How The Meridians Can Give Insight Into What’s Happening In Your Body

I had eczema on the outer thenar section (the fleshy part between the joint and the wrist) of my thumb for over a year, then it moved to the other side as well.  Why on earth have eczema just there?

I visited my friend for a SCIO session and her machine informed me that I had a gluten sensitivity.  As soon as I stopped eating so much gluten, the eczema cleared up.  I have a sensitivity, not an actual allergy but as soon as I do eat, say, a slice of bread and a biscuit, there is a slight tingling in this region.

The meridians are energy pathways which flow in a continual loop up and down the body but are divided into 12 main sections and named after our abdominal organs.

The energy is most vital at the fingertips and toes which is the first or last point of the meridian and is known as a Well point.  The energy gradually gathers in flow and depth through four following points called the Spring point, Stream point, River point and finally Sea point which is situated at the elbows or knees.  At the Sea point, the energy is vast and deep and moves into the interior of the body.

On the Yin meridians and according to the Five Elements, the Well points pertain to Wood, the Spring points pertain to Fire, the Stream points pertain to Earth, the River points pertain to Metal and the Sea points pertain to Water.  On the Yang meridians the Well points pertain to Metal and so forth

The Spring points are used to treat Heat conditions and to clear Heat from the meridians.  Liv 2 is great to disperse Liver-Yang so helps with headaches and red itchy eyes.

The Lung meridian runs from just below the clavicle, up over it then down the arm ending in the thumb beside the nail.  My eczema occurred around Lu 10 which is the 10th point along the meridian and the second last one before the end, i.e. the Spring point.  

But why there?

The way I understand it is as follows:  due to emotional issues, huge sensitivity to cigarette smoke and the Fynbos around where I live, my lungs are my weakest organ.  The skin and lungs are closely connected both in western and Chinese medicine.  In TCM the skin is under the control of the Lungs which keep it moist and which also disperses our Defensive Qi in the area between skin and muscle,

Gluten creates inflammation in my system, known in Chinese medicine as Damp-Heat.  Eczema is also a form of Damp-Heat
 Because the rest of me is pretty healthy, the Damp-Heat manifested in an area of weakness – the Lung meridian on the Fire/Spring point.
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Fortunately, I’ve discovered heaps of easy gluten free muffin recipes, so I really can have my cake and eat it.

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