The Small Intestine Meridian

Small Intestine: Joy/Agitation

The Small Intestine: The small intestine separates the pure foods and liquids from the impure. It also helps nutrients and water to be absorbed while the waste is passed onto the large intestines.

The Meridian: The small intestine energy will help you to observe pure or impure thoughts that may cause pure and impure emotions. Try to find the silver lining in all situations to keep your thoughts positive and pure.

Location: Runs from the tip of the little finger up the lower back of the arm. Behind the shoulder and then up the side of the neck and cheek. Ends in front of the ear.

Physical Imbalance: Digestion problems, food allergies, enlarged lower abdomen, bloating, headaches, shoulder pain, and tinnitus.

Emotional Imbalance: mental restlessness, feelings of abandonment, and vulnerable thoughts

How to Balance

*In balance, the small intestine meridian facilitates clear discernment, decision-making, and mental clarity. It is also associated with healthy boundaries and the ability to separate the pure from the impure.

Acupoint- apply pressure/massage: *The are many pressure points in the body. This is one example.

Small Intestine 4 (SI4)

The Small Intestine 4, also known as the “Wrist Bone,” is excellent for strengthening and calming all aspects of the organ. It improves a patient’s well-being and ability to separate pure from impure on all levels. It also promotes peristalsis, supports a healthy gut lining, and stimulates the immune system.

The small intestine 4 pressure point is located on the outside part of your hand, right on the edge. The point lies in the depression of your hand just below your pinkie finger.

Applying firm pressure to this point may help relieve earaches, headaches in the back of the head, neck pain, and upper back pain.

Herbal Therapy/Diet: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the stomach is associated with worry. Many people spend a good part of their day worrying about what they eat and how it affects their health and life.

The small intestine meridian is particularly sensitive to cold. Therefore, eating lots of cold, raw foods can lead to problems in the small intestine. When excess cold invades the small intestine, there may be pain around the navel, watery diarrhea or loose stools, frequent clear urination, and loud gurgling sounds in the abdomen.

Also, drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to prevent dehydration. This helps with completing digestion and not clogging the small intestine with undigested food.

Meditation/Mind:

Pay attention to your thoughts. Stop negative thoughts and self-talk immediately and replace them with pure and positive thoughts.

First, find a nice, quiet place. Sit however you like (on the floor or on a chair.
Close your eyes. Rest your hands on your lap.
I like to start my meditative practice by saying a positive affirmation in my head, such as “May this be of benefit.”
Start by taking a few deep breaths and just observe yourself breathing. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth. If you notice your mind already wandering, it’s ok; just gently redirect your mind to the breath without any judgment.
Once you have gotten into a rhythm. Make sure you are inflating your belly when you take these deep breaths. Take a breath in through your nose to a count of 4. Hold it in your belly to a count of 7. Breathe it out through your mouth to a count of 8. Do this at least 4 times and no more than 8 times.

Physical Exercise: The cobra pose is a heart-opening backbend that can boost energy and improve posture. This pose encourages digestion by putting gentle pressure on your stomach and stretching out your abdomen.

Place your hands on the ground, fingertips just outside of your shoulders and in line with the front of your shoulder bones. Keep elbows parallel, at your sides, and pulling straight back.

As you inhale, squeeze your shoulder blades together and, pressing into the mat through your hands, lift your chest off the ground.