Treating Stress And Body Stiffness With Tung’s Acupuncture

Walking with an “upright back” during war – A description and analysis of a clinical meeting:

In Hebrew, “walking with an upright back” or “to stand upright” also conveys a sense of pride and fearlessness. It can also indicate the state of qi, blood and Shen-spirit. Since October 7th 2023, my daily life has undergone a significant change. The repercussions of war can be felt in various ways. Here is an example of treating stress and tension with master Tung’s acupuncture points, one of the many emotions encountered these days during the war.

A 42-year-old woman is experiencing distress and emotional burden due to her mother’s health problem. This adds to the feelings of emotional heaviness, oppression, and sadness she has been experiencing in the last few months following the war.

She is practicing yoga – working on her back muscles and trying to walk upright physically and mentally. She describes a sensation of muscle strain along her entire spine.

Recently, she noticed sporadic small red rashes on her skin, mainly scattered on her limbs, without accompanying itching. She feels a lack of strength to take action and is constantly tired. Additionally, there has been sensitivity in the urinary tract, resembling inflammation, although no findings have been identified.

Pulse: wiry and thin in the left hand.

Tongue: pink thin white coating.

Case diagnosis

Compressions and fullness in the Tai Yang system extend to the Shao Yin, creating a Bladder-Small Intestine imbalance leading to Kidney-Heart imbalance. The involvement of these two systems manifests as a stiff back along the spine and chest oppression. Practicing yoga made her realize that she cannot move straight physically and mentally. The overstrain on the bladder channel affects the boundaries of the body—the skin and the urinary system. The body’s physical and emotional boundaries are strained, and the organs that are in contact with the exterior are imbalanced.

Acupuncture treatment

Left side: Ling gu (22.05)+ Da bai (22.04), Spleen 4 thread towards Kd 1

Right side: Si hua shang (77.08)+ Si hua zhong (77.09)+ Xin ling (33.17)

Master Tung’s acupuncture points explanation

22.04 (Da bai)+22.05 (Ling gu) Shen jing 神经 (reaction area) is the lung branch. They are considered points that support the lungs, which control qi. Da bai (22.04) and Ling gu (22.05) are on the large intestine channel, and through their connection with the Yang Ming system, they help produce blood and qi. Since they contribute to strengthening qi, I see them as having the potential to support the Wei qi circulation at the exterior. The support of the exterior can lead to the physical and emotional stability that is requested here. Master Tung’s Ling gu and Da bai acupucnture points together also treat the whole back. Ling gu (22.05) is a major point for supporting qi and yang. From a mirroring point of view it targets the lower back while Da bai (22.04) works on the upper back. Since they both support the qi and have a lung Shen jing 神经，they can work on the exterior Tai yang system manifested in the back and will fasilitate the urinary tracks.

Spleen 4 is a Luo connecting point of the spleen earth phase. Excessive thoughts can lead to energy gathering inside the Luo channels, causing blockages at the physical level of the digestive tracts or at the emotional level, manifesting in a loop of thoughts. Needling this point will allow the body to feel more stable. The insertion toward Kidney 1 is designed to allow a more grounding and anchoring effect.

77.08 (Si hua shang)+ 77.09 (Si hua zhong) are on the channel of the Yang Ming-stomach. Their target is the branch of the heart and lungs. They work on the upper Jiao for palpitations, opening of the chest, elimination of phlegm, relief of cough, dizziness, and toothache. It is important to understand the mechanism of these points. There is communication between the stomach channel and the heart; hence, the common symptoms of these two organs. However, these points are also responsible for supporting and transforming the qi through the connection with the lungs.

77.08+ 77.09 work on the metal and the heart. When observing the five phases, fire rules blood and metal rules qi. Both phases can stabilize and support the earth. Fire is the mother of earth. The lungs which rules the qi are linked to the spleen through the Tai yin system. Therefore, these points in this case constitutes both an emotional and physical anchor in this aspect as well.

33.17 (Xin ling) point is a 3 point set named xin ling 心灵” the efficacious heart”, located on the pericardium channel. The target of the points is the pericardium. Their main function is to open the chest and the Luo connecting channel of the heart, thereby treating physical heart problems such as rhythm problems, vascular issues, angina pectoris, and pain in the epigastrium. I use them for their emotional aspect, not only physiologically, as they open the chest, moving qi and blood in the area.

As mentioned, the treatment is designed to raise qi, open the chest and epigastrium, better cope with her emotional condition, and enable her to walk with an “upright back.”

Her reaction immediately after removing the needles surprised me and is described below:

• She felt grounded down on her feet.
• She mentioned a movement between the heart and epigastrium area.
• Throughout the treatment, she did not feel heavy but had mental clarity and physical awareness.
• She felt a movement from bottom to top without heaviness or a sinking feeling.

This is an accurate description of the action of the needles, and it was important for me to point out that the physical meaning of the indications cannot be separated from the emotional function they can perform.