Stomach Meridian, the next stop on our yearlong Meridian journey, plays an important digestive role in our lives, but also is an important part of our emotional well-being. If you have ever had the feeling of knots in your stomach, you have felt the manifestation of stomach’s emotional aspect when imbalanced: worry.
The Stomach organ’s job is to digest foods and fluids and move them along the digestive tract. An imbalance in the organ or the Stomach Meridian (ST) can show up as a result of any type of reversal of the downward flow of digestion, such as acid reflux, hiccups, or vomiting. We can also feel discomfort such as bloating and cramping.
Just as the organ is responsible for digestion of food, ST is also responsible for the digestion and assimilation of ideas and the absorption of information. An imbalance in ST can result in excessive worry, and feelings of gloom and fear. We can also become stagnate and resist change, feel a sense of anxiety, and doubt ourselves.
A balanced ST can help us honor and nurture ourselves, trust in the larger picture, feel a sense of healthy compassion for ourselves and others, and have feelings of openness, caring, and fairness. Luckily there are some ways to balance ST using Eden Energy Medicine techniques.
The Stomach Thump, or Grounding Thump, is one way to balance ST and can help us feel more grounded. Simply tap on your cheekbones with your fingertips. To ground even more and even help to alleviate nausea, instead of tapping, place your thumbs right below your cheekbones and press in and up with deep pressure.
Stomach 36 is an acupoint that can help balance ST energy. It can also help strengthen the immune system, alleviate digestive issues, and balance our overall energy. It is about four finger widths down from the bottom of your knee on the outside area of your shin bone. Work this point on both sides of the body by massaging it or simply holding it with a little bit of pressure.
The Source Point of ST, Stomach 42, is another point that can be massaged or held. This point also helps to balance the organ itself and can help to send energy throughout the body. Work the point on both sides of the foot (see diagram for location).
Working with the Neurolymphatic points (NL) of a meridian helps to release toxins from the energy system and balances the Meridian as well. To work with the ST NLs, deeply massage the points on the outside of your collarbone on both sides of the body (see diagram).
ST is a part of the Earth Element and one way to balance the Meridian as well as the element itself is by doing a Neurovascular Hold. With light pressure place your thumbs on your cheekbones and the rest of your fingers above your eyebrows on your forehead. Hold this for a minute or two taking some deep breaths to balance the emotional response of worry that is related to the Earth Element (and ST too).
(Originally published in Front Porch Magazine, October 2020)
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