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Now with the body face up, we're gonna aim just under the occipital ridge (base of skull). We're working the Gates of Consciousness (Gall Bladder 20), a.k.a. the Wind Pond. These twin spots are located in the hollows on either side of the midpoint of the ridge, spaced about two to three inches apart from each other. By freeing up energy blockages leading to and from the head, we're said to redistribute energy that gets clogged up there (Pond of Wind, or stagnant ki energy), a possible source of long-term fatigue. (The name also suggests an entry point for energies into the body.)
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Fortunately they aren't
really green
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To the ears
Our first stop is the Heart Point, the
deepest spot of the inner auricle, just
behind the auditory canal. We're helping to damp down excessive internal chatter, the kind that can lead to sleepless nights. Judging by its location, this spot may affect the solar plexus.
From "The Reflexology Atlas" (2003)
by Bernard Kolster & Astrid Waskowiak (Germany)
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We'll also aim for the nearby Adrenal Glands Point, on the edge of the tragus. You can see that part of the name-confusion stems from different sources using different terminology at times. On the chart to the right, the spot is also termed the Oscillation Point, possibly because we're helping to smooth out excessive ying/yang fluctuations. We're also discovering, perhaps inadvertently, a recurring theme here: settling down this yoyo effect (between our paradoxical paired lions). We're familiar with both high-strung as well as listless individuals. However, there's a third state we need to consider: excessive fluctuation between the two, a condition that leaves no recovery time for restoration and housekeeping (leading to exhaustion).
Source: "Total Relaxation" (1998) by John Harvey, director of psychology at Allied Services, Scranton, PA
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As we proceed with our soporific massage, our final point of attention lies on the front of the body, just beneath the collarbone (clavicle) near its outer notch. This spot, considered point #1 on the lung line, has also been called the Central Palace, Middle Palace, and Central Treasury.
[From "Acupressure's Potent Points" (1990),
by Michael Reed Gach]
Note: It's not enough to merely press this point (nor any other point, for that matter). We need a game plan of what we want this energy node to do, in this case restoring blocked ki energy to the lungs. Try running a sprint on 50% lung capacity to see how quickly you falter, hence the flowery language of the Chinese names for this vital spot.
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The point is often called
'Letting Go', suggesting we
retain energy here in a
protective comfort zone
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An example of too much pressure:
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When trying to get to sleep, avoid using alcohol as an aid. A little bit might nudge you into dreamland, but a
little too much will interfere with the overall quality of your sleep, unless you're into Irish Yoga.
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