The Stomach

Carl Clarkson MSc Acupuncture

www.acuphys.co.ukenquiries@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

• 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

ResearchTo 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

STSP

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• 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– 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

• 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