Healthspan Blog

There are twelve energy pathways, or meridians, in the human body that connect to specific organs in the body. Chinese medicine believes that each organ has a two hour time period when the Qi is at its peak in that meridian. The Qi flows cyclically in a clockwise rotation like a wave through the meridians.

We always pay attention to symptoms that occur repeatedly at specific times because this may be an indication of the organ that is out of balance. For example, waking every night between 1 and 3 a.m. almost always is indicative of a Liver imbalance. This chart shows the order of the flow.

Dr. Richard Tan uses Chinese clock relationships in his Balance Method theory. Organs next to each other on the Chinese clock will balance each other. Organs opposite each other on the Chinese clock will balance each other. The time of the actual treatment is not significant in Dr. Tan's Balance method when using these relationships.

There are some treatment protocols where the actual time of the treatment may be enhanced by coordinating the treatment with the flow of Qi according to the clock, but this is not always practical.

About the Author:
Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Up to 25% of babies at some point in a pregnancy are in a breech position, but by 34 weeks most fetuses turn into a head-down, or vertex, position on their own. This is the normal and safest fetal position for birth. Delivering a baby in a breech position involves several risks to the infant. Most obstetricians in todays world therefore will opt to perform a caesarean section if the fetus has not turned on its own.

Moxibustion, the burning of the herb mugwort over an acupuncture point, in this case Bl-67 on the little toe, has been shown to be very effective to turn the fetus. Here is an excellent video where Dr. Lorne Brown, an acupuncturist from Vancouver Canada, demonstrates the procedure. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Brown at a seminar in Toronto last year where Jane Lyttleton lectured on Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of infertility.

Although this technique is simple and safe, there are instances where you would not want to turn a breech presentation. Zita West, in her book “Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth” warns that you would not want to turn a breech for the following situations: twin pregnancies (the cord may compress), previous caesarean for breech position (the mother's pelvis may be too small too deliver vaginally), raised blood pressure, bleeding in pregnancy, and Rh negative (the mother's and baby's blood may mix).

Moxibustion over BL-67 appears to stimulate hormones that cause the uterus to contract. This causes the fetus to move. Studies in China claim a success rate of 80 to 90% in correcting the breech position with this moxibustion technique. Women should be closely monitored by their midwife or obstetrician during this process. Excessive treatment could over-correct and bring the fetus back into breech.

About the Author:
Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist that provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

I was recently asked by one of my patients whether or not I thought acupuncture treatments would benefit their sister who was told she had a bladder prolapse. Since most of my patients seek help for painful conditions, it reminded me that many people are not yet aware that Chinese medicine is also very beneficial for other types of disorders.

Yes! Unless the condition has progressed to the point of requiring immediate surgical repair, acupuncture may help prevent organ prolapse conditions from deteriorating, if not completely rectify the problem.

In Chinese medicine theory, prolapses of internal organs are usually explained by a weakness of the Spleen energy. Another name for energy is qi (pronounced “chee”). The normal direction of the Spleen qi is upwards. When that qi is weak, the body experiences a feeling of bearing down, fatigue, mental depression, diarrhea and the actual prolapse of internal organs. This aspect of qi deficiency is often referred to as “qi sinking”. And there are specific acupuncture points and herbs that have the effect of raising the qi.

The most powerful point on the body to raise the energy in the body and counter prolapse is Du20, which is located on the top of the head. Historically, it is well documented to treat the sinking of the yang energy at the other end of the Du meridian, hence rectal prolapse. In modern practice, this point has also been effective to treat the prolapse of the uterus and vagina. For this purpose, moxibustion is used to stimulate Du20.

For rectal prolapse, I add the Master Tung foot point Menjin which is on the Stomach meridian slightly proximal to ST43 and the traditional ST44 point. Ling Gu, another Master Tung point located proximal to LI4 is effective for rectal prolapse.

Extra point Tituo, located on the lower abdomen, is a primary point for treating uterine prolapse. A special needle technique is used. The needle is superficially threaded from its location (about four inches from the midline of the abdomen and about three inches below the navel) towards Ren-2. Then the needle is rotated until it is wrapped in the muscle fibers and pulled upward and outward . It is taped to the skin in this raised position for 20-30 minutes. This is not a painful procedure.

In the January 2001 issue of Acupuncture Today, there is an interesting article entitled “Prolapse: A Natural Condition With Oriental Medicine”, written by Skya Abbate. Since Dr. Abbate has a strong background in Japanese acupuncture, she suggests using KI-27, ST-13, LV-5 and a group of points slightly off of the LI meridian called the naganos to treat prolapses. Her article is excellent reading for an explanation of the energetics of these points. Click here to read the article.

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan is a famous Chinese herbal formula that historically has been used for organ prolapses, especially following childbirth. The formula includes many herbs that strongly tonify the Spleen qi including Huang Qi (astragalus) and Bai Zhu (atractylodes). Chai Hu (bupleurum) and Sheng Ma (cimicifuga) are also in this formula. Both are very effective to raise Spleen qi and pull up the prolapse.

Jake Fratkin cites a research study in his book “Chinese Herbal Patent Medicines”, where 23 cases of uterine prolapse were treated with a decoction of this formula along with instructions to perform Kegal exercises. Within two weeks, 76% were cured, 6% improved and 18% had no change.

In recent years, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan has become popular to treat many complaints based on a Chinese medicine diagnosis of Spleen Qi deficiency.

About the Author
Joyce Marley is a NYS licensed acupuncturist and is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She incorporates many of Master Tung's acupuncture points in her treatments.