August 17, 2024 - Expanded Hours, Insurance & the Stomach Channel
Expanded Hours & Insurance
Did you know that I've expanded my hours? I now have evening slots on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday, along with all day Saturday. And if none of those slots work for you, please DM or text me and we will find a time that works.
I am credentialed with Regence Blue Shield and will be credentialed with Premera Blue Cross on August 23, 2024. Provide me with your insurance information, I will check your benefits and take care of the billing, if you have coverage.
I’m on Social Media too!
Did you also know that I'm on Instagram and Facebook? Honestly, I've had fun posting on social media and try to post & repost things that are helpful for my community, whether it is about my friend, the TDP lamp, or tips for self-care, I try to have fun with it. Follow me and let me know if you find anything useful!
Back to Channel Theory - the Stomach Channel
Getting back to the channel theory we started a few months ago. In past issues, I covered the Lung and Large Intestine channels (see Jan newsletter for Lung channel & Feb newsletter for Large Intestine channel). Next up is the Stomach channel. This is a fun and very important channel for many conditions.
The Stomach channel starts where the Large Intestine channel left off, beside the nose; then goes up to the eye to Stomach 1, right below the eye (on both sides). From there it goes down the cheek, into the upper gum, circles the lips to the edge of the mouth at Stomach 4. From there it runs laterally to the jaw and then up in front of the ear at Stomach 7 and then up into the hairline of the temporal region. From here it goes to the center of the hairline.
A branching channel goes from the jaw line point, down the side of the throat (along the sternocleidomastoid/SCM muscle) to the medial edge of the collar bone at Stomach 12. From here there is a branch that goes internally to the upper back where it meets with all of the Yang channels, goes down into the diaphragm and enters the Stomach and connects with the Spleen.
Another branch goes down from Stomach 12, along the chest (at the mamillary line) and then down the torso, about 2 finger breadths lateral to the midline to the inguinal region at Stomach 30. From here the internal branch meets back up with the external branch and then goes down the leg.
The lower portion of the channel runs down the antero-lateral (front & outside) of the leg and ends at Stomach 45 at the tip of the second toe.
There is a further branch the separates from the main channel at Stomach 36, which ends at the outside of the middle toe.
And then another branch that separates on the top of the foot at Stomach 42 and ends at the inside tip of the big toe - at Spleen 1 (where it links with the Spleen channel).
The most used and useful point on the Stomach channel is Stomach 36, called Leg Three Miles (Zusanli). This is a wonderful point for many conditions and for health in general. It's actions are harmonizing the Stomach, fortifying the Spleen and resolving dampness, fosters original qi, tonifies qi and nourishes blood and yin, clears fire and calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain and revives the yang and restores consciousness.
Qin Cheng-zu of the Song dynasty declared that by using this point (St 36), "all diseases can be treated".
The term 'li' in the name Zusanli may be interpreted as meaning a measure of distance (a Chinese mile) or as a homonym for 'to rectify'. The former interpretation reflects the idea that stimulating this point would enable a person to walk a further three 'li', even when exhausted.
It treats: epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, hiccup, belching, distention and pain of the abdomen, fullness and distention of the Heart and abdomen, heat in the middle jiao with propensity to hunger, hunger without desire to eat, poor appetite; insufficiency of original qi, yin qi, zang qi, stomach qi; dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations; mania-depression; throat painful obstruction with inability to speak, chills and fever; lockjaw; breast abscess, swelling of breast, pain of the knee and shin, etc… and much more!