April 5, 2024, in the Chinese calendar, marks the beginning of the Yang Earth Dragon month. The Chinese calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day, and hour. The Yang Earth Dragon month extends till May 4, 2024.
The Yang Earth Dragon refers to the 52nd hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. The Yang Earth Dragon is one of the eight sixty-four hexagrams representing the same trigram above and below. Its image is the Mountain trigram below, combined with the Mountain trigram above. The Yang Earth Dragon represents "Stillness". Its nature is damp heat or phlegm heat. These pathologies occur when stagnant energies within the body dominate the body's health. This month coincides with the early stage of the Spring season. When the Yang Earth Dragon occurs in early Spring the influence from Winter's stagnant nature combines with the warmth of Spring, initiating the development of damp heat and phlegm heat. Energetically, this hexagram combines the yang aspect of warmth with the yin quality of dampness. TCM states that the Stomach is the root of all phlegm. Phlegm heat manifests in the upper body while damp heat is found in the middle and lower body.
From our earlier discussion of the Chinese New Year, the current year is a Yang Wood-Dragon. When Yang Wood Dragon combines with Yang Earth Dragon there will be a tendency toward a toxic damp metabolic waste scenario stemming from consuming the wrong foods for the particular season we're in.
The Yang Earth Dragon hexagram:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the stomach is considered one of the most important organs in the body, responsible for the initial stages of digestion. According to TCM principles, its functions extend beyond just digestion, as it plays a significant role in overall health. Here's a breakdown of its functions along with its related meridians, channels, and collaterals, as well as its connections with other organs:
Functions of the Stomach:
Receives and Ripens Food: The stomach receives food and begins the process of digestion by mixing it with stomach acids and enzymes.
Descending and Disseminating: After digestion, the stomach sends the transformed food downwards to the small intestine for further processing.
Transportation and Transformation: The stomach's digestive juices break down food into a form the body can use for nourishment, transforming it into a substance called chyme.
Controls the Intestines: The stomach's downward energy helps to regulate bowel movements and prevent diarrhea.
Meridians, Channels, and Collaterals:
In TCM there are six main channels. One of these is the Yangming channel consisting of the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians and their organs. The Stomach meridian is closely associated with the functions of the stomach and extends along the following regions:
Primary Channel: The Stomach Meridian originates from the lateral side of the nose and runs downwards along the front of the body, passing through the cheek, lower jaw, neck, chest, and abdomen, reaching down to the second toe.
Luo Collateral: The Stomach Meridian also has a luo collateral branch, which connects with the Spleen Meridian, facilitating the communication between the Stomach and Spleen organs.
Connections with Other Organs:
Spleen: In TCM, the Stomach and Spleen belong to the Earth element and are closely related. The Spleen transforms food into nutrients and transports them to various body regions. The Stomach's function of initial digestion complements the Spleen's function of further transforming and distributing nutrients.
Intestines: The Stomach controls the intestines and helps regulate bowel movements, working in harmony with the Large Intestine.
Liver and Gallbladder: The Stomach's downward energy harmonizes with the Liver's function of promoting the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy) throughout the body. Additionally, in cases of digestive disturbances, the Gallbladder Meridian may be affected due to its close relationship with the Stomach Meridian.
Lung: The descending function of the Stomach is also related to the Lung's function of descending Qi, particularly in cases of nausea or vomiting where the Lung's descending function may be impaired.
In TCM, the organs are seen as interconnected in a vast internal network, working together to maintain balance and harmony within the body. The Stomach's functions and its relationships with other organs emphasize the holistic approach of TCM in understanding health and disease.
Damp Heat
Each of the body's organs plays a vital role in TCM theory, not only in physical health but also in maintaining emotional balance and overall well-being. The meridians and channels associated with them are pathways through which the body's vital energy flows, affecting various physiological and psychological functions.
Schedule an acupuncture or herbal appointment
Schedule an Ayurvedic, IPT, Yoga Therapy or HMR consultation
Clinic hours: Tue - Fri 8:00 - 12:00, 1:30 - 6:30
Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon
Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy
