Acid Reflux Disease (Gerd)

Health Issues/Symptoms Connections

"Acid Reflux Disease (Gerd)" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for acid reflux disease (gerd).

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "acid reflux disease (gerd)" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "acid reflux disease (gerd)" - i.e. the "cause(s)".

For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.

Within TCM, "acid reflux disease (gerd)" is potentially related to one or more of the following diagnostic patterns: liver attacking the spleen, stomach cold, stomach dampness, and/or stomach fire.

The above patterns are common examples. In clinical situations, however, there are any number of other possibilities. Many times there will be a layered combination of patterns in an interwoven blend with their symptoms - some being the cause of an issue and the result of another issue. While initially complex, this is illustrative of the the web of relationships that Chinese Medicine is designed to approach.

Some acupuncture points are considered "empirically" related to a specific condition or diagnostic pattern. While this would rarely, if ever, dictate the entire composition of a treatment, the following points should be considered, possibly even more so within the context of acupressure:

  • View EX Huatuojiaji at T6 (Sides of Spine at T6)

        .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of T6

        T6 innervates the diaphragm, used for a range of respiratory issues, asthma, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc..  Also used for esophageal issues (more on the left side) including a supporting role in some types of reflux and other dige…
  • View EX Huatuojiaji at T8 (Sides of Spine at T8)

        .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of T8

        T8 (Left) innervates the esophagus and is used for conditions such as reflux and a range of digestive issues worsened by poor diet and drinking too many fluids with meals.  Also useful as support points for leg and foot problems. T8 (Righ…
  • View EX Huatuojiaji at T9 (Sides of Spine at T9)

        .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of T9

        T9 (Left) innervates the stomach and is used for a range of digestive issues including gas, bloating, ulcers and heartburn as well as stomach cancer. T9 (Right) innervates the liver and is used for a range of physical liver as well as liv…
  • View KD 19 (Yin Metropolis)

        4 cun above CV 8, .5 cun lateral to CV 12.

        Local point for abdominal and intestinal pain. Vomiting, reflux, nausea, bloating - harmonizes stomach. Fertility issues, primarily by moving blood stagnation in the lower warmer.
  • View KD 21 (Dark Gate)

        6 cun above CV 8, .5 cun lateral to CV 14.

        Local point for abdominal and intestinal pain and functional issues. Reflux, vomiting, food stagnation, dystenary - harmonizes stomach. Liver stagnation affecting the breasts - insufficient lactation, breast distention.
  • View KD 23 (Spirit Seal)

        In the 4th ICS 2 cun lateral to CV 17.

        Local Point, generally useful for cough, chest tension, constricted breathing. Vomiting - harmonizes stomach.
  • View KD 25 (Spirit Storehouse)

        In the 2nd ICS 2 cun lateral to CV 19.

        Local Point, generally useful for cough, chest tension, constricted breathing. Vomiting, reflux, digestive issues - harmonize stomach.
  • View LI 18 (Protuberance Assistant)

        Level with the tip of the Adam's Apple between the sternal and clavicular heads of the SCM.

        Window of the Sky Point for sudden loss of voice with qi obstruction in the throat. High blood pressure, for which Window of the Sky Points are sometimes indicated, may also be useful for low blood pressure. Tong Ren/Tam Healing System: …
  • View SP 14 (Abdominal Bind)

        1.3 cun below SP 15 and 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline on the lateral side of rectus abdominus.

        Warms the middle warmer and dissipates cold for lower abdominal pain, diarrhea (from cold), abdominal pain, constipation. Resolves counterflow qi - can be used to subdue fright (i.e. panic attacks) from counterflow qi disrupting the heart…
  • View ST 11 (Qi Abode)

        At the superior border of the clavicle between the sternal and clavicular heads of the sternocleidomastoideus muscle.

        Local point - sore/swollen throat - counterflow qi, cough, hiccups, reflux. Neck pain - pain, inability to turn neck. Tong Ren/Tam Healing System: Main point to open the circulation of the common carotid artery.  Useful for conditions su…
  • View ST 12 (Empty Basin)

        In the midpoint of the supraclavicular fossa, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

        Shoulder pain (esp. that radiates to neck). Neck/throat issues - tightness/pain. Cough, counterflow qi, sore, swollen throat (rebellious lung qi). Internal branch of the ST meridian connects here directly from the Stomach, Spleen & …
  • View ST 19 (Not Contained)

        2 cun lateral to the AML level with CV 14.

        Abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting (rebellious stomach qi). Gastric pain, gall bladder issues. Anorexia, poor appetite.
  • View ST 34 (Beam Hill)

        With knee flexed, 2 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting with the ASIS.

        Lateral knee issues, swelling, pain, difficult movement. Pain, motor control, circulation issues of the knee and/or lower leg. Excess & Acute issues of the Stomach and chest - acute Stomach pain, GERD, vomiting, acute breast pain.
  • View ST 44 (Inner Court)

        Proximal to the web margin between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones, in a depression distal and lateral to the 2nd meta…

        Ying Spring Point - Clears heat from the channel and organ - febrile disease with absence of sweating.  Useful for issues of the Face & Jaw along with LI 4 - toothache, facial pain, bell's palsy, stroke, sore throat, eye pain. Damp H…
  • View UB 17 (Diaphragm Shu)

        1.5 cun lateral to GV 9, level with T7.

        Hui-meeting Point of the Blood, useful for all Blood related conditions. Classically combined with UB 19 to create the "Four Flowers" which is used to nourish the Blood, although in clinical practice UB 18 & UB 19 may used equally as o…
  • View UB 21 (Stomach Shu)

        1.5 cun lateral to GV line, level with T12.

        Main point for all Stomach related issues in TCM diagnostic terms - harmonizes the stomach, transforms damp and resolves stagnation:  food stagnation, abdominal distention, borborygmus, mouth ulcers, vomiting, belching, nausea, etc. Disso…

The Tom Tam/Tong Ren Therapy system can be applied via energy healing/medical qi gong methods as well as an acupuncture component. The acupuncture aspect is generally utilized in combination with more standard TCM diagnostic approaches.

For the specific points/areas that would generally be utilized in someone experiencing "acid reflux disease (gerd)", please read "Tam Healing and Tong Ren Therapy for Acid Reflux Disease (GERD) ".

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