The Stomach
Carl Clarkson
MSc Acupuncture
www.acuphys.co.uk
enquiries@acuphys.co.uk
References
• Deadman et al (2007) A Manual of Acupuncture
• Hopwood (2004) Acupuncture in Physiotherapy
• Hui, K.K.S., Liu, J., Marina, O., Napadow, V., Haselgrove, C., Kwong,
K.K., Kennedy, D., & Makris, N. (2005) The integrated response of
the human cerebro – cerebellar and limbic systems to acupuncture
stimulation at ST 36 as evidenced by fMRI
• Joos, S., Schott, C., Zou, H, Volker, D., Martin, E. (2000)
Immunodmodulatory effects of Acupuncturein the treatment of
Allergic asthma: A randomised control study
• Li & Lachner (2011) Glossary of Chinese Medicine
References
• Macioca – The practice of Chinese Medicine /The foundations of
Chinese Medicine / Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine
• Napadow, V., Dhond, R.P., Purdon, P., Kettner, N., Makris, N., Kwong,
K.K., & Hui, K.K.S (2005) Correlating Acupuncture fMRI in the human
brain stem with Heart Rate variability
• Yim, Y., Lee, H., Hong, H., Kim, Y., Lee, B., Son, C., Kim, J.(2006)
electro – acupuncture at acupoint St 36 reduces inflammationand
regulates immune activityin collagen induced Mice
• Zhang, D., Ding, G., Shen, X., Yao, Y., Zhang, Z., Zhany, Y. & Lin, Y. (2007)
Influence of mast cell function on the analgesic effect of acupuncture of
"Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats
Dermatomes
• Covers
• V2
• S2 only dermatome
Myotomes
Upper / Middle Jiao
• Face / neck
– V2 / V3 (cranial nerves)
– Massetor (clench your teeth)
– Orbital muscles (helps control
area around eyes)
– Levator labii superious (helps to
move nose)
– Buccinator (helps to move
mouth)
• Trunk
– Pecs
– Abdominals
Lower Jiao
• Hip
– Iliopsoas / pectineus /
sartorious / Rec. Fem
• Knee
– Vastus lateralis / Tib. Ant
• Ankle / Foot
– Extensor digitorum
Uses of ST
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Headache
Tooth / Jaw pain
Fertility
Constipation / digestive issues
Immuno enhancing
Fatigue
Ant. Hip
Knee
Ankle
Its Name!
• Stomach meridian / Channel / Primary
Channel
• Stomach Channel of Foot Yangming (linked
with LI)
• Wei is the organ
Research
To many to list!
• Brain activity
– (Napadow et al. 2005,
Hui et al. 2005)
• Pain relief –
? mast cell involvement
– Zhang et al. (2007)
• Immunity
– Yim et al. (2006)
– Joos et al. (2000)
5 elements
TCM Basics
• Wei receives Qi (7am – 9am)
• Yang (Fu) organ
• Yang partner to Sp (Internally- externally
linked)
• 6 Channel partner of LI (6 Chaio’s)
Links with other meridians
• Yin (Zang) partner– SP
• YangMing - LI
• SI
–Sends food to be further digested
• LR
– Linked by there ability to descend Qi (v.good in
combo for digestive disorders)
Its Job
Western Similarities
• Thought of as a bubbling
cauldron – chamber of
masteration
• Vital to eat right food
TCM
• Regarded as most important
of the Fu (Yang) organs
• Along with Spleen, is known
as the root of pre heaven Qi
• Controls downward
movement of Qi
• Sp takes essence from the
digestion
• In charge of muscle bulk
How to know ST is damaged
Subjective
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General Fatigue
Apetite dysfunction
Pain in epigastrium
Eating late at night (depletes fluids
and sets up disharmony throughout
the system)
Dehydrated / does not take on
board fluids regularly
Cold legs / feet
Head pain
Paralysis in the face / sudden
deviation of the mouth
Cramping of the lower leg / spasms
of the thigh
Objective
• Pain on meridian
• Weak muscles
• Tongue coating
– Quantity
– Colour
– Spread
• Vomiting (rebellious Qi)/
belching / Hiccups
Stomach deficiency
Little or no coating at root or mid
portion of tongue
Cracks throughout tongue, especially
in centre
Point suggestions
• Frontal headache
– St 8 (usually in conjunction with LI 4)
– St 36
• Jaw / tooth pain (lower)
– St 5 – 7
– St 44
• Facial Palsy / Trigeminal Neuralgia
– St 3-8
– St 36
• Fertility
– St 25
– St 36
– St 40
Point Suggestions
• Lower limb pain
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–
–
–
St 31- 34 (hip)
St 34-36 (knee) in conjunction with SP
St 37-40(shin disorders)
St 41-44/45 (ankle / foot)
• Fatigue
– St 36 ( if recent onset)
– St 36, St 40 (if prolonged)
• Shoulder pain
– St 38
Prevelant Points of St
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CV 12 – Front Mu of St
BL 21 – Back Shu of St
Luo Connecting Point – ST 40
Yuan (source) – St 42
Xi Cleft – ST 34
– Acute epigastric pain
Antique Points
• Well – always last point / first point on
meridian. Bled (not done by Physios!)
• Spring – situated on border of palmer and
dorsal aspect of extremity
• Stream / river – both generally close to ankle /
wrist
• Sea – usually point just distal to knee / elbow
Antique Points
• Jing / Tsing (well) point
– St 45
• Ying (Spring) point
– St 44
• Shu (Stream) point
– St 43
• Jing (river) point
– St 41
• He (Sea) point
– St 36
Sea Points
• Sea of energy – St9 (CV 17, BL 10)
– Typically used for lack of energy or breathlessness
• Sea of nourishment – St 30(controls distribution
of Qi throughout body), St 36 (controls digestion
and bowels)
– Anger, loss of apetite
• Sea of Nourishment – St 37 (controls mov. Of
yang towards Yin) , St 39 (controls mov. of yin
towards Yang)
– Tight feelings, strange bodily feelings
Classical Points
• Thirteen ghost point of Sun Si – Mao
– St 6
• Returning the Yang
– St 36(returns conciousness)
• Heavenly star points
– St 36
– St 44
• One of the original four command points – ST 36
• Window of Heaven Point – St 9
Misc
• St 17 should not be needled
• Chain & lock association
– St 31, St 36, St 41
• St Earth meridian therefore Fire is mother,
Metal is son
– Mother point – St 41
– Son Point – St 45