Fulfilling Needs and Wants
In this chapter we explore the Stomach and Spleen channels and their functions in body, heartmind, and spirit. These lines constitute the Tai Yin and Yang Ming aspects of the Earth elemental force and are located in the legs on the front of the body.
Stomach Meridian
Foot Yang Ming
The original name for this channel of energy, the name Foot Yang Ming describes the nature of the energy of this channel, and where it lies on the body. This is the sunlight yang energy as it expresses out through the feet, particularly as it flows from the eyes down through the jaw, throat, breast, belly, thigh, shin, ankle, and out through the second toe. The Stomach is the Foot Yang Ming organ network of the body.
Earth Element
Earth is the term given to the elemental quality of cycles and nourishment. Also attributed to groundedness, sustenance, and the ever-present holding power of gravity. The Stomach organ network is the yang energy of Earth, expressing itself through appetite control and the acquisition of whatever is needed to sustain life. Practically, it is the food we eat. Metaphorically it relates to anything and everything that sustains us through life including contact with loved ones, in addition to nourishing activities that engage our whole being—body, heartmind, and spirit. Earth is the primordial ground upon which we stand, from which we are formed and to which we return.
7 to 9 am
This time of day most commonly correlates to the “breakfast” time of day. It is the start of the day where we first take in food as fuel, building the foundation for our daily activities.
Key Functions
Appetite, hunger, desire/fulfillment, digestion/ingestion of food, maturation
Affirmation
I know what I want and need, and I know how to get it.
The Stomach channel of Foot Yang Ming is the yang aspect of Earth in the body, and it follows a pathway that runs from the eyes to the foot. In a word, it is all about appetite. All living beings have this fundamental function—we all share the necessity that is going out into the world and acquiring whatever is needed to sustain life. When considering the Stomach channel, certainly look at the basic level of the need for proper nutritious food, but also consider all the levels of need and fulfillment within our lives. We strive to be fed in many ways: mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. When someone has a good appetite, they possess a certain zest for life. When appetite dominates too much we see lustful, greedy abandon, and in its absence is wasting away. To understand the full range of Stomach functioning, we need to look at ways in which an organism orients itself toward whatever it seeks for nourishment and sustenance, as well as actions taken to fulfill the acquisition and processing of the desired item, information, or intent. Below we draw out in some detail a wide range of functions characteristic of the Stomach channel.
Key Characteristics of the Functional Range of the
Stomach Channel
Physical
The stomach is the organ that first receives the food we eat, taking the process of digestion forward by breaking down the food. The Stomach channel governs this function and all the related functional aspects of the digestive tract’s “tubing.” The inner lining of the gut and its many layers of smooth muscle as well as the action of peristalsis (a wavelike series of muscular contractions that move food in the digestive tract) are comprised of a series of ringlike muscles. The Stomach channel governs the opening and closing action of the ring muscles all along the line of the alimentary canal.
In addition to digestive functions, Stomach channel energy is involved in the reproductive system as well. The Foot Yang Ming aspect is particularly related to selection and suitability of a mate, issues of taste, compatibility, and satisfaction. Subsequent questions of fertility and reproductive ability as well as maturity all co-mingle energetically in the realm of the Stomach’s role of management. In the case of reproduction, the phrase “another mouth to feed” serves as an example of the Stomach’s place in this great task. By extension, the Stomach channel’s functions include mammillary glands and the delivery of mother’s milk through lactation. Any mastitis or blockage of lactation can be attributed to a blockage in the qi of the Stomach channel.
Psychological, Emotional
By extending the physical action metaphorically into the psychological and emotional realms we can see that Stomach channel has much to do with our urges and motivations caused by hunger and emptiness, needs and wants. These express themselves as nourishment issues, and worthiness issues.
There is a common concern that many people face called the “nourishment barrier.” The feeling of a lack of self-worth deeply affects a person’s ability to actually take in nourishment.
On the other end of the spectrum, we find the motivators that are eagerness and the desire to seize opportunities. Recalling the Stomach channel’s affirmation, we must now make the distinction between needs and wants. You may want a new TV, but you need clean water. Actually, the making of these distinctions is ruled by another organ network; the Stomach itself is only concerned with the hunger and fulfillment of that hunger, however it may express itself.
Within the Stomach channel we can find the very down-to-earth qualities of lustiness, earthiness, a love of fun, cheerfulness, and confidence. These attitudes can also veer into stubborn, obsessive, or compulsive qualities as well as brooding, chewing, and stewing over all manner of things.
The behavior can show up in many ways, from the parent who is constantly caught up in concerns related to their children’s well-being, to the inventor who is constantly worrying about the various details involved in bringing their vision into fruition. Any way you dwell upon a thing and go over and over it in your mind is within the purview of the Stomach channel.
There are few things we do more regularly than feed our belly. And as soon as we are full we leave the table a little bit hungry, wondering about what the next meal might be. Of course, when concerned with your own nourishment, there is a natural human condition that arises where you also find yourself concerned about the nourishment of others.
Anyone who has ever prepared a pot luck dish will know well that feeling of hoping that it will be well received and satisfying. Our concern about others caring for what we created for them is matched by our concern for what they create and feed us.
Arising here is the very human emotion of sympathy and worry, deep expressions of concern for how others feel, and vice versa.
What I’ve described here can be considered to culminate in the maturation process. Things mellow with time, age and mature, come to fruition.
All the things in life that move along the continuum—from seed to plant to flower to fruit to seed—and all the feelings associated with each stage of the journey are within the realm of Stomach channel energy.
Spiritual
Ultimately, the spiritual level of Stomach is the realization of a deep and satisfying fulfillment, being at peace with what is. It involves an awareness of the cyclical nature of things and a certain cultivated ability to take things in stride.
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1. Tear Receptacle |
24. Slippery Flesh Gate |
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2. Four Whites |
25. Celestial Pivot |
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3. Great Crevice |
26. Outer Mound |
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4. Earth Granary |
27. The Great |
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5. Great Welcome |
28. Water Passage |
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6. Jaw Bone |
29. Return |
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7. Below the Joint |
30. Qi Thoroughfare |
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8. Head Bound |
31. Thigh Gate |
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9. Welcome Human |
32. Crouching Rabbit |
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10. Water Prominence |
33. Yin Market |
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11. Adobe of Qi |
34. Ridge Mound |
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12. Empty Basin |
35. Calf’s Nose |
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13. Qi Door |
36. Leg Three Miles |
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14. Storehouse |
37. Upper Great Hall |
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15. Room Divider |
38. Ribbon Passage Way |
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16. Breast Window |
39. Lower Great Hall |
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17. Breast Center |
40. Bountiful Bulge |
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18. Breast Root |
41. Stream Divide |
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19. Not Contained |
42. Rushing Yang |
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20. Supporting Fitness |
43. Sunken Valley |
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21. Beam Gate |
44. Inner Courtyard |
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22. Pass Gate |
45. Severe Mouth |
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23. Supreme Unity |
The Stomach Channel Trajectory
At the point just lateral to the opening of the sinus cavity, the energy of the Large Intestine dissipates, and the one meridian goes inside to re-emerge just under the eye at the first point related to the Stomach function. Here the energy of our appetite and our urge to its fulfillment first manifests on the surface of the body.
In order to appreciate the location of the Stomach meridian on the body, we ask the question, “Can you tell if someone is hungry just by looking at them?” The outward signs of hunger are few. Ultimately, it’s really impossible to know that someone is hungry until they say something about it or take actions that clearly indicate their hunger. Those actions, at least for sighted individuals, turn out to be “looking” for food. (How many times have you caught yourself opening the refrigerator or cabinet to peer into the contents to “see” whatever there is to eat?) Here’s the clue for the Stomach meridian’s opening point on the body’s surface: the first point is just below the eyeball, above the lower orbital ridge of the eye socket, directly in alignment with the pupil. Stomach 1, Tear Receptacle, conjures images of a hungry child with one great big tear rolling down from the center of the eye.
From the eye, the meridian travels down the face past the nose, where we smell the food, then into the jaw, where we chew the food, then up to the temple, where we think about the food. Stomach 8, Head Bound, lies here on the superior border of the temporalis muscle. If you place your hands on the sides of your temples and chew, you will feel the action of this muscle. The name “Head Bound” speaks to the way in which our thoughts regarding our needs and wants can take up the whole of our minds, going round and round and round. It is a primary indicator of Stomach meridian functions in action.
We often place our forefingers just here when pondering something of some complexity. And speaking of the stomach, if it’s food quality we are pondering, there is much to consider—flavor, quality, origin, preparation. Should the food’s taste and quality agree with us, we add it to our diet; if not, we reject it. Really, we do a lot of thinking about food: on one end of the spectrum are the tremendous amounts of research and philosophy that go into our dietary choices, on the other end is our instinct to see food and eat it. The Head Bound point relates to the former approach.
On its way down the throat, the Stomach channel passes through Stomach 9, Welcome Human, also known as Man’s Prognosis. Here the carotid artery beats out its faithful rhythm, supporting the good function of the brain. This is a master pulse point for checking the body’s status, often the first place a person’s life signs are checked after a traumatic accident. Runners check their pulse rate here mid-workout. It’s an excellent point for prognosticating, and one of the key prognosticators of good health is a good appetite, hence the name “Man’s Prognosis” here on the Stomach meridian in the front of the throat.
From here the meridian continues down the throat. When it reaches the clavicle, it jogs laterally to the mammallary line. It then drops below the collarbone, traversing down the breasts and through the nipple, the source of our first food. Just below the breast it veers back toward the midline where it passes down through the digestive area. At the level of the navel we find Stomach 25, Celestial Pivot, the Large Intestine “alarm point.” Chinese medicine teaches us that the Stomach rules the Intestine. It is often said that you are what you eat, but this is not exactly true—what’s true is that you are what you don’t eliminate. The intestines play a major part of separating nutrition from waste. As such what we eat and how we eat it is the first step in the process that ends with what we integrate as nutrition, and what we eliminate as waste. The relationship between Stomach and Large Intestine plays out at Stomach 25.
Below the navel, the meridian passes through the region of the reproductive organs. As with food, we also have appetites for intimacy and sexual activity. Here the need and fulfillment cycle is evident, though often the source of great challenges and consternation. It all coalesces in Stomach 30, Qi Thoroughfare, at the lateral edge of the pubic bone. The qi flows like a great river through this major point, passing from upper body to our lower body.
From the pubic region, the meridian moves laterally and descends through the strong support muscle of the thigh, the vastus lateralis, to the knee. Passing laterally past the kneecap and over the head of the tibia, the most weight bearing bone in the entire body, it lands in a cavity known as Stomach 36, Leg Three Miles. This point is nearly epic in its significance, holding legendary power and efficacy. It has been used for centuries as a point for general well-being, stamina, and endurance. It is said that when the imperial message runners of Japan and China were fatigued, they would bend over and stimulate this point, allowing them to continue running. “Three Miles” is a euphemism for many miles, and stimulation of this point has long been held as essential self-care for life’s long journey.
In bit of folk wisdom, young men are warned in Japan: “Don’t marry a woman who does not have moxa scars on Stomach 36!” Moxa is mugwort wool that is burned on the acupoints to send deep, penetrating heat into the body for support of optimal functioning of the system. Scarring moxibustion is a traditional treatment in Japan and China where the moxa wool is burned right down to the skin, leaving a visible scar. In those times, there was obviously less concern for physical appearance and more for robust health. A woman with moxa scars on Stomach 36 would be seen as responsible and concerned for her well-being, knowing how to carry herself. Without these scars, it would imply that she does not know how to take care of herself and would overburden any poor bloke who might marry her.
Another aspect important to point out here is that from Stomach 36 onward to Stomach 45 at the second toe, we can see a pathway in the leg that is very similar to the pathway of Large Intestine in the forearm. From the second digit to the Three Mile point in each channel, they run a very similar aspect of the appendage. This similarity underscores the relationship between Stomach and Large Intestine as both being qualities of Yang Ming energy in the body.
The Stomach channel continues down along the lateral aspect of the tibia, the most weight bearing bone in the body. The image of sustenance, endurance, and stamina all can be reflected in this aspect. Crossing the ankle, we find Stomach 41, Stream Divide, or Shoelace Point, deep in the retinacula of the ankle. Found in many places in the body, retinacula are horizontal tendonous sheaths that wrap around the longitudinal muscles and ligaments of the joints, girdling or wrapping around the joints like natural, internal Ace bandages. Deep in the retinacula of the ankle, Stomach 41, Shoelace Point once again demonstrates the key role the Stomach channel plays in supporting the body in holding it all together.
Passing the ankle, the channel then flows down the top of the foot coming to completion in the second toe at Stomach 45, Severe Mouth. This strong name at the extremity of the channel once again links back to the Stomach channel and its relationship to the mouth. The point has clinically been used to stop an epileptic fit, which often presents as a swallowing of the tongue. A severe condition of the mouth, indeed, and deeply related to the Stomach meridian.
All in all, we find that this strong showing of the Stomach channel in the legs demonstrates the key role the Stomach plays in supporting and sustaining our life energy. Note that the second toe (sometimes longer than the big toe) is also a very clear indicator of the direction in which we are headed. We push off of it while taking strides in the direction of our new interest.
This final aspect of the meridian tied together with the entire picture of the location of the Stomach channel illustrates the understanding that the Stomach meridian is deeply related to all the motivations in life that draw us forward. It is the proverbial carrot on the stick that draws us on in pursuit of that which we desire.
Spleen/Pancreas Meridian
Foot Tai Yin
We’ve explored Tai Yin of the hand as it expresses in the Lung channel. Here we find Tai Yin of the foot expressed as the Spleen channel. Note that the Spleen channel begins in the big toe and rises up to the breast, where it almost joins the Lung channel below the clavicle. And while Spleen tails down into the side ribs to make connection to the Heart channel, the Tai Yin energy carries on into the arms as Lung energy and completes its run in the thumb.
Earth Element
As the Stomach expresses the yang aspect of Earth in the body, the Spleen expresses the yin aspect of Earth. All the elements have a yin and yang expression, and as we explore each system you will see that the yin is the more “dense” organ and the yang is the more “hollow” organ. The lungs and spleen are dense and vascularized, the stomach and large intestine are tubes and holding tanks. With Spleen as an expression of yin Earth, we will see much more involved on the fluid level, the body’s moisture and lubricant that keeps things moving through the tubes.
9 to 11 am
This time of day is rich and productive; many people agree that this period is when they get the most done. It is also a clue to the function of Spleen, and difficulties occuring at this time of day can indicate problems with the Spleen function.
Key Functions
Digestive secretions, reproductive hormones
Affirmation
I love sweetness and thrive on nurturing and being nourished.
The Spleen channel of Foot Tai Yin is the yin aspect of Earth, traveling a pathway from the foot to the torso. To understand the functional range of the Spleen channel we need to extend the analogy beyond the spleen organ and include the pancreas. When the Traditional Chinese system was being translated, the term “Spleen” was used and became generally accepted as the name for the channel, though in actuality its range of functioning more closely relates to the pancreas. The Spleen is all about nourishment, digestion, blood sugar levels, and maintaining good working order. As the yin organ of Earth, it holds the position of converting grain into usable energy to meet bodily needs. In this capacity it is deeply related to the quality of the blood; the levels and transportation of nutrient energy throughout the body. It is related to keeping things in their place and keeping things at peace. A healthy Spleen/Pancreas leads us into contentment and satisfaction. When unhealthy, we experience worry, over thinking, discontent, and the like. Let’s explore these basic functional features in greater detail.
Key Characteristics of the Functional Range of the Spleen Channel
Physical
As the yin quality of Earth energy in the body, the Spleen channel is related to fluids of digestion—saliva, gastric bile, and digestive enzymes—in addition to all the fluid mechanisms that break down and gather nutrients and carry them into the bloodstream. The Spleen is concerned with blood sugar, blood sugar levels, and the energy we receive as a result.
Female hormonal fluids and balance of the menstrual cycle, ovulation, and lactation are all governed by Spleen function. The theme of cycles shows up here too: smooth, predictable, and repeated flow is the realm of Spleen function. If there is a disruption in the cycle, or things are out of place, the Spleen’s qi is compromised.
The very flesh of the body is also the physical manifestation of Spleen channel energy in the body. We sometimes pack on a little “winter weight” and shed it off in the summer, again, a natural cycle of things. Women may see weight fluctuate with the menstrual cycle due to what is commonly called water weight. This too is the realm of Spleen. How we hold on to, store, cling, worry over, or otherwise grasp and embrace can show up in the quality of the fleshy weight of the body.
Psychological, Emotional
To seek comfort, pleasure, and ease with all your needs met is a psychological and emotional reflection of Spleen channel energy. Aspects of laziness and lethargy can set in, as can those days where you lie about and indulge yourself as a way of self-nourishment. I never used to let myself have such days, always driven to be on some task; my Spleen energy was being used up. When I finally learned to slow down and take an occasional “couch day,” my Spleen became a lot happier.
In those whose Spleens are generally excessive and amped up on a regular basis, we find the habits of overthinking, worrying, and either really thinking things through … or worrying to death.
Overeating, eating fast, and the “stuff and go” behavior—the typical American fast food kind of lifestyle that eats big, runs fast, and builds big—are maladies that can affect those who have not learned to regulate their Spleen function. Think of America’s tall buildings, big cities, high yield activities, 24/7/365, burn, burn, burn, go, go, go. They portray a way the Spleen channel can express itself, and of course when that proves to be a problem, the concomitant problems of obesity, disordered eating, obsession, compulsion, and addiction follow.
Finally, let’s consider our dear sweet tooth and any and all other cravings for that matter as expressions of Spleen channel energy. It is the aspect of ourselves that is ever wanting, longing, striving to fulfill, and fill that deep hole inside. On the upside, it can be balanced ambition toward a goal we care about that continues to drive us forward in a sustainable way. But it can also consume us like gold fever, turning us into a dysfunctional mess.
Spiritual
Here we take a long view and see that the cycles of life, time, and tide ultimately settle all things. We arrive at the satisfaction of sufficiency—enough, no more, no less—and sustainability over the long term for all concerned.
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1. Hidden White |
12. Rushing Gate |
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2. Great Metropolis |
13. Abode of the Yin Organs |
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3. Supreme White |
14. Abdomen Knot |
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4. Grandfather Grandson |
15. Great Horizontal |
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5. Trade Winds Mound |
16. Abdomen Sorrow |
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6. Three Yin Meeting |
17. Food Cavity |
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7. Granary Hole |
18. Heavenly Stream |
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8. Earth’s Crux |
19. Chest Village |
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9. Yin Mound Spring |
20. Encircling Glory |
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10. Sea of Blood |
21. Great Embracement |
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11. Winnower’s Gate |
The Spleen/Pancreas Channel Trajectory
At the tip of the second toe, the energy of the Stomach completes its journey on the body’s surface and the one meridian goes inside again only to emerge one toe over at the medial edge of the big toe. Spleen energy begins to show itself. As it is a yin meridian and has a more inward function to play, we find its pathway follows a more intimate arc of the body generally more tender to the touch and responsive to stimulation.
From the big toe, Spleen begins by tracing the edge of the instep and arch of the foot. Just proximal and inferior to the head of the first metatarsal bone we find Spleen 3, Supreme White. This is the source point on the Spleen meridian, and as an antique point it governs the Earth element. The word “white” in the name refers to the color of Metal, invoking the creation cycle relationship of the five elements. Earth engenders Metal, and this point can be used to nourish a deficient Lung pattern.
Next we have Spleen 4, Grandfather Grandson, in the depression just distal and inferior to the head of the first metatarsal bone. Also known as Grandparent Grandchild or Yellow Emperor, this point is the opening point for the Chong Mai, the central vessel. The Chong Mai is said to hold the blueprint for our lives that comes down from our ancestors. It is one of the eight extraordinary vessels and is accessed through Spleen 4. Here we can see a deep relationship between our conditioned and constitutional layers of health; the deep connection between what nourishes us on the surface but also reflects who we are in the world.
From the foot, the Spleen channel crosses over the medial maleolous, up the medial aspect of the leg, following along the posterior aspect of the tibia. This is a deep trough in the body landscape and is often quite sensitive to the touch. Right in this trough, four fingers above the medial maleolous we find Spleen 6, Three Yin Meeting. Here the three yin energies of Tai Yin, Jue Yin, and Shao Yin converge. Profoundly important for our health and well-being, Spleen, Liver, and Kidney energies all manifest here. This is a major point, useful for myriad indications, chief among them womens’ reproductive cycle issues and childbirth.
Continuing up this trough we find Spleen 7, Granary Hole; 8, Earth’s Crux; and 9, Yin Mound Spring. All are extremely important points for positively affecting digestive activity.
Located in a depression just distal to the head of the tibia in between the medial border of the tibia and the gastrocnemius, Spleen 9, Yin Mound Spring, is used to asses and treat the condition of dampness as it affects the digestive system, particularly the lower abdomen. Dampness is an important pathology, quite common in those with a poor diet that’s rich in mucous producing foods like white flour, white sugar, and dairy products. Dampness manifests as a sense of tired heaviness and lethargy and includes a host of maladies related to sluggishness in the body, heartmind, and spirit. The proverbial wet blanket is a perfect image for capturing a picture of dampness. If you or anyone you know suffers from this, you will find Spleen 9 sensitive and painful. Stimulation of this point through exercise, meditation touch, or needling can bring some much-appreciated relief.
Crossing the knee joint, Spleen finds its way into the vastus medialis muscle of the thigh along the medial aspect of the quadriceps. In the head of that muscle just proximal to the knee joint we find Spleen 10, Sea of Blood, effective for menstrual issues and blood sugar challenges. Then just halfway up the thigh along the same muscle we find Spleen 11, Winnower’s Gate. I especially love this point and its name because it is so evocative. For those not familiar (and most of us haven’t heard the word recently unless we live on a farm), winnowing is the process of sorting the grain from the chaff. In a traditional setting, the winnower would have a large tray filled with grain and chaff. While squatting, the person would throw the grain and chaff into the air with a rhythmic action. The light chaff is borne away on the wind, while the heavier grain falls to be caught again in the winnower’s tray. If you squat down and mimic this action, you will find that your elbows naturally find a place to rest on the medial aspect of the thigh, midway between the knee and the groin—this is the Winnower’s Gate. The point is used to support the digestive system, and its function of assimilating nutrition from food we intake and eliminating the rest is, in short, winnowing.
Continuing up the thigh and into the abdomen, Spleen crosses over the Stomach meridian and makes its way up the abdominal muscles, lateral to the Stomach flow and four inches off centerline. Several points in the abdomen can all be used to assist the Spleen in its digestive functioning. As the channel enters the chest, it glances sideways to move up lateral to the breast tissue until it arrives at its most superior point—Spleen 20, Encircling Glory, just one inch below Central Treasury, the first point on the Lung channel. This point location is illustrative of the Spleen’s close association with Lung, as both are Tai Yin meridians.
After reaching almost to the Lung point, the channel turns and tails down and out toward the side of the body, coming to a close at Spleen 21, Great Embracement, in the sixth intercostal space on the midaxillary line. This is an extremely influential point in the channel system. In addition to being the final point on the Spleen meridian it is also the Great Luo Point, or Connecting Vessel point that links the Spleen to the Heart. In Western parlance we have a saying that recognizes this important connection: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” In this case, we adapt the saying slightly: “The path to the heart is through the spleen,” in short, whatever nourishes the body nourishes the heartmind as well.