Article 18: Meridians and Acupoints – Key Acupoints and Massage Methods Related to Weight Loss

Meridians and acupoints

The meridian system consists of the twelve regular meridians, the eight extraordinary meridians, the fifteen collateral meridians, the twelve divergent meridians, the twelve muscle meridians, the twelve cutaneous regions, and countless minor collaterals. A detailed explanation would likely be cumbersome and difficult to understand. Simply put, the core of meridian-based weight loss lies in acupoints.

The principle of meridian weight loss is to stimulate relevant acupoints in the human body to unblock blocked meridians, thereby effectively suppressing appetite and reducing food intake in three steps: inhibiting gastrointestinal absorption and reducing the body's energy intake; and promoting energy metabolism and fat decomposition, expelling excess energy and fat from the body through urine, feces, and sweat glands.

The human body has nearly a thousand acupoints. Below, I will introduce a few of the main acupoints related to weight loss:

Tian Shu acupoint

Massaging the Tianshu acupoint has many benefits, including: promoting healthy intestinal peristalsis, enhancing gastric motility, and relieving abdominal distension, borborygmus, periumbilical pain, diarrhea, acute gastroenteritis, childhood diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, cholecystitis, hepatitis, ascites, paralytic ileus, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. It can also alleviate menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, endometritis, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding in women. Furthermore, consistent and correct massage of the Tianshu acupoint can achieve unexpected weight loss effects.

Long-term maintenance and massage of the Tianshu acupoint can ensure intestinal health, remove accumulated stool from the intestines, and easily get rid of excess fat in the abdomen. Peppermint essential oil can be used during the massage to promote intestinal peristalsis.

The Tianshu acupoint is located in the middle of the abdomen, about 2 inches from the navel. Before going to bed, you can use the tips of your two index fingers to simultaneously rub the Tianshu acupoint in a circular motion 50 to 100 times, repeating once in the counterclockwise direction and once in the clockwise direction.

Zhongwan acupoint

The Zhongwan acupoint belongs to the Ren meridian, one of the eight extraordinary meridians. It is the intersection of the Ren meridian, the Hand Taiyang meridian, the Hand Shaoyang meridian, and the Foot Yangming meridian. It has the functions of harmonizing the stomach and spleen, relieving nausea and vomiting, and promoting diuresis. Regularly stimulating the Zhongwan acupoint can not only accelerate gastric peristalsis, help digestion, reduce food sedimentation in the stomach, and resolve obesity caused by fat accumulation due to indigestion, but also enhance the ability of macrophages to engulf pathogenic microorganisms and improve the body's immunity.

The Zhongwan acupoint is located 4 inches above the navel. The best way to stimulate it is with moxibustion: cut thin slices of ginger and heat them over the skin. The ginger juice penetrates the skin through the heat, stimulating the Zhongwan acupoint. If moxibustion is inconvenient, massage can also be used for weight loss.

Xiawan point

The Xiawan acupoint governs the transition of food from initial chewing to actual digestion. If this process is obstructed, it can easily lead to an increase in toxins in the body and poor metabolism, resulting in fat accumulation in the lower abdomen, buttocks, or thighs, making the body bulky.

The Xiawan acupoint is located 2 inches above the navel. Pressing this acupoint with your thumb every day can help food complete the entire process from initial chopping to complete digestion, which is beneficial for overall weight loss.

Neiting point

Neiting (ST44) is the Ying-Spring point of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. Because this point is located between the toes, in a very hidden position, it is like an inner hall covered by a door, hence the name "Neiting" (Inner Court).

The Neiting acupoint has a special function: suppressing appetite. Why is that? To illustrate, imagine an old-fashioned wooden stool. Without nails or other metal for fixing, holes were drilled in the stool's surface, and the legs were threaded through these holes to connect them. This hole is called a mortise or tenon, and the piece of wood inserted into it is called a tenon. The mortise and tenon are interconnected, essentially a mortise and tenon joint. The Neiting acupoint is like this mortise and tenon joint; stimulating it is like putting something in the stomach, thus suppressing appetite. This is just a vivid analogy. In reality, the Neiting acupoint suppresses appetite because pressing it clears stomach heat.

Obese people often have a strong appetite, one reason for which is excessive stomach heat and overly strong digestive ability. Stimulating the Neiting acupoint can reduce excessive heat in the stomach, thereby reducing appetite, decreasing the body's absorption of calories, and achieving the goal of weight loss.

The Neiting acupoint is located in the depression anterior to the junction of the second and third metatarsal bones on the dorsum of the foot. Generally, it is easier to locate the acupoint by sitting upright or lying supine with legs crossed.

Fenglong acupoint

Phlegm-dampness constitution easily leads to bloating and obesity. To solve this type of obesity, it is necessary to first resolve phlegm and dampness, and the corresponding acupoint is Fenglong (ST40). Fenglong (ST40) can resolve phlegm and dampness in the body, just like wringing out the water from a wet towel. Since bloating and obesity are caused by excessive water in the body, choosing Fenglong (ST40) is essential. Massaging this acupoint can expel the turbid dampness from the spleen and stomach like thunder and rain.

Fenglong acupoint is located on the anterolateral aspect of the lower leg, 8 cun above the tip of the lateral malleolus, lateral to Tiaokou acupoint, and 2 finger-widths (middle finger) away from the anterior border of the tibia. Massage method: Place the left (right) lower limb flat on the opposite knee joint, place the tip of the right (left) middle finger on Fenglong acupoint, with the thumb on the opposite side, and pinch firmly for half a minute to one minute. You can also gently tap this acupoint with your fist until the skin naturally turns red, for 5-10 minutes each time, while simultaneously performing abdominal and anal sphincter exercises 20-30 times. To enhance the therapeutic effect, moxibustion can be used to warm the Fenglong acupoint, which will accelerate the evaporation of body fluids and achieve the purpose of expelling dampness. Of course, we should also participate in appropriate physical exercise and maintain a moderate diet, eating less fatty and fried foods.

Some people may experience soreness or distending pain when they first start massaging these acupoints. Pain upon pressure generally indicates an excess condition, possibly due to food stagnation, stomach heat, qi stagnation, or blood stasis. If a particular acupoint is particularly painful during massage, it suggests a problem with the function corresponding to that acupoint. Zhongwan (CV12) is the anterior mu point of the stomach, meaning most of its functions are related to the stomach. If you experience pain at Zhongwan, it indicates a problem with your stomach. However, pain when massaging a particular acupoint can also indicate that you have located it accurately, and consistent massage of that point can have a therapeutic effect on the symptoms.

The key to weight loss through acupressure is consistency; it's crucial to avoid interruptions to achieve long-term weight loss and fitness goals.