Overall trajectory of the Spleen channel:
The Spleen channel starts at the inside of the big toe and travels in front of the medial malleolus. Then it ascends through the inside of the leg, knee, and thigh to enter the abdomen and lateral chest. Internally, the Spleen channel enters the Stomach and the Spleen. It passes through the diaphragm, ascends along the esophagus, and spreads below the tongue. The channel ends by entering the Heart.
SP 8, SP 6 and SP 3 are the most common areas of stagnation in the Spleen channel.
SP 8 地机 Earth Pivot
This point is located on the medial margin of the tibia, around 3-4 inches below the knee. The point is right off the bone, not on the bone.
SP 6 三阴交 Three Yin Intersection
This point is located on the medial margin of the tibia, around 3 inches above the medial malleolus. The point is in the fleshy area off the bone. SP 6 is a merging point for the Spleen, Kidney and Liver channels. It's an important point for reproductive and gynecologic health.
SP 3 太白 Supreme White
SP 3 is located at the base of the first metatarsal bone. Another point, SP 4, is one inch behind SP 3. Both points are in the groove between the bone and the muscle. You can work on whichever point that is the most sore and active.
Instructions:
Sitting cross legged with the left ankle balancing on the right thigh, use the knuckle of the pinkie finger to gently tap along the Spleen channel shown in the picture above. Pay special attention to SP 6 and SP 8 areas. Use the thumb to press on the SP 3 and SP 4 area. We can also use Guasha tools to press and stroke the channel.
Stagnation can feel like tenderness, soreness or pain. Or it might just feel slightly different from areas around it. You can work on the congested areas for 5 to 10 minutes daily. It's common to experience redness, swelling, soreness and pain in the area as you massage it with your hands. In fact, the stronger and healthier you are, the more intensity of soreness you will feel. Keep working through the discomfort. This is the key! The blockage usually goes away in 3-5 days.
Working on the Spleen channel can potentially help with:
Low appetite
Constipation/diarrhea
Irregular/painful menstruation
Fatigue
Insomnia
Sore throat
The best time to work on the Spleen channel is 9-11 AM. However, the actual best time to work on any channel is whenever you have time. What matters most is to do it consistently and daily.
The material of this blog is inspired by 敲开健康之门 written by 路新宇. Currently there is no English translation of the book.