Greetings Dear Readers,
Finding balance between the masculine and feminine energies is something many people are wanting in their lives. It seems many people find that in this modern age there is a lot of fast-paced, aggressive Yang energy. This creates a craving for the slower paced, quieter Yin energy. Some of the ways we add more Yin energy such as sugar, and recreational drugs are unhealthy in the long run. Luckily, there are also many healthy ways to bring in more Yin energy such as working with the energy systems of the body.
Each acupuncture channel of the body has various properties and functions which are activated when the area is stimulated by acupuncture, massage or moxibustion. The main channel that works with the feminine energy is the Conception Vessel (CV) channel. The CV channel runs up the front of the body along the mid-line from the perineum to the chin. It is balanced by the masculine energy of the Governing Vessel channel which runs along the back of the body near the spine, from the perineum up to the head and face. The Conception Vessel channel, also called the “Sea of the Yin channels” is often used for the purpose of nourishing the Yin or the feminine energy in the body.
Yin and Yang energies need to stay in balance for health and harmony. Sometimes people have too much Yang or heat/inflammation caused by a relative lack of Yin. In these cases, activating this channel helps them overcome symptoms of Yin deficiency such as anxiety, dry mouth at night, facial flushing, insomnia, dizziness, tinnitus, sweating at night, hot flashes, menopausal symptoms or restless mind.
It’s also very interesting to me that acupoint Lung 7 is used to open the Conception Vessel because it affirms what we already know, that using our lungs to take deep breathes helps us to feel more calm and Yin.
The Conception Vessel belongs to a set of eight “extra-ordinary vessels” which contain some of the most powerful energy reserves in the body, which we can tap into for extra support. These channels are also used when there are chronic conditions that are often complicated by issues in many organ systems. If you are interested in exploring how to increase your Yin energy and find more balance in your body, acupuncture as well as non-needling technologies can be used to bring relief.
I look forward to hearing your comments and questions.
Yours in health,
Cynthia
reduce pain, strengthen immunity and get relief using natural therapies. A word of caution: if you are experiencing the shingles rash, pain or unusual symptoms in your face, eyes or ears, this symptom that can have serious consequences such as damage to the eyes or ears leading to loss of vision or hearing. Please visit your doctor immediately.
spine waiting for another opportunity. When the immune system is down, the virus may then reactivate, this time as shingles. Since the virus lives at the nerve root in the spine, it tends to affect one or multiple dermatomes or areas that the affected spinal nerve controls. Prior to the outbreak, the immune system could have been weakened by chemotherapy, radiation, HIV, fatigue, organ or bone marrow transplant, physical or psychological trauma or a very stressful life event. Shingles also tends to affect those over the age of 50 more than younger people.
for months, sometimes years. Getting started with acupuncture soon after the pain starts will cut down the amount of time the pain goes on for. Some patients have been told to try various rash ointments that are intended for another purpose such as eczema or psoriasis, but with little success because the pain is not about the skin. It is caused by the infection at the nerve. An excellent remedy for this type of nerve pain is St. John’s Wart oil rubbed onto the affected area.
adjust your body to the sun’s rhythm in cases of jet lag or shift lag. Shift workers often develop an excess on Yang and deficiency of Yin because they are not getting sleep at the most Yin time which is night, so they lose out on this Yin energy. If you have heat signs such as dry mouth at night, sore throat, feeling of heat, try eating more Yin foods such as sesame, lotus seed, water chestnut, white fungus, lily bulb, seaweeds, pears, wolfberry fruits, red dates, lotus root, tomato, water chestnut, soybean sprout, and Chinese cabbage.
the morning to give you stronger energy all day provided that you are not over-heated (it’s all about balance!). Ginger benefits the spleen, stomach and lung channels. Ginger disperses cold, wind and damp-phlegm. This recipe is also traditionally used to prevent the common cold virus because ginger clears “Wind” which is the external pathogen that carries the virus into the body. Fresh ginger is warm while dried ginger is considered hot. If the Spleen is deficient and causing blood to leak out of the vessels as in for example, menorrhagia, ginger can strengthen the Spleen’s astringing function to hold the blood inside the vessels and stop the excessive bleeding.
Cynthia's Classical Acupuncture and Wellness 