Supporting the Heart and Lung Channels
Social distancing has got me missing you all in my treatment room. While we wait until it’s safe to reunite again, here are some ways to love yourself via the Lung & Heart channels! We all know that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, which affects your lungs. However, since the heart is right next to the lungs, your heart can be affected, as well! Stagnant lung qi can affect your heart channel and trigger feelings of anxiety.
Each of the points I mention in the video have specific functions and benefits that can help support your lungs and heart, all of which are listed in greater detail below.*
REN12 - Zhong Wan
Ren 12 is an important point if you’re struggling with a stomach-ache, abdominal distention, borborygmus, nausea, vomiting, acid regurgitation, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, indigestion, and/or insomnia! Some of its functions include harmonizing the stomach--it descends ST Qi, nausea, vomiting, belching, food stagnation (for DEFICIENCY or EXCESS). Expecting Moms—this is a great point for morning sickness!
LU5 - Chi Ze
Lung 5 suppresses and descends ‘rebellious qi’--It drains and clears ‘heat’ in the lungs by loosening yellow/green phlegm, sometimes accompanied by a cough. It can also discharge and drain ‘lung fire’, which is stronger than heat as it can affect your blood. (Examples of ‘lung fire’ in Western medicine include TB, Pneumonia, and Bronchitis). This point courses the sinews and connecting vessels, making it a strong point for pain in the joints, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and paralysis.
LU7 - Lie Que
Are you experiencing any symptoms including headache, migraine, neck rigidity, cough, asthma, sore throat, facial paralysis, toothache, and/or pain and weakness of the wrist? These are all indications that your Lung 7 could use some love! This point opens up the lungs and dispels ‘wind cold,’ strengthens the ‘Wei Qi’, (the first line of defense/’external layer’ of our immune system), and opens pores allowing for pathogens to be sweated out. Lung 7 also clears and regulates the Ren channel (uterine, menstruation, lower intestine, and throat), and is known to be a good point for pain, the beginning of a cold, and for releasing emotions of grief.
HT3 - Shao Hai
Heart 3 courses ‘heart qi’, which clears vessels of the heart, heart pain, numbness/pain in the arm and forearm, and shaking. This point clears the pericardium and calms the mind & spirit. In Chinese traditional medicine, this point is used for mental and emotional disorders. Indications that you should try this point include cardiac pain, spasmodic pain/numbness of the hand and arm, tremors in the hand, scrofula, and/or pain in the axilla and hypochondriac region.
HT8 - Shao Fu
Definitely try out the trick for Heart 8 if you are experiencing palpitations, pain in the chest, spasmodic pain in the finger, feverish sensations in the palm, enuresis, dysuria, and/or pruritus of the external genitalia. This point clears ‘heart fire’ and calms the mind.
REN15 - Jiu Wei
Ren 15 expands and relaxes the chest, as well as calms the spirit. Give this point some attention if you have pain in the cardiac region and the best, and nausea. Ren 15 is used to help with mental disorders and epilepsy.
Leave a comment below if you liked these points! I always love hearing from you!
*For legal purposes, Anna is not a doctor. These are her best recommendations based off of her education and work experience.
Credits:
Music: Happy Step, Bossanova, and Mornings by Jef