Welcome to my blog!
Well here it is at last, my first Blog. I am aiming to share articles, college news and health and wellbeing information, I hope you find it useful.
The photo is of me and my little pug x cairn dog Buttons who sadly died last year at the great age of 17 and a half. I am now blessed with another little companion who has brightened my life. More on him in due course!
Winter can exacerbate all of our aches and pains and it is also the dreaded cold and flu season.
In Chinese 5 element theory Winter is the element of Water. The two meridians associated with water are the Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians.
The Kidney meridian is Yin or feminine because the kidney is a solid organ that stores energy (Yang organs are hollow and gather the energy). In this case it is our ancestral or prenatal Qi (pronounced Chee) or energy/life force that is stored in the kidneys. Additional Qi comes from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and from our environment. The body then converts it into a usable form and it flows around the body via channels called meridians that connect to every cell. Recent research is making inroads into understanding meridians from a scientific perspective and narrow tubes (less than 1mm thick) that carry a clear electrically charged fluid alongside the nervous system have been identified and called Bonghan ducts or the Primo-Vascular system. It is interesting that acupoints (where the energy comes to the surface in little wells) have a measurable electrical potential on the skin surface.
One such point is the first Kidney point - Kidney 1 known as ‘Bubbling Spring’. This is the only acupoint on the sole of the foot and it is found at the base of the metatarsal pad just under the heads of the second and third metatarsals (see college chart in Shop). It is said to connect us to the Earth’s energy so try standing barefoot and focussing on this point by pressing your feet into the ground and visualising healing energy coming up from the earth into your body. Breathe in as you do this and as you breathe out through your nose visualise any emotional or physical hurts flowing out of your body. Even three breaths can make a difference and help you to feel grounded during a stressful day.
Kidney 1 is a good point for reflexologists to work for clients with mental health issues, anxiety, depression, headache, sore throat, neck pain, nausea, constipation, urinary system imbalances and hot feet! There are many ‘go to’ points for overall wellbeing and this is one of them.
Meridians are bilateral – on both sides of the body – and run either from the body to end in the fingers or toes (connected to Yang organs) or run from the fingers or toes to the body (connected to Yin organs). Meridians come in pairs so one will be going up and one down, the energy flows from one meridian to the other through internal branches that connect the organs. Over the course of 24 hours energy has flowed through all of the paired meridians peaking for two hours in each. If your symptoms are worse at a certain time of day or night it may be due to a blockage in the corresponding meridian or the one before as a blockage in one can affect the energy flow into the next.
The Kidney meridian energy peaks between 5pm and 7pm and if you have a blockage in this meridian you may experience urinary and reproductive disorders, hair and teeth loss, ear, knee and lower back problems. Emotionally you may be fearful, lonely or feel insecure.
Its partner is the Urinary Bladder Meridian and its energy flow peaks between 3pm and 5pm. It begins at the eyes at UB1 and ends on the outside corner of the nail base on the little toes. This is UB67 which is great point to help turn a breach baby (with the go ahead of the client’s midwife). Imbalances in this Meridian include headaches, nosebleeds, neck stiffness, back pain, cystitis, prostatitis and urine retention. Emotional imbalances include fear, inability to make decisions (also a characteristic of the Gall Bladder meridian) maybe even jealousy, suspicion and grudges in the extreme.
It is interesting that people with lower back pain often feel unsupported or are fearful about making the wrong decision and moving forward in life. On the feet the Urinary Bladder Meridian runs along the lateral edge of the feet and in the body it runs either side of the spine. Reflexologists often refer to the lateral edge of the feet as the lateral spine because it is so helpful with back issues. The spinal reflex is located along the medial edge of the feet but working both sides can really help.
It is one reason for reflexologists to understand meridians, because we will be contacting acupoints and perhaps mistaking them for disturbed reflexes if we are not aware and also working the acupoints can help enormously if classic reflexology is not helping. Eunice Ingham who developed Reflexology from Zone Therapy refers in her first book ‘Stories the feet can tell thru Reflexology’ to ‘This Chinese method of Zone Therapy’. There is more information about Zone Theory and Zone Therapy on the college About Reflexology page.
If you regularly feel tired in the afternoon, when the energy starts to peak in the Urinary Bladder meridian at around 3pm, try drinking a glass of water, as an imbalance in the Water element often indicates lack of fluid - warm water is best in the Winter. Drinking water can also help with some back problems especially if disc related. Every part of our body needs water to function, even our bones contain about 25% water. In Chinese medicine the Kidney meridian regulates our acid-alkaline balance including bone and bone marrow.
However if your bones ache in the Winter you may be deficient in Vitamin D, also if you feel tired and sluggish and be prone to colds as it affects the immune system. Most people in the northern hemisphere are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is normally synthesised in the skin from sunlight so in the winter we become very low in this vital vitamin. Food sources are wild salmon – indeed any oily fish, eggs, butter from grass fed cows and fortified cereals. A good vegan source of vitamin D made from Lichen is available from The Natural Health Practice.
In Chinese medicine winter is a time for rest, the earth is dormant and we too should try to rest by going to bed earlier and listening to our body’s need for more sleep.
Also eat more warming foods – nourishing soups, stews and foods to ward off germs and help with inflammation such as garlic, onions, turmeric, ginger, green leafy vegetables and oily fish (obviously depending on your own dietary needs and intolerances).
Vitamin C, zinc and Echinacea are good cold preventing and busting supplements to take throughout the winter too.
Scheduling time for reflection, meditation and reading is ideal in winter. It is a good time to go within and re-evaluate your goals and dreams.
Enjoy cosy nights in with family and friends, sharing music, laughter and love.
Another tip at this time of the year is to wear a scarf around your neck and keep your midriff warm. In Chinese medicine it is thought that wind-cold (one of the 6 external causes of disease) can enter through the back of the neck and the kidneys leading to colds and chills. So please wrap up warm on these chilly winter days!
Well this has been a longer blog than I anticipated for a first attempt so congratulations if you made it to the end!
Allison
