September Self-Healing Tips

September is a magical time in our year.  It marks a time of transition from the Earth element of late summer into the Metal element of Autumn.  Through this transition, both elements are activating and strengthening themselves, and in doing so, they are both revealing their vulnerabilities along the way.  The Earth element is about stability, centering and connection.  It deals with the Spleen and Stomach as the center of all experience and the foundation of all energy in the body.  These are the main processing nexus of the entire human organism.  The Metal element is all about order, organization, and inspiration.  It also deals with releasing old materials, through the CO2 we exhale from the LU, as well as the solid waste we release through the Large Intestine.

Stomach 25, named Tian Shu, or Heavenly Pivot, is a powerful Metal and Earth point.  It is the front alarm point of the Large Intestine, and it is found along the Stomach channel.  This point is about stability of the self, even in the midst of great external change.  It empowers dynamic movement in any direction without excessive confusion or thought.  It is all about flow – the kind of flow that comes from being centered, clear, and internally stable in an ever-evolving and ever-changing world.  This centeredness comes from taking in and letting go-of food, information, and life experience, absorbing the nutritive value, and releasing everything else. For the tai chi enthusiasts reading, think upper border of the dan tien.  For you yogis, think core strength, and all of it’s benefits.

To locate Stomach 25, find your belly button.  Move two inches directly to the side outward from your navel in each direction.  Press in and see if there’s any tenderness there.  As with all the points, you may need to explore the immediate vicinity to find the exact right point on your body today. 

Take 5 minutes or so each day to massage gently these two points in circles – and as the tissues relax, allow your thumb or fingers to move deeper and deeper into your torso.  Be gentle!   According to the Chinese medical classics, your bowels should be moving after every meal (important for  both the Earth and Metal elements!), and the evacuation should feel complete.  If this is not the case for you, or even if it is the case and you want to fortify your Earth, self-massage on Heavenly Pivot will benefit your overall wellness.

If I could give you one piece of dietary advice for September (and I can, since you’re reading this article right now!), I would urge you to simplify your diet this month, for the wellness of your Earth and Metal elements alike.  In honor of simplification, this September we will celebrate that ever-so loved popular household staple:  Brown Rice.  Brown rice is excellent for the Large Intestine, as its husks help pull old stagnant material from the large intestine.  Ample cooked food is more important for the health of the digestive tract than most of us here in Southern California realize, and whole grains like brown rice are an excellent addition to both salads and cooked meals alike.  Grains are also associated with the Earth element in Chinese medical nutrition, as they both strengthen and nurture the Spleen and Stomach.  Brown rice is incredibly rich in B Vitamins, Manganese, Phosphorous, Iron, and Essential Fatty Acids. For added digestive benefit, soak your brown rice in water overnight before steaming it the next day.