In the Taoist tradition, there is much discussion about working with Wind (change). Within acupuncture, the Wood meridian of Gallbladder is the most effective in working with the effects of change in our lives. According to my Taoist teacher Dr. Jeffrey Yuen, the Gall Bladder meridian deposits unresolved issues in our lives (such as physical toxins or emotional traumas) into holding areas in our body, acting as a coping mechanism so we don’t get completely lost in the storm. However, unresolved issues kept latent in the body long-term can often lead to disease. The beauty of the Gallbladder channel is that together with its ability to “hide” what we cannot deal with at the moment, comes its ability to pull things out from places of hiding. Simply put, when we feel and know that it is time to “face the music” and deal with the toxins that went into dormancy, the Gall Bladder meridian gives us enough of a push for us to move out of stuck places that no longer represent who we truly are in the present moment.
Ancient Taoist doctors recommended several important points along the Gallbladder acupuncture meridian to ease the turbulence that Wind/Change can create in our lives. Of the 44 acupuncture points on the Gallbladder channel, there are three special points that are particularly helpful to work with when we feel unstable, uprooted or out of sorts. We can work with these acupuncture points through traditional acupuncture treatment, by massaging or holding them, meditating on them, using tuning forks on or above them or by applying essential oils to them.
Acupuncture formula that will help you find the “eye of the storm” in times of turbulence.
- Your intention: the most powerful of all acupuncture points is your clear and transparent intention…
Now, the acupuncture points…(follow the links for location)
~ Gall Bladder (GB)-24 Ri Yue Sun and Moon
The name of this point comprises the characters for Sun (Ri) and Moon (Yue) and together, they mean “illumination”. The Sun represents outer illumination: the things that we “see” with our two eyes, the phenomenal world. The Moon represents the quality of light at night that “blends all things into one”. This inner illumination is the vision that results from shutting off the senses, allowing a look into the depths of things.
Visiting with the resonance of this cave will inspire you to use discernment to know the world as it manifests in the bright light of day while at the same time recognizing that it is the unity which all things return at night that is ultimately real.
This point is said to have a strong effect on the eyes and it acts as a type of compass or navigating tool when we feel lost in judgment, trapped in dualistic thinking or unable to see that in reality “all things are one”.
~ GB-37 Guang Ming “Bright Light.” “Bright and Clear”
The name of this point “evokes the balanced vision of the sage who can use the intellect to steer through the world yet always possesses a deeper view of the forces that support its manifestations”*. It helps us dispel ignorance by empowering us to discriminate between what is real and what is an illusion.
Physically “Bright Light” helps with fatigue, especially when we feel deficient or lacking in vitality. Mentally it helps with loss of hope, despair, and confusion. This point is best when we feel so dispirited that we don’t want to engage, maybe because we don’t know what to do. This can often manifest somatically as heaviness in the legs, or cloudiness of the eyes.
~ GB-9 “Tian Chong” “Heaven Rushing”
Aspiration, creativity, and growth are virtues of the Wood element. Sometimes we become overly engaged with life as the mind strives to attain its goals or promote growth through excessive decision making and action. At the end of the day, our aspirations lead us to burn out and loss of the crucial flexibility that is needed for us to adjust to the constant change that life confronts us with on a daily basis. Visiting with this cave can help us gain enough perspective to replenish our energy resources by allowing our aspirations to unfold effortlessly on their own accord.
Some more details…
As you can tell, the above grouping of points along the Gallbladder meridian consists of a point on the torso, a point on the legs and a point on the head. Stimulate these three points in the order in which they have been presented.
Essential Oils (EO’s)
Two effective essentials oils recommended for use on these three points are Rosemary and Vetiver. I always recommend that you dilute the EO’s in a carrier oil like Jojoba, Rosehip or even Olive oil so as to make the Essential oil more bioavailable and less abrasive to the skin. If you already know to be sensitive to EO’s, you can invite the plant or flower directly over the acupuncture point or gently rub them against it.
Rosemary is an oil that is very invigorating, best for those who experience extreme fatigue, digestive weakness and a sense of cold or frigidity physically or emotionally.
Vetiver is more cooling and grounding – for those of us with anxiety, and the inability to relax.
Invitation
This Acupuncture/Acupressure formula is intended to help you reconnect with your purpose in life via calming your nervous system. Think of acupuncture points as caves that we enter to silence the chatter of the Mind so we can listen for the right medicine for us and for those around us. You can also picture acupuncture points as buttons or switches that help you regulate your physical and mental functions. The more familiar you become with these “body caves” the more readily their chemical and vibrational messages will enter your conscious mind. In time, you can come to learn your own “master points” – the inner caves that have special resonance with what you are going through in your life.
To your Health!
Yamin Chehin L.Ac
Healing Cycles 