worry and pensiveness which cause stagnation of Qi. Combined with other causes of disease
(such as, for example, excessive lifting, loss of blood in childbirth, or declining Blood and Yin
during the menopause), this may cause stagnation of Liver-Qi and rebellious Qi in the
Penetrating Vessel. The Liver channel courses through the lower abdomen, the stomach,
diaphragm, lungs and throat; the Kidney channel goes through the liver, diaphragm, lungs and
throat. Thus they both go up to the throat where they may cause a feeling of constriction of the
throat. They both also go to the chest where, with stagnation of Qi, they may cause a feeling of
oppression and tightness of the chest. In the chest, they affect Heart and Lungs and therefore
Mind and Corporeal Soul, giving rise to anxiety, palpitations and unhappiness. The "Spiritual
Axis" in chapter 65 says: "The Penetrating and Directing Vessels originate from the uterus, go
up through the spine and form the Sea of chanels ... from the abdomen, they go up to the
throat."74(255) The "Simple Questions" in chapter 60 says: "The Penetrating Vessel rises
through ST-30 Qichong, follows the Kidney channel to the umbilicus and chest where it
scatters."75(256) Thus, rebellious Qi in the Penetrating Vessel affects the Heart causing anxiety,
palpitations and mental confusion.
- ST-30 is an important point of the Penetrating Vessel which emerges at this point coming
from the perineum. The point name means "rushing Qi" or "penetrating Qi" and the
"chong" in its name refers to the Chong Mai, i.e. the Penetrating Vessel. This vessel is
also related to the Bright Yang and the connection takes place through this point. ST-30
is therefore used to subdue rebellious Qi in the Penetrating Vessel affecting not only
lower abdomen, but the whole length of this vessel. - KI-14 also subdues rebellious Qi in the Penetrating Vessel when this affects the lower
abdomen. The name of this point means "four fullnesses" which may refer to a feeling of
fullness of the lower abdomen radiating in all four directions: this feeling of fullness
derives from stagnation of Qi in the Penetrating Vessel. Another meaning of its name is
that the point treats four fullnesses deriving from stagnation of Qi, Blood, food, and
Dampness. - KI-13 is another point along the Penetrating Vessel and it also regulates its Qi by
strengthening its root in the lower abdomen. - LIV-3 subdues rebellious Qi in the Liver channel and settles the Ethereal Soul.
- P-6 also subdues rebellious Qi in the Liver channel, relaxes the chest, calms the Mind,
settles the Ethereal Soul, and relieves unhappiness. - BL-15 and BL-18 regulate Qi of the Heart and Liver channel, move Qi, calm the Mind,
and settle the Ethereal Soul. - SP-6 helps to subdue rebellious Qi by strengthening the root, i.e. Liver and Kidneys.