TAPPING POINTS

It's Harvest Season leading us to Autumn, my favorite time of the year but also my most troublesome season regarding allergies, sinus stuff, lung stuff, basic gunk. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers relief. Remember, there are five branches of TCM: Acupuncture, Herbology, Nutrition, Massage and Qigong. A visit to the acupuncturist will set you up with treatments, herbs, massage and recommendations for diet.

But, let's look to see how you might additionally take care of yourself at home. 

Tapping and Qigong. 

These are merely suggestions and are not meant to take the place of care by a licensed physician. I am not providing medical advice, diagnosis or treatments. 

During our "Qigong in a Park" I have suggested specific points to relieve and possibly prevent sinus and lung gunk. 

First off, let's recognize the organs associated with Autumn: Lungs and the Large Intestine. I'm writing this during the late summer season which I refer to as Harvest. So, I will suggest some points to support the Stomach and Spleen, the organs of Harvest Season.

We often begin our practice with arm swings. Turning from the waist and tapping parts of the back and torso. Most meridians run on both sides of the body. So, say Urinary Bladder (UB) 50 points will be on both the right and left sides of the body. 

Start with swinging the arms, turning the waist and tapping with a light fist the mid/lower back. This is the Ming Men, the Door of Life. On either side of the Ming Men we have Urinary Bladder (UB or BL) 50. Two lines on the UB (or BL) Channel run along the spine. The UB 50 points regulate the Stomach and Spleen. 

Good Harvest Season points.  

While we're swinging let's tap LUNG (LU) 1 and 2. Twist and tap each side with the opposite hand. You may like a light relaxed fist, or open palm. These points are good for coughing, asthma and chest pain. 

If you tap on these points with your open palm you're also tapping a point on the pad of your thumb, LU 10 which also relieves coughing, but also sore throats and hoarseness. 

Moving along, we'll stop twisting now and chop the pinky sides of your hands together. At this point I recommend tapping each pair of points 36 times. 

We are now going to activate a point in the SMALL INTESTINE (SI) meridian. SI 3. This meridian is a cheeky little monkey that runs up the arm, zig zags around the shoulder blade, up onto the shoulder, neck and face, ending at the ear. SI 3 will relieve head and neck strain, both are common when your sinuses or coughs are giving you grief.

Heading now to the face. We're first going to tap 36 times on each pair of points with our fingertips.

URINARY BLADDER (UB) 2 is where your eyebrow meets the bridge of the nose, then GALL BLADDER (GB) 1 at the corner of the eye, then STOMACH (ST) 2 found in a hollow on the cheek bone. 

These points may all help with sinus conditions including headaches. They also support vision and eye health. I was going to use my face to show these points but George Clooney seemed like a better choice. 

You're welcome.  

If you lift your eyebrows, B 2 and ST 2 are more accessible for tapping. Remember, tap each pair 36 times. 

Another great point is LARGE INTESTINE (LI) 20. Rather than tapping here I recommend using one finger to lightly rub small circles 36 times. You can rub both points at the same time. 

And while we're working on the LI (Large Intestine) meridian let's move down to LI 4 UNLESS YOU'RE PREGNANT! Stay away from this point if you are. 

This is a "go to" point for headaches, body aches, dizziness, congestion, swelling and pain of the eye, sinusitis, nosebleed, toothaches,  gastric pain, constipation, diarrhea, and on and on. This point tonifies Qi and strengthens immunity. But, it can also induce labor. 

Once again, rather than tapping I suggest small circles on the points on each hand. You'll feel a little spot on the bone below your index finger. That's the spot.

Back to tapping. The next two points may help with coughs and chest congestion. 

KIDNEY (K) 27 and SPLEEN (SP) 21. 

K 27 is located under the collarbone near the sternum. Tap with a loose fist or with fingertips.

 

SP 21 is on the ribcage just below the arm pit. Tap SP 21 points one at a time by lifting your arm and using the other hand to tap with an open palm. To encourage lymphatic flow start at the arm pit and tap down along the ribs. Then lift the tapping hand back to the arm pit and head back down. Repeat one more time. 

There are many more points that may help with coughs, colds, sinus issues, allergies. If your condition warrants care, please see a licensed acupuncturist, TCM doctor, or your personal physician. 

The points I've suggested:

• UB 50, near the Ming Men on the back 
• LU 1 and 2, at the hollows below the collarbone near the shoulder
• LU 10, thumb pad of palm
• SI 3, pinky sides of the hands, palms up
• UB 2, at the end of the eyebrow nearest the bridge of the nose
• GB 1, at the corner of the eye
• ST 2, hollow of the cheek bone
• LI 20, outer edge of the nose hear the nostrils
• LI 4 UNLESS YOU'RE PREGNANT between the thumb and index finger, aim towards the bone of the index finger
• K 27, under the collarbone near the sternum
• SP 21, on the ribcage under the arm pit

Here are a couple of examples of tapping. These are variations working towards general well being and not specifically for the Lungs and Sinuses. 

Karen Soo's video also includes Bone Marrow Cleansing which I'm very fond of. 

ENJOY!