Powerful Points - CON 17 - Dan Zhong

Continuing the powerful points theme of a few weeks ago - today is about CON 17 (Ren or CV 17). It is situated at the centre of the chest level with the 4th intercostal space, between the nipples. Some traditional texts say it is forbidden to needle but as long as the needle is inserted no longer that 0.5 cm using a transverse direction - there is usually no problem regards vital organ puncture. Never use a perpendicular approach. It is a major point is treating many heart conditions such as chest constriction, pain and heaviness in the region, palpitation, arrhythmia, wheezing and coughing.

The main use of this point - especially using acupressure is that it calms the mind and spirit and is extensively used in panic attacks, anxiety, grief, sadness, insomnia and hysteria. It is considered to be the anterior aspect of the Heart chakra and, as such, is the most central point in the body. Together with Extra 1 (Yintang) it represents one of the two most powerful points on the body for calming the mind and may be used in many emotional and psychosomatic conditions. As a chakra point its 'partners' that may be used with it so as to give an all round treatment are the Solar Plexus chakra at Con 14, the Intercostal chakra at SP 21 and the Ear chakra at TE 17. All these points may be used in self help as part of a meditation programme or with a client. Check it out

The remarkable EAR

As well as being important when it comes to both hearing and balance, the ear has the most remarkable energy medicine attributes. Acupuncturists have known for a couple of millenia that it is possible to treat very many medical conditions through the ear (auriculotherapy). The body as a whole may be reflected in the ear as the classical inverted foetus. In the past 30 years certain points withing the body of the outer ear have been used in the treatment of many different types of sensitivities, allergic responses, cravings and desires. Examples include helping clients to stop smoking or to try and lose weight by helping the craving to nicotine and food. It is said that there is a direct link between the ear and the hypothalamus, which is the area of the brain that is involved with desires and cravings. This mostly uses electro-acupuncture, although it is possible to help cravings by placing tiny press stud needles in the ear.

The outer ear is, of course, also used in acupressure and body work. One of the ways that clients may begin to reduce their hypertension (high blood pressure) is by literally pulling the ear. I know it sounds crazy, but it works fantastically. They must be relaxed in a chair or lying down. Get them to GENTLY but firmly to pull down on the lobe (pinna) for about two minutes, three times a day. This procedure may be done independently or as part of a meditation session. It will take several days/ a few weeks to reduce the hypertension, but having taught this technique for several years, I can thoroughly recommend it as a 'natural' way of doing this. Have fun - JRC

Loose joints

I'm sure you have all come across clients and patients with loose or 'double' jointedness. I treated an ex army man this week for the second time who had very lax knee ligaments. He was able to hyperextend several cms. from the norm and he had very elastic cruciate ligaments. He'd been having knee pain for several years - the joint was never swollen but it was always 'pressurised'. When I had originally seen hi back in the summer, the predisposing cause of the knee pain was an old ankle sprain that hadn't resolved and even though he had been much improved since then he was still getting some discomfort.

Many years ago I was a practising homoeopath and used to give Nat. Mur. to help strengthen joints - the reason behind this is that loose joints are often associated with salt craving or a life long love affair with too much salt in the diet. Over a period of time the connective tissue become stretched. I asked him to take Nat. Mur. 6 (homoeopathic sodium chloride) for a couple of months. I would bet my mortgage that after this time his knee joints will be tighter and not prone to injury. Have a new look at all those peripheral joint problems with this peculiarity - it may be a solution!