Let me introduce you to one of the major league players in the acupuncture points world – the fabulous Stomach 36.
In Chinese, its name is Zu San Li which translates as “leg three mile”. As the legend goes, in ancient times when the only mode of transportation was by foot, stimulation of this point allowed one to walk another three miles. Classically, the character Li ( ) doubled for the modern character li ( ) which translates as “to regulate or rectify.” Therefore, with stimulation of this point, it has been known to relieve fatigue and rectify the ‘qi’ of the body.
Location notes
The location of Stomach-36 is on the leg, three “body inches” below the knee and lies in between the anterior tibial muscle and the extensor digitorum longus tendon. It also lies adjacent to the anterior tibial artery and vein, and the nerve pathway of the lateral cutaneous n., saphenous n., and deep peroneal n.
I am often asked about the effects of Stomach-36 found in research. Let’s look at them from several different body systems. For example,
Digestive system: It has been known to increase peristalsis of both the stomach and intestine, accelerates stomach emptying time, opens the pylorus, and relaxes a tense stomach in sick individuals. Stimulation of Stomach 36 can also restore levels of stomach acid, pepsin, and gastric lipase to normal in people with indigestion, and strengthens the contraction of the gall bladder and accelerates emptying of the bile, and relieves spasms of the gall bladder sphincter.
Circulatory system: Increases white blood cells and increases hemoglobin.
Respiratory system: It has been known to increase breathing capacity by 6.6%.
Immune System: It slows fluid accumulation in arthritic joints; lowers fever in early-stage infection; doubles the amount of white blood cell phagocytizing of the bacteria staphylococcus aureus.
Endocrine system: It increases the adrenocorticosteroid hormones (stimulates the adrenal glands).
Nervous system: It has been found to suppresses pain.
Summary
Overall, there are 400 acupuncture points on the body. (This does not include the ear points.) If one point can have an affect on the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, immune, endocrine, and nervous system, just imagine what the other 399 points can do for your body!
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