Stomach Meridian – Anxiety
The Stomach: The stomach holds the food we ingest, mixes it with acids to break it down, and then passes it to the small intestine.
The Meridian: The stomach meridian reminds us to focus on the thoughts that we hold onto that turn into emotions. Are they nourishing, or will they deprive us?
Location: Begins under the eye and descends to the jaw before looping back to the forehead. Then it drops down, runs through the throat, chest, and abdomen, and down the front of the legs to the second toe.
Physical Imbalance: belching, reflux, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, bad breath, heartburn, and energy deficiencies.
Emotional Imbalance: Anger, anxiety, sadness, obsessive thoughts, neediness, poor concentration, brain fog, and memory.
How to Balance
*When the heart meridian is balanced, it promotes joy, emotional balance, clarity of thought, and sound sleep. It also supports healthy relationships and communication, as well as a strong sense of compassion and love.
Acupoint- apply pressure/massage: The are many pressure points in body. This is one example.
To massage this point:
- Place two fingers on the zusanli point.
- Move fingers in a circular motion using gentle, firm pressure.
- Massage for 2–3 minutes and repeat on the other leg.
Herbal Therapy/Diet:
- Ginger (Gan Jiang) – A warming herb known for its ability to reduce nausea, improve appetite, and eliminate bloating. Ginger is often used to treat cold stomach conditions and support smooth digestion.
- Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) _ This aromatic herb regulates Qi and reduces bloating.
- Magnolia Bark (Hou Po) – alleviates abdominal fullness and promotes the movement of Qi. It’s particularly effective for treating constipation and sluggish digestion.
Meditation/Mind: Spend time every day alone to digest your thoughts and emotions. Eat foods and drinks that are warm to make digestion of the food easier. And tune into your gut to help make better decisions.
Physical Exercise: Since the stomach meridian goes down the front of the legs, it is beneficial to get energy circulating in the legs to release any blockages. The flow of blood and chi energy through the legs strengthens the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
- Repeat the squat 20-30 times, or as your strength will allow. It is better and more challenging the more slowly you do this exercise.
- Stand with your feet open as wide as you can comfortably balance. Relax your neck and shoulders.
- Place your hands on your waist and slowly bend your knees to drop into a ‘horse riding’ stance. Aim for squatting as close to the ground as you can. Hold the squat for 1-2 seconds then slowly return to standing straight.
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