing physical injury to the brain, organs, and tissues. And the opioid habit causes poor health — users typically don’t eat, sleep, or otherwise care for themselves very well. Thus, many people in recovery from opioid dependency face fatigue, nutritional deficits, neural deficits, organ damage, weak immune systems, and so on. Their health and vitality do not reappear immediately after withdrawal; recovery can be a long process.
Acupuncture can help with all of these issues. We’ll discuss specific protocols in chapter 10. In particular, acupuncture is beneficial because it addresses health and vitality on both the physical and the emotional level. In Chinese medical theory (and increasingly in Western medical theory as well), the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind; the two are inseparable. Treating one while ignoring the other is a strategy for failure. Treating both, as acupuncture does, is the only path to true wellness.
Acupressure is the TCM practice of applying pressure, often using only the fingers, to key acupoints on the meridians to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. It is a simple yet effective alternative to acupuncture that you can practice on yourself or another person. While the needling of acupuncture is generally thought to have a stronger effect than the simple application of pressure called for in acupressure, the advantage of acupressure is that it can be done by the patient at home, several times per day, rather than requiring an office visit with a licensed acupuncturist. Multiple treatments per day culminate in a very powerful effect. You can combine acupressure with the application of essential oils to intensify the effect (see chapter 5).
Like any natural therapy, acupressure works quickly on acute conditions but will take regular long-term practice for chronic conditions.
It is important to set your intention when performing acupressure. Avoid distractions. Applying acupressure while focusing your intent on the outcome will be much more effective than simply applying pressure to a point as you watch TV or talk on the phone.
To energetically activate a healing point, apply pressure with your thumb or fingers. The pressure should be firm but not painful or uncomfortable. Massage the point for 1 to 3 minutes at a time.
Acupressure points are typically stimulated bilaterally (on each side of the body) unless they are located at the center of the body. Do not apply acupressure directly to areas of recent trauma; rather, treat the acupressure point on the opposite limb, or treat points above or below the affected area on the same channel.
To enhance the stimulation of a given acupoint, you can dilute and apply an appropriate essential oil to the point. (See chapter 5, where corresponding acupressure points are listed in the descriptions of essential oils indicated for recovery from opioid dependency.) You might, for example, apply an essential oil corresponding to the Water element to a point on one of the channels corresponding to the Water element, such as the Kidney channel.
Acupressure and essential oils can be used separately or together during a treatment session.
Acupressure can be performed for tonification or sedation. Tonification builds qi; sedation moves qi stagnation and reduces heat or toxins. When you apply pressure on an acupoint, use a slight clockwise motion on points for tonification; use a counterclockwise motion for sedating energy.
The two techniques can generally be applied to any point, but they would not both be used in the same session on the same point. You might, though, use each technique on different points in the same session. For example, suppose that you have recurring headaches. You are manifesting a pattern of Liver qi stagnation that causes Liver heat to rise to the head. At the same time, you have an underlying pattern of Kidney yin deficiency that is contributing to the Liver yin deficiency that is creating the stagnation and resulting heat there. In this situation, you would sedate acupoint LV 3 to relieve the stagnation and heat, and you would tonify acupoint KI 3 to restore yin. Together, the sedation and tonification will help resolve the headaches.
Acupoints, as they’re called, are located along the channels or meridians associated with the various organ systems. The channels are the riverways of qi in the body, and stimulating any point along them will facilitate the flow of qi and the function of the associated organ system. As we noted in chapter 2, each organ system is associated with a particular element; when you stimulate points on the channel of a particular organ system, you simultaneously stimulate that elemental influence in the body.
When trying to locate points for acupressure, know that they will often be more tender than the surrounding area, especially in fleshy parts of the body. Even trained acupuncturists will palpate an area to find a tender spot during treatments. Acupoints are typically in a dip rather than a bony protrusion.
In Chinese medicine, the body is measured by cun (pronounced “soon”), which is a unit that equals the width of the patient’s thumb. The four fingers of the hand laid flat equal three cun.
Following are some of the most effective points for opioid dependency: they reduce cravings, alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and ease pain. I have chosen them because of their effectiveness and because they are easy for a novice to locate.
For help in locating these acupoints, turn to the illustrations.
Essential oils corresponding with the Water element can be diluted and applied to activate points on the Kidney (KI) and Bladder (BL) meridians, with or without pressure.
Location: On the inside of the ankle, on the medial aspect (middle) of the foot, in the depression between the end of the medial malleolus (the prominence on the inside of the ankle formed by the base of the tibia) and the ankle tendon.
Tonification: KI 3 is the source point for the Kidney organ system and is an important point for any yin or yang deficiencies. It especially nourishes yin and clears heat resulting from yin deficiency. It fortifies the immune system and the metabolism. Used for adrenal fatigue in addiction recovery and for sweats experienced during withdrawal. Also used for chronic pain of the knee or lower back and for acute ankle and heel pain.
Location: On the inside of the ankle, on the medial aspect of the foot, in the dip below the end of the medial malleolus.
Tonification: KI 6 is one of the best points to nourish Kidney yin and is used together with LU 7 for breathing issues such as asthma, the inability to catch your breath, dry throat, and dry cough. It helps calm shen in cases of emotional disorders.
Location: On the face, on the inner border of the eyebrow in the depression on the medial end of the supraorbital notch (the small groove in the bony path that runs along the eye socket).
Sedation: Indicated for watering or twitching eyes during withdrawal or hiccups. Calms headache along the forehead, eyebrows, or eyes. A minor point for mania.
Location: On the foot behind the outside of the ankle in the depression between the tip of the lateral malleolus (the prominence on the outside of the ankle formed by the base of the fibula) and the tendon.
Tonification: Used in cases of acute lower back pain, stiff neck, and sciatica with pain that radiates down the middle of the posterior (back) side of the leg or calf. Also used for leg spasms experienced during withdrawal.
Sedation: Used to address acute dizziness, headaches, eye pain, or mania.
Location: On the outside of the ankle in the depression directly below the lateral malleolus.
Tonification: Calms the shen when there are emotional upsets or insomnia. Eases pain of the lower back and back of the leg. Used with SI 3 for headaches, upper back and neck pain, or tinnitus (ringing of the ears).
Essential oils corresponding with the Wood element can be diluted and applied to activate acupoints on the Liver (LV) and Gallbladder (GB) meridians, with or without pressure.
Location: On the top of the foot between the tendons of the big toe and second toe.
Sedation: Strongly clears Liver heat attributed to prolonged Liver qi stagnation with indications such as insomnia with vivid dreams; red, swollen, and painful eyes; and aggressive outbursts of anger. Also helpful for acute headaches brought on by stress and frustration.
Location: On the dorsum (upper surface) of the foot, in the depression proximal (next) to the first metatarsal space.
Tonification: Used to nourish Liver blood and Liver yin. Also used with LI 4 for pain anywhere in the body, as the coupling of these four acupressure points (called the Four Gates) moves qi and blood throughout the body.
Sedation: Indicated for headaches; dizziness; redness, swelling, or pain of the face; a feeling of abdominal or rib area distention; hiccups or digestive upset due to Liver overacting on the Spleen. Also can help ease emotional upset, anger, stress, aggression, and sleep disturbances.
Location: On the face just on the side of the eye, at the outer canthus of the lateral side of the eye socket (the angle formed at the meeting of the upper and lower eyelids).
Sedation: Used for watering eyes during withdrawal and for headaches, especially at the temples.
Location: At the base of the skull on the nape, below the occiput (the back part of the skull) in a depression between the upper portion of the sternocleidomastoideus and trapezius muscles (two large neck muscles).
Sedation: Indicated for headaches, eye pain, neck pain. Helps to lower blood pressure.
Location: On the leg, below the knee, on the lateral (outer) aspect in the depression anterior and inferior to (behind and below) the head of the fibula.
Tonification: Used for leg spasms experienced during withdrawal and for pain in the joint or arthritis. For pain along the GB channel, or pain running down the lateral side of the leg, and sciatica radiating down the outside of the leg; swelling and/or pain of the knee or lower leg or foot; and pain due to sprains anywhere in the body. Also used for pain related to gallbladder disease.
Location: On the foot below the ankle, anterior and inferior to the external malleolus.
Tonification: Indicated for weakness in the lower legs or foot; for pain along the GB channel, or pain running down the lateral side of the leg and sciatica radiating down the outside of the leg; and for ankle pain or swelling. For ankle sprains or injury, treat the opposite ankle rather than the injured ankle.
Sedation: Indicated for Liver qi stagnation; helps to soothe the Liver and pain or distention over or below the ribs.
Location: On the top of the foot, lateral and proximal to the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint (between the foot and the toe), in the depression distal to the junction of the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones, on the lateral side of m. extensor digitorum longus.
Sedation: Pulls down excessive Liver yang energies resulting in headaches, red eyes, tearing eyes, and migraines. Breaks up Liver congestion and alleviates anger and frustration. Eases pain or spasms of the fourth and fifth toes or top of the foot. For acute injuries in the area of GB 41, treat the opposite foot rather than the injured foot. Treats any pain of the chest. Combine with TB 5 for temporal or one-sided headaches.
Essential oils corresponding with the Fire element can be diluted and applied to activate acupoints on the Heart (HT), Pericardium (PER), Triple Burner (TB) and Small Intestine (SI) meridians, with or without pressure.
Location: On the inside of the wrist, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, 1 cun above the crease of the wrist (dividing the arm from the hand).
Tonification: Helps to normalize heart rhythm and can pacify severe palpitations. Subdues chronic yawning experienced during withdrawal. Can help with sudden loss of voice or tongue stiffness. Indicated for pain of the wrist, elbow, and fourth and fifth fingers. Calms the shen.
Location: On the inside of the wrist, on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, 0.5 cun above the crease of the wrist.
Tonification: Used for fever and night sweats during acute opioid withdrawal, as well as for deep sensations of bone pain. Also used for cardiac pain and palpitations associated with panic and fright during withdrawal.
Location: On the inside of the wrist, on radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, on the crease of the wrist.
Tonification: Calms the shen to ease emotional upset, insomnia, and frightful dreams. HT 7 is the source point for the Heart and reinforces all Heart-related functions while calming palpitation. This is an excellent point for recovering addicts who find themselves lashing out at others.
Location: On the palm, on the crease between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, where the tip of the little finger touches when a fist is made.
Sedation: Indicated for severe insomnia or, for those who are able to sleep, for nightmares. Calms shen disturbances due to Heart fire.
Location: When a loose fist is made, the point is on the outside of the hand just below the knuckle of the pinky finger where the red and white skin intersect, on the ulnar aspect proximal to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint (between the hand and the finger).
Tonification: Indicated for pain and rigidity of the head and neck, especially when there is pain turning the head from side to side. Eases pain anywhere along the SI channel, including the scapula area. Combine with BL 62 for tremors and spasms in the arms and legs associated with detoxing or recovery, alternating chills/sweats, and watering eyes. Combine with BL 62 for leg, knee, spine, or low back pain.
Location: On the palm side of the forearm, 2 cun above the crease of the wrist between the tendons of the palmaris longus muscle and the flexor carpi radialis muscle.
Tonification: Calms the mind and is useful with insomnia and those who are easily startled. Regulates heart rhythm and eases palpitations. Opens the chest and is used for coughs, breathing difficulties, and asthma. Eases symptoms of depression and enhances cognition. Used for pain associated with bending the elbow. This is the famous point used for seasickness. It is very effective for nausea, hiccups, and vomiting associated with detox and recovery, especially when combined with SP 4.
Location: On the palm side of the crease of the wrist between the tendons of the palmaris longus muscle and the flexor carpi radialis muscle.
Tonification: Used in detoxification during withdrawal; eases sweating, sighing, stomach pain, nausea/vomiting, insomnia, and emotional upset. Also helpful for pain of the elbows, wrist pain, and splitting headaches. Used to treat the crying-and-laughing fits seen during withdrawal as well as shortness of breath.
Location: In the center of the palm, between the second and third metacarpal bones, where the tip of the middle finger touches when a fist is made.
Sedation: Used to clear Heart fire with symptoms seen in opioid cessation such as mania, mouth and tongue ulcers, cardiac pain (call 911 with a cardiac event), violent emotional outbursts, inability to sleep through the night, and night terrors. Eases the ceaseless restlessness seen during withdrawal, as well as hand tremors and sweating palms.
Location: On the back of the forearm on the dorsal aspect 2 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist between the ulna and the radius.
Tonification: Indicated for pain along the TB channel, as well as pain of the elbow, neck, and upper back. Eases pain and ringing in the ears, swelling and pain of the cheek and teeth, and pain and swelling of the hand, wrist, and fingers. Combined with GB 41, it is used to alleviate pain in any joint, tightness and pain at the area joining the shoulders and neck, and pain along the ribs. Used for dizziness, headaches, or eye pain with a sudden onset.
Essential oils corresponding with the Earth element can be diluted and applied to activate acupoints on the Spleen (SP) and Stomach (ST) meridians, with or without pressure.
Location: Beside and below the big-toe joint on the inside of the foot at the junction of the red and white skin, on the medial side in the depression posterior and inferior to the proximal metatarsodigital joint.
Tonification: Used for any condition related to Spleen qi deficiency, including digestive issues, gastric or epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. Indicated in early stages of recovery from addiction when there are hunger pangs but no true desire to eat. Used for boosting qi in cases of fatigue or weakness following detox.
Location: On the inside arch of the foot, in the depression distal and inferior to (outside and beneath) the base of the first metatarsal bone.
Tonification: Indicated for acute stomach pain, abdominal/rib distention and fullness, poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Combine with PER 6 for insomnia, restlessness, and emotional upset. For women, the two-point combination also alleviates PMS and menstrual pain following opioid dependence.
Location: On the inside of the lower leg, 3 cun above the medial malleolus, on the posterior (back) border of the medial aspect of the tibia.
Tonification: Indicated for acute stomach pain, abdominal heaviness, no desire to eat, vomiting of clear fluids, and diarrhea with undigested food. Treats pain anywhere along the Spleen channel. For men, used along with LV 2 to subdue sexual hyperactivity, pain in the penis, and nocturnal sperm emissions following prolonged drug use that has resulted in chronic Liver heat.
Location: Below the knee on the medial aspect of the lower leg, in the depression of the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia (the projection at the top of that bone).
Tonification: Treats dampness (see Spleen qi deficiency) with indications such as pain that worsens in damp weather, a heavy feeling in the body, poor cognition with a foggy brain, and the inability to wake in the morning.
Location: On outside of the lower leg, on the anterior aspect (front), 3 cun below the kneecap and 1 cun from the anterior crest of the tibia.
Tonification: Arguably one of the most popular and useful acupoints. Used for any pain or problems associated with the stomach, digestion or indigestion, constipation, or poor appetite. Calms the mind and shen, and is used with all types of emotional disorders. Boosts qi energy, nourishes blood and yin, and restores vitality. Normalizes and boosts the immune system and generally promotes wellness. Treats pain anywhere along the Stomach channel.
Location: On the top of the foot, proximal to the web margin between the second and third toes, at the junction of the red and white skin.
Sedation: Clears heat from the ST channel with symptoms such as toothache, pain of the face or eyes, and nosebleed.
Essential oils corresponding with the Metal element can be diluted and applied to activate acupoints on the Lungs (LU) and Large Intestine (LI) meridians, with or without pressure.
Location: On the cubital crease (the inside of the elbow), on the radial side of the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle.
Tonification: Used for pain along the Lung channel, upper arm, and elbow. Eases spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm, difficulty opening the hand, and shoulder pain with difficulty raising the hand to the head. Also used for acute intestinal spasms and pain, as well as abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea. Treats alternating fever and sweats, sneezing, shivering, and uncontrollable crying during withdrawal. Strongly indicated for coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Location: On the forearm 1.5 cun above the wrist crease on the radial margin of the forearm, superior to (above) the styloid process of the radius (the projection of bone at the wrist).
Tonification: Indicated for head and neck pain, including migraines (central and one-sided), headaches, and neck rigidity. Also used for toothache, cough, asthma, and pain in the genitals.
Location: On the crease of the wrist, below the thumb where the radial artery pulsates.
Tonification: Reinforces the Lungs due to any imbalance or deficiency, including coughing with a large amount of phlegm and asthma with wheezing. Used in detoxification for acute feelings of chest compression and shortness of breath as well as hiccups that will not cease. Used for pain of the wrist and thumb.
Location: On the top of the hand between the thumb and the pointer finger, between the first and second metacarpal bones, in the middle of the second metacarpal bone on the radial side.
Tonification: When combined with LV 3 (together they are called the Four Gates), can be used to treat pain anywhere in the body by moving qi and blood. Treats pain of the head and face, headaches, swelling and pain of the eye, and toothache in the lower jaw. Regulates immune response and restores warmth to the body.
Location: On the lateral (outside) end of the transverse cubital crease (the crease of the elbow), found with the elbow flexed.
Sedation: Used to treat feelings of heat in the body, fever, and the hot skin/itching sometimes experienced with opioid withdrawal. Treats pain, numbness, weakness, and swelling. Eases spasms and contractions of the elbow, shoulder, arm, and hand; also used for spasms along the entire Large Intestine channel.
The Conception Vessel (CV) is an acupuncture channel that traverses the middle of the anterior trunk. It is not associated with the five elements but impacts many diverse functions of the body. CV points are easy for a novice to find, making them helpful in self-treatment.
Location: 1.5 cun below the belly button.
Tonification: Used for tonifying the qi and yang of the whole body. Helpful for recovering strength and vitality following opioid dependence.
Location: On the stomach, on the middle line of the upper abdomen, 4 cun above the belly button.
Tonification: Used for quelling stomach upset, epigastric pain, vomiting, hiccups, and acid regurgitation.
Water element meridians
Fire element meridians
earth element meridians
Metal element meridians
