Why Am I Exhausted but Can’t Sleep? Heart Blood Deficiency in Chinese Medicine

Why Am I Exhausted but Can’t Sleep? Heart Blood Deficiency in Chinese Medicine

Acupressure Points

There is a particular kind of tiredness that can be very confusing.  You can be absolutely exhausted, longing for sleep, doing all the right things, trying the teas, sprays, routines and relaxation techniques, and still, when your head finally hits the pillow, something inside you simply will not settle.

You are tired, but you are not restored.  You want to switch off, but your body seems unable to make that final journey into deep rest.

In Chinese medicine, that makes me curious about Blood.

Not simply blood as we understand it medically, circulating through our arteries and veins, but Blood in the Chinese medicine sense: nourishment, grounding and substance.

Blood nourishes the body, but it is also understood to nourish the Heart and help give the mind, or Shen, somewhere to rest.

This is where the Chinese medicine pattern called Heart Blood Deficiency becomes interesting.  It is not a medical diagnosis and it does not mean that everyone who cannot sleep has a problem with their blood. It is a traditional way of looking at a group of symptoms and asking whether the body may need more nourishment, restoration and grounding.

Why am I exhausted but unable to sleep?

This blog began with a question sent to my Ask Me Anything podcast:

“I cant sleep, been like it since birth. Been hypnotised by 2 separate people, had NLP, done sleep station through my doctor. Tried most of the teas tablets tinctures & sprays, cbd. Put on sleeping tablets for a week, still didnt sleep. Amytripyline does work though, but i dont want to have to take it.”

This is clearly not somebody who has simply had three bad nights.

When sleep difficulty has been present for years, there can be many contributing factors, and persistent insomnia deserves proper medical assessment.  If you take amitriptyline or any other prescribed medication, please discuss any changes with the doctor who prescribed it. The acupressure, food and Qi Gong ideas in this article are supportive practices, not replacements for medical treatment.

But this question gives us an opportunity to look more deeply at something I have touched on in my last two articles: the relationship between the Heart, Blood, Shen, sleep and menopause.

From the Bao Mai to Heart Blood

Over the last two Ask Me Anything articles, we explored the Bao Mai, the connection between the Heart and the womb in Chinese medicine.

In Menopause on Fire? Anxiety and Chest Heat in Chinese Medicine, I looked at what can happen when the changing movement of energy during menopause becomes hot, rushed or unsettled. (Menopause on Fire: Anxiety and Chest Heat in Chinese Medicine)

Then in Anxiety & Bad Dreams from a Chinese Medicine Perspective, we went further into the relationship between Blood, the Heart and Shen, particularly when anxiety and disturbed dreams appear around the menstrual cycle. (Anxiety & Bad Dreams from a Chinese Medicine Perspective)

This time I want to stay with the Heart itself and ask:

What is Heart Blood Deficiency in Chinese medicine?

In Chinese medicine, Heart Blood Deficiency describes a pattern in which the Heart is considered insufficiently nourished by Blood.

Again, this is a Chinese medicine framework rather than a Western medical diagnosis.

Someone fitting this pattern might experience a combination of:

  • * feeling exhausted yet unable to settle
  • * light or broken sleep
  • * vivid or excessive dreaming
  • * a busy mind at night
  • * forgetfulness or poor concentration
  • * feeling easily startled or emotionally unsettled
  • * dizziness
  • * palpitations
  • * a general sense of being depleted or ungrounded

These symptoms can have many possible medical causes, so this list should never be used to diagnose yourself.

What is the Shen and why does it matter for sleep?

The word Shen is often translated as spirit, but that can make it sound much more mystical than it needs to be. 

I think of Shen as the quality of consciousness and presence you recognise in somebody.

Are they present? Can they connect? Can they rest? Can the mind become quiet when quiet is needed? Can they experience joy?

In Chinese medicine, the Heart houses the Shen, and Blood helps to anchor and nourish it. I sometimes describe this as a bird needing a nest.

You can keep telling the bird to settle down, but if the nest is thin, uncomfortable or not properly supporting it, settling becomes much more difficult.

Why good sleep may begin with digestion

Chinese medicine maps the body through the Five Elements.

Spring relates to Wood and the Liver, movement, flexibility and flow.

Summer relates to Fire and the Heart, warmth, connection, joy and sleep.

Late summer relates to Earth, particularly the Stomach and Spleen, nourishment and digestion.

Autumn brings Metal, the Lung and Large Intestine.

Winter brings Water and the Kidney system, rest and deeper reserves.

When we talk about Heart Blood, Fire and Earth have to talk to each other.

Within Chinese medicine, the Stomach and Spleen are central to receiving food and transforming it into usable nourishment from which Qi and Blood can be supported.

That is why simply eating “healthy food” is not the entire picture.

Are you sitting down to eat?  Are you rushing?  Skipping meals?

Eating while standing at the kitchen counter?  Eating while answering emails?

Eating dinner while simultaneously watching television, scrolling and worrying about tomorrow?

The quality of what we eat matters, but so does our ability to receive it.

I often describe Earth as the kitchen in the middle of the body.

It receives what comes in and turns it into something we can actually use.

So from a Chinese medicine point of view, good sleep does not necessarily begin at bedtime. It may begin with how well we nourish ourselves throughout the day.

ST36 for nourishment and energy

The first acupressure point I like for this conversation is Stomach 36, or ST36.  Three mile point

It is one of the points I return to again and again because it connects us with the Earth element, digestion, nourishment and our ability to sustain ourselves.

To find ST36, sit comfortably and find the bottom edge of your kneecap.

Move approximately four finger-widths down the leg, then move slightly to the outside of the shin bone into the muscle.

Do not press directly onto the bone.

Explore the area gently.

When you find the point, you may notice a comfortable tenderness or a dull, satisfying ache. It should never feel sharp or make you want to pull your leg away.

Use a finger or thumb and apply gentle, steady pressure.

Thirty seconds is useful,  A minute is lovely.  You can remain there for up to two or three minutes if it feels pleasant.

Consistency matters much more than intensity.

In this Heart Blood conversation, I think of ST36 as asking:

Can I receive nourishment? Can I transform it? Can I make energy available?

Heart 7 to settle the Heart and Shen

Then we come to Heart 7, or HT7.  Spirit Gate

Heart 7 is located at the wrist crease on the little-finger side of the wrist.

Turn your palm upwards and follow the little-finger side down towards the wrist. At the crease, beside the tendon, you will find a small soft hollow.

Explore rather than attack.  The point may feel slightly tender, warm, achy or simply calming when touched.  Use gentle, steady contact for around 30 seconds to a minute. You can stay a little longer if it feels comfortable.

I like ST36 and Heart 7 together because they tell the whole story beautifully.

ST36 asks:  Can we build and receive nourishment?  Heart 7 asks:  Can the Heart settle into what is available?

One reminds us about resources.  The other reminds us about rest. A simple way to remember them is to use them when you take your socks off in the evening.

ST36 first on each leg.  Then Heart 7 on each wrist.  Good self-care is much easier to maintain when we attach it to something we already do every day.

What foods help build Blood in Chinese medicine?

When we talk about building Blood through food, I do not want you to start searching for one magical ingredient.

I prefer to look at the wider picture of nourishment.

Foods I think about include: dark leafy green vegetables, beetroot, carrots and other root vegetables, beans and pulses, eggs, good quality animal foods for people who eat them and slow-cooked bone and marrow stocks.

These foods can form part of a nourishing diet, but the Chinese medicine emphasis is not simply on eating one particular food because somebody has labelled it a “Blood food”.

The question is also:  Can the digestive system receive and transform that nourishment?

Why I particularly like beetroot

Beetroot is one of my favourite foods to work with in Five Element cooking.

There are lots of beetroot recipes in both of my cookbooks, Shiatsu & The Art of Conscious Cooking and Good Food: Better Sex.

The particular recipe I am thinking about for this Heart Blood discussion is from Good Food: Better Sex.

It combines matchsticks of beetroot with red onion, garlic, a little wakame or dillisk seaweed, balsamic vinegar, mirin, olive oil, black pepper and black and white sesame seeds.

It is colourful, nourishing and, most importantly, it is actual food that you can enjoy.

You gently soften the onion first, add the garlic, beetroot and seaweed, add a little water and allow the beetroot to cook before finishing with balsamic vinegar, mirin, olive oil, pepper and sesame seeds.

Make a batch and have a small portion alongside a meal during the week.

Rather than only asking what you need to cut out of your diet, notice what happens when you deliberately add something nourishing to the plate.

If you enjoy understanding food through the Five Elements, there are lots more beetroot dishes and other recipes in both of my cookbooks. They were written to make Chinese food medicine usable in an ordinary kitchen rather than leaving it as a theory. Explore my Five Element cookbooks

And if you are particularly interested in the beetroot recipe I have mentioned here, you will find it in Good Food: Better Sex. See Good Food: Better Sex

Why Qi needs to move Blood

Building Blood does not mean we want the body to become heavy or static.

Blood also needs to circulate.  One of the simple principles we use in Chinese medicine is:

Qi moves Blood.

That is why I also want to include a very gentle Qi Gong exercise. The aim is to encourage movement without draining your reserves.

La Qi, or Pulling Qi

The Qi Gong movement I recommend here is La Qi, or Pulling Qi.

Bring your hands in front of the lower abdomen or chest with the palms facing one another, as though you are holding a soft ball.

Slowly draw the hands apart.

Then gently bring them closer together again without allowing them to touch.

Keep your shoulders relaxed, your elbows soft, the breath easy and unforced.

Continue for two or three minutes.

You may begin to notice warmth, tingling or a feeling of connection between the palms.  You do not have to manufacture any particular sensation.  Simply notice what is there.

In Chinese medicine terms, we are encouraging Qi to move. Because Qi moves Blood, this quiet movement gives us another way of supporting circulation while also giving the mind something calm and rhythmic to settle into.

If you practise it in the evening and tend to be sensitive to stimulation, keep the movement particularly slow and gentle.

If I am exhausted, shouldn’t I just rest?

Sometimes, absolutely.  Rest is medicine. But there is also a kind of exhaustion where being completely still all day can leave us feeling more stuck. 

A few minutes of gentle movement may help us feel warmer, clearer and more connected without demanding a large amount of energy.

The best guide is how you feel afterwards. Do you feel a little warmer?  Are your shoulders softer? Is your breathing easier?  Do you feel more settled in your body?

That is very different from finishing wiped out, shaky or needing to recover. The body gives feedback. We can learn to listen to that feedback without immediately judging ourselves or deciding that we have done something wrong.

This is also how we practise Qi Gong together in Chi Flow with Jo. The purpose is not to push the body into exhaustion. We use gentle movement, food medicine and acupressure to work with energy, mobility, balance, flexibility and everyday wellbeing. Explore Chi Flow with Jo or try the free class

When to speak to your GP

Long-term insomnia can have many causes, and persistent or changing sleep problems deserve proper medical assessment.  Please speak to your GP if symptoms worsen or spread, if you develop new night waking or new symptoms, or if anything changes with your medication.  Do not stop or alter amitriptyline or other prescribed medication without discussing it with your prescriber.  New or significant palpitations, fainting, breathlessness or chest pain also need appropriate medical assessment rather than being assumed to be part of a Chinese medicine pattern.

Final thought

If you would like to practise this kind of work with me in a steady, supported way, come into the Chi Flow membership. It is €39 a month, and after the three-month trial it becomes €20 a month, so you can keep building these small rhythms through the seasons with guidance, community and practice.

Ready to Start?

Join Chi Flow with Jo and begin restoring your energy, and feeling more like yourself again.

Clear

EUR (€) ^

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Heart Blood Deficiency in Chinese medicine?

Heart Blood Deficiency is a traditional Chinese medicine pattern describing a situation in which the Heart is considered insufficiently nourished by Blood. It may be associated with light or disturbed sleep, vivid dreams, tiredness, restlessness, poor concentration, dizziness or palpitations. It is not the same as a Western medical diagnosis or a blood-test result.

Can Heart Blood Deficiency cause insomnia?

Within Chinese medicine theory, insufficient Heart Blood may make it more difficult for the Shen, or mind/spirit, to settle at night. This can be used as one possible framework for understanding light sleep, frequent waking, vivid dreaming or feeling exhausted but restless. Persistent insomnia should still be medically assessed.

Why am I exhausted but wide awake at night?

There are many possible reasons for feeling exhausted but unable to sleep. In Chinese medicine, one pattern practitioners may explore is whether the Heart and Shen are sufficiently nourished and anchored by Blood. Stress, digestion, menopause, lifestyle and other health factors may also form part of the wider picture.

What are the signs of Heart Blood Deficiency?

Traditional Chinese medicine may associate Heart Blood Deficiency with disturbed or light sleep, vivid dreams, fatigue, restlessness, poor memory or concentration, dizziness, palpitations and a feeling of emotional fragility. These symptoms can have many causes and should not be used to self-diagnose.

What is the Shen?

Shen is commonly translated as spirit or mind in Chinese medicine. It refers to our awareness, presence and capacity to feel settled and connected. The Heart is said to house the Shen, while Blood helps nourish and anchor it.

Which acupressure points can support Heart Blood?

Two points I like to use in this context are ST36 and Heart 7. ST36 relates to the Earth system and nourishment, while Heart 7 offers gentle contact with the Heart and Shen. Use comfortable, steady pressure for around 30 seconds to three minutes. Pressure should never be sharp or painful.

Where is Stomach 36?

ST36 is found approximately four finger-widths below the bottom of the kneecap and slightly outside the shin bone in the muscle. Explore gently until you find an area that may feel comfortably tender or achy rather than sharp.

Where is Heart 7?

Heart 7 is located at the wrist crease on the little-finger side of the wrist, in a small hollow beside the tendon. Use gentle steady contact rather than digging into the point.

What foods support Blood in Chinese medicine?

Chinese food therapy often includes nourishing foods such as dark leafy greens, beetroot, carrots and other root vegetables, beans, pulses, eggs, animal foods where appropriate, and slow-cooked bone or marrow stocks. The wider emphasis is on regular nourishment and the body’s ability to receive and transform food rather than relying on one “magic” ingredient.

Is beetroot good for Heart Blood?

I use beetroot frequently in Five Element cooking because it fits beautifully into a nourishing approach to food. There are numerous beetroot recipes in both Good Food: Better Sex and Shiatsu & The Art of Conscious Cooking. It should be thought of as one part of a varied diet rather than a treatment for insomnia or a medical blood condition.

What Qi Gong exercise can I use when I am tired but restless?

La Qi, or Pulling Qi, is a simple option. Hold your palms facing one another, slowly separate them and gently bring them together again without touching. Keep the shoulders relaxed, elbows soft and breathing easy for two or three minutes. The aim is to feel gently warmer and more settled, not tired from exercise.

Go Deeper with Our Books

For those wanting to understand how movement, breath, and Chinese Medicine principles, Jo’s books provide practical guidance rooted in lived experience and clinical wisdom.

👉 Buy Five Element Wisdom cookbooks

Explore how to Find Your Flow and Live Well with Parkinson’s.

Movement does not need to be extreme to be powerful. Small daily expansion reshapes the body. Steady breath reshapes the nervous system. Gentle repetition rebuilds confidence.

Every human body carries extraordinary capacity for renewal when given the right rhythm.

If you want to soften into strength, come and practice with us.

When to seek medical help

Please speak to your GP or specialist if symptoms worsen or spread, if pain, itching, heat or anxiety starts waking you at night, if you notice new skin changes, lumps, thickening, ulceration or bleeding, if your prescribed treatment is not helping, or if there is any change in medication.

And if you ever have chest pain that feels severe, crushing, unusual, or comes with breathlessness, sweating, faintness, jaw pain or arm pain, seek urgent medical help. Chinese medicine and home practices can support the terrain of the body, but they do not replace diagnosis or medical treatment.

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.

Topics: Breathwork, Parkinson’s support, sleep practices, Qi Gong, acupressure.

 Joanne Faulkner is a Qi Gong teacher – Chi Flow with Jo – teaching live daily online Qi Gong classes to hundreds of people; a Shiatsu practitioner specializing in the energy of food in Traditional Chinese Medicine and a published Author. Her residential and day Wellness Retreats focus on Chi Gong, self-Shiatsu & Conscious Cooking Demonstrations, and are extremely popular.

Until recently, Joanne was the Irish representative to the European Shiatsu Federation and is the former Chairperson of the Shiatsu Society Ireland.

 “Good Food: Better Sex” and “Shiatsu & the Art of Conscious Cooking” , both written and published by Joanne, are modern cookbooks full of delicious recipes, Traditional Chinese Medicine plus acupressure points for health and wellbeing.

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Anxiety & Bad Dreams from a Chinese Medicine Perspective

Anxiety & Bad Dreams from a Chinese Medicine Perspective

Ask Me Anything

You know the tools. You understand your thoughts. You can name the patterns before they fully arrive. And yet, every single month, about ten days before your period, anxiety appears. Sleep becomes disturbed. Dreams take a darker turn. Your calves fill with fluid. You reach for sugar or salt. And the person you are for the rest of the month quietly steps aside.

That is the question I received recently from a cognitive behavioural health practitioner in her fifties who still has a regular 27-day cycle and who described, with remarkable precision, exactly where in the month her body changes. She feels completely well for the larger part of the month. Then the window opens, and all of this arrives together.

The timing is the most important piece of information here. When anxiety, disturbed sleep, cravings and fluid retention appear and disappear in rhythm with a menstrual cycle, they are not random. They are the body communicating something about a particular phase of that cycle. That does not make the anxiety less real. It makes it more specific, which means we have somewhere to begin.

What Chinese Medicine Sees in This Pattern

 

Western medicine tends to treat each of these symptoms separately. Chinese medicine looks at the pattern they form together, particularly the timing.

In Chinese medicine, the Shen, which we might translate as spirit or awareness, rests in the Heart and is anchored by the Blood. When the Blood is sufficiently nourishing, the Shen settles at night. Sleep is generally steady, dreams are ordinary, and the mind feels quiet enough.

In the days before a period, the body is already beginning to gather and prepare Blood for menstruation. If the Blood is relatively depleted, or is not moving smoothly through the system, there may be less available to nourish the Heart and hold the Shen. The result can be vivid or distressing dreams, a kind of ambient restlessness that has no obvious cause, and anxiety that arrives not from a thought but from the body itself.

This is not a diagnosis. It is the pattern I would want to explore more fully in a proper consultation. But it does offer a useful lens.

Alongside this, the grief she mentioned deserves attention. In Chinese medicine, grief affects the Lung energy system. When grief sits unresolved in the chest, the breath can become shorter and remain high. The body interprets that as threat. Fight-or-flight rises, and this adds another layer to the anxiety already present.

These are not separate problems. They are the same system under pressure.

The Bao Mai: Connecting Chest and Lower Abdomen

I want to introduce a concept I have written about before, because it feels directly relevant here.

The Bao Mai is described in Chinese medicine as a connection between the uterus and the Heart. You can think of it as the channel of communication between the lower physical centre of the body and the emotional centre in the chest.

When that communication is flowing, emotions can be felt without flooding the whole system. The body can change without the mind going immediately into alarm.

When the connection feels congested, the lower abdomen can feel heavy or stuck while the chest becomes tight and restless. That description maps quite closely onto what was described in the question.

For the acupressure practice, we work with two points along this central line: CV6 and CV17. Although there are two locations, this is one joined practice. You are simply restoring awareness along the connection.

CV6 sits on the midline of the lower abdomen, approximately two finger widths below the belly button. Place a palm or two or three soft fingertips there. Use enough pressure to create a comfortable sense of contact, never sharp, never forceful.

CV17 sits in the centre of the breastbone, level with the centre of the chest. Place the other palm or a few relaxed fingertips there.

Now allow your attention to travel between your hands. Inhale and let the belly rise, allowing the energy to travel upward towards the chest.

Exhale and allow the energy to descend back into the lower abdomen, the lower Dantian. Stay with gentle, steady contact for between thirty seconds and three minutes. Consistency matters far more than duration.

This is particularly useful as a pre-sleep practice during the ten days when the pattern tends to appear. If you wake from a distressing dream, return to the same position rather than analysing the dream in the dark. You are reminding the body that the chest and lower abdomen are still connected.

The Movement: Embrace Mountain

The Qi Gong movement I am choosing here is Embrace Mountain, the second movement from Shibashi.

Stand with feet comfortably apart and knees soft. Allow the arms to float forwards and open as though you are gently holding the shape of a wide mountain.

Three things matter. Keep the feet rooted and the knees easy. Let the arms remain rounded, with space under the armpits and no strain in the shoulders. Let the movement follow an unhurried breath, opening without reaching, returning without collapsing.

As the arms open, inhale into the lower belly and feel the centre of the chest becoming spacious. As they return, exhale and allow the attention to gather towards the lower abdomen. Hold the awareness of the Bao Mai the whole time, energy rising on the inhale, descending and settling on the exhale.

Two to five minutes is enough. Stop before fatigue. The felt outcome you are looking for is a little more room in the chest, more weight through the feet, softer shoulders and a sense that the energy which had been gathering upward can settle.

This movement is fitting for someone who already spends much of their working life holding space for others. When your own system becomes overwhelmed, the mountain offers a different model. The mountain does not argue with the weather. It stays present while the weather passes.

The Food: Barley Water

Barley water. In Five Element food medicine, barley has a gently cooling, moistening quality. It supports the Kidney and Bladder energetic system, which governs fluids, hormones and bones. It addresses that dragging, heavy, full feeling that can accompany the days before a period.

To make it: approximately 50 grams of wholegrain pot barley or pearl barley, two litres of water, half a lemon, a small pinch of salt. A little wakame or dillisk seaweed is optional. Bring it to the boil with the lid on, reduce the heat and simmer gently for about an hour. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing the barley lightly to let the cloudy liquid through. Keep it in the fridge for up to five days. Take roughly one part barley water topped with two parts hot water, warm enough to drink comfortably. One measure in the morning and one later in the day is enough. Save the cooked barley for soup, salad or stew.

Begin without sweetening it. Because cravings for sweet things are already part of the pattern, keep this as a neutral, nourishing drink rather than something that triggers more wanting.

She mentioned that salt makes things worse. Salt can contribute to fluid retention, but there is a meaningful difference between a small pinch used in cooking and the larger amounts hidden in processed foods, crisps and savoury snacks. The aim is awareness, not fear. In Chinese medicine, the salty flavour belongs to the Kidney and Bladder system. It has a gathering, descending quality. Your body may be craving it precisely because the energy needs anchoring downward.

A Note on the Calves and Timing

The swelling in the calves deserves proper attention. Premenstrual fluid retention is common, but please do not assume that is the only possible cause. Mention the exact timing, the anxiety, the disturbed sleep, the cravings and the calf swelling to your GP as a connected pattern rather than separate complaints. A clear picture helps them consider premenstrual disorder, perimenopause and other possible causes. If one calf becomes more swollen than the other, or becomes hot, red, painful or tender, seek urgent medical help.

These practices are supportive. They are not a replacement for a proper medical review, and they are not a test of whether you are applying Chinese medicine correctly.

The rest of the month, you feel like yourself. That matters. Begin the acupressure, the movement and the barley water a few days before the usual window opens. Let the body recognise what is coming and already have something familiar to meet it with.

And please offer yourself some kindness around the grief eating. Grief changes appetite. Food may have been helping you survive a hard time. We can respect that while slowly building

Final thought

To every woman in peri-menopause, menopause or post-menopause: your body is giving you feedback about flow, cooling, nourishment, boundaries, rest and rhythm. You do not have to decode it perfectly. You only have to begin responding more kindly.

And if you would like to practise this kind of work with me in a steady, supported way, come into the Chi Flow membership. It is €39 a month, and after the three-month trial it becomes €20 a month, so you can keep building these small rhythms through the seasons with guidance, community and practice.

Ready to Start?

Join Chi Flow with Jo and begin restoring your energy, and feeling more like yourself again.

Clear

EUR (€) ^

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why do I get anxiety before my period?

Anxiety before a period may be linked to changes taking place during the premenstrual phase of the cycle. Some women notice anxiety, disturbed sleep, cravings, irritability or physical tension in the days before bleeding begins. From a Chinese medicine perspective, this may also suggest that Blood is not sufficiently nourishing and settling the Heart and Shen.

Why do I have bad dreams before my period?

Bad dreams or vivid dreams before a period may appear alongside disrupted sleep, anxiety and emotional sensitivity. In Chinese medicine, the Shen, or spirit, is said to rest in the Heart and be anchored by the Blood. When the Blood is not strong enough to settle the Shen, sleep may become restless and dreams may feel more intense.

Can menopause cause anxiety and bad dreams?

Menopause can be associated with changes in mood, sleep and the menstrual cycle. Some women experience anxiety, vivid dreams, night waking or a stronger reaction to stress even while their periods remain regular. New or worsening symptoms should be discussed with a GP.

Can I be in menopause if my periods are still regular?

Yes, it is possible to experience perimenopausal symptoms while periods are still arriving regularly. The transition is different for every woman, so age and symptoms should be considered alongside changes in the cycle, sleep, temperature, mood and general wellbeing.

What is Heart Blood deficiency in Chinese medicine?

Heart Blood deficiency is a traditional Chinese medicine pattern associated with insufficient nourishment of the Heart and Shen. It may be considered when symptoms include anxiety, disturbed sleep, vivid dreams, palpitations, tiredness, poor concentration or a sense of emotional vulnerability. A full Chinese medicine diagnosis normally considers the complete symptom picture, tongue and pulse.

Why do I crave sugar and salt before my period?

Cravings may become stronger when the body is tired, stressed, grieving or approaching menstruation. Sugar may offer a quick sense of comfort or energy, while salty foods can feel grounding. Rather than relying only on willpower, regular nourishing meals, adequate protein, rest and hydration may help reduce the intensity of cravings.

Can stress and grief cause emotional eating?

Stress and grief can change appetite, sleep and the need for comfort. Emotional eating is often an attempt to regulate distress rather than a simple lack of self-control. Exploring what the grief needs, while adding supportive food, breath and movement practices, may be more helpful than strict restriction.

Why do my calves retain water before my period?

Fluid retention can occur before a period and may affect the legs, abdomen or breasts. In Chinese medicine, heaviness and fluid accumulation may be considered in relation to the Kidney, Bladder and Spleen energy systems. Persistent, painful or one-sided swelling should always be medically assessed.

Which acupressure points may support anxiety before a period?

CV17, at the centre of the chest, and CV6, below the navel, can be used together as a gentle calming practice. One hand rests over each area while the breath moves softly into the chest and then descends towards the lower abdomen. Pressure should remain gentle and comfortable for around 30 seconds to three minutes.

What is the Bao Mai in Chinese medicine?

The Bao Mai is traditionally described as a connection between the uterus and the Heart. It offers a way of understanding communication between the lower abdomen, menstrual cycle and emotional life. When this connection feels obstructed, there may be lower abdominal tension alongside anxiety, chest tightness or emotional unrest.

How do I breathe to help settle anxiety?

Place one hand over the centre of the chest and the other below the navel. Allow the inhale to open the chest gently, then lengthen the exhale and imagine the breath descending towards the lower hand. Keep the jaw soft, shoulders relaxed and breathing unforced.

Can barley water help with water retention?

Barley water is traditionally used as a gentle, hydrating food drink. From a Five Element food perspective, it may support the Kidney and Bladder energy systems and encourage fluid movement. It is not a medical diuretic or a treatment for unexplained swelling.

How can I build Blood in Chinese medicine?

Regular nourishing meals, adequate protein, leafy greens, beans, lentils, eggs, beetroot, broths and slow-cooked foods may be included as part of a balanced diet. Rest, good digestion and avoiding excessive restriction are also important. Heavy periods, persistent tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness should be discussed with a GP.

Go Deeper with Our Books

For those wanting to understand how movement, breath, and Chinese Medicine principles, Jo’s books provide practical guidance rooted in lived experience and clinical wisdom.

👉 Buy Five Element Wisdom cookbooks

Explore how to Find Your Flow and Live Well with Parkinson’s.

Movement does not need to be extreme to be powerful.
Small daily expansion reshapes the body.
Steady breath reshapes the nervous system.
Gentle repetition rebuilds confidence.

Every human body carries extraordinary capacity for renewal when given the right rhythm.

If you want to soften into strength, come and practice with us.

When to seek medical help

Please speak to your GP or specialist if symptoms worsen or spread, if pain, itching, heat or anxiety starts waking you at night, if you notice new skin changes, lumps, thickening, ulceration or bleeding, if your prescribed treatment is not helping, or if there is any change in medication.

And if you ever have chest pain that feels severe, crushing, unusual, or comes with breathlessness, sweating, faintness, jaw pain or arm pain, seek urgent medical help.

Chinese medicine and home practices can support the terrain of the body, but they do not replace diagnosis or medical treatment.

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.

Topics: Breathwork, Parkinson’s support, sleep practices, Qi Gong, acupressure.

Jaw, Neck, Back and Hip Pain All at Once?

Jaw, Neck, Back and Hip Pain All at Once?

Ask Me Anything

 A Simple Whole-Body Approach That Works

When the jaw, neck, back, and hips all start calling for attention at the same time, it can feel confusing and overwhelming.

It is not just one area.
 It is everything, tight yet weak, tired yet wired, with tension that keeps returning no matter what you try.

This pattern and combination is something I see often, especially in people dealing with fatigue, nerve sensitivity, or conditions like TMJ, back pain, or Parkinson’s.

And the truth is, this is not four separate problems. It is one connected system asking for support.

Why Everything Feels Tight and Weak at the Same Time

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, everything comes back to one question.

Is energy flowing, or is it stuck?

When the body is under pressure, it begins to brace.

  • The jaw clenches
  • The neck tightens
  • The shoulders lift
  • The back locks
  • The hips grip

Underneath all of that, the body feels weak because energy is being used to guard, not support.

So instead of chasing each area separately, we look at the whole chain.

Very often, the jaw and base of the skull act like a “top gate.”
 If this area is tight, everything below starts compensating.

A Simple Acupressure Practice to Release Tension

Rather than doing more and more, start with less, done consistently.

Stomach 7 (Jaw Point)

  • Located just in front of the ear where the jaw moves
  • Gently press into the hollow while relaxing the mouth

Stomach 7 is one of my favourite points because its effects often extend far beyond the jaw itself. While it is commonly used for TMJ discomfort, clenching, grinding, and facial tension, it also helps address the compensation patterns that develop throughout the body when the jaw becomes chronically tight. 

The jaw is closely linked to the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back. When we clench, we rarely do it in isolation. We tend to lift the shoulders, tighten the neck, hold the breath, and brace through the spine. By gently releasing Stomach 7, many people notice not only a softer jaw but also less tension around the temples, improved comfort around the ears, freer neck movement, deeper breathing, and a greater sense of relaxation through the shoulders. 

In Chinese Medicine, the Stomach channel travels through the face and head, making this point particularly useful for reducing the feeling of being “held tight” through the entire upper body. I often find that when the jaw begins to let go, the neck follows, and when the neck softens, the rest of the body has an opportunity to reorganise itself with less effort.

Gall Bladder 20 (Base of Skull)

  • Found at the base of the skull, in two soft hollows either side
  • Apply steady, gentle pressure with the thumbs

Gall Bladder 20 is one of the most important points for people who carry tension in the neck, jaw, shoulders, and head. Located in the two hollows at the base of the skull, it sits at a key meeting point between the head and the rest of the body. When this area becomes tight, it can create a feeling of pressure, pulling, heaviness, or congestion that radiates into the jaw, temples, neck, and upper back. 

In Chinese Medicine, Gall Bladder 20 is traditionally used to encourage the smooth flow of energy through the head and neck, helping to release stagnation and restore movement where things have become stuck. Many people notice reduced head pressure, less neck stiffness, easier head movement, and a greater sense of mental clarity after working this point gently. 

Because so many muscles attach around the base of the skull, releasing this area can also improve posture and reduce the strain travelling down through the spine. I often describe Gall Bladder 20 as opening the “top gate” of the body. When the base of the skull relaxes, the shoulders can drop, the breath can deepen, the jaw can soften, and the back and hips no longer need to work quite so hard to compensate. 

For people experiencing that combination of tightness, fatigue, tension, and a feeling of being pulled out of alignment, Gall Bladder 20 can be one of the most powerful points for helping the entire body feel more connected and at ease.

This complements the Stomach 7 paragraph perfectly because ST7 addresses the front of the jaw mechanism, while GB20 addresses the back of the jaw-neck-head relationship, giving readers a much clearer understanding of why you use the two points together.

How to use them together

  • 30 seconds on Stomach 7 each side

  • 1 minute on Gall Bladder 20
  • Keep the breath slow, jaw relaxed, shoulders soft

This is not about force.
 With nerve sensitivity and TMJ, the body responds better to softness.

  • Let the tongue rest softly in the mouth
  • Let the eyes soften, as if looking into the distance
  • Allow the jaw to hang naturally, not clench

Link this practice to something you already do, washing your face, removing earrings, or sitting down in the evening so that it is a daily connection to your body and it’s alignment. That is how the body learns and how it changes.

Food That Supports Nerves, Energy and Release

When the body feels tight but weak, we look at nourishment.

In Chinese Medicine, this often points to a need to support:

  • Blood, which nourishes muscles and nerves
  • Yin and fluids, which calm and soften
  • The Spleen, which creates energy and stability

A simple, powerful option is:

Spinach and Sweet Potato Soup

Why it works

  • Sweet potato supports digestion and energy production
  • Spinach nourishes the blood and tissues
  • Warm, soft food helps the body move out of stress mode.Simple method
    Cook chopped sweet potato in stock until soft, add spinach at the end, blend, and finish with olive oil and a pinch of salt.

If you want to go deeper into how food connects to your body and symptoms, you will find the full Five Element system in my books and if you have Parkinson’s like my husband, Davy, take a look at the dedicated section on food in  Find Your Flow, Live Well with Parkinson’s

Gentle Qi Gong for Alignment and Relief

Watch the movements demonstrated in the full podcast video below

1. Connect Heaven and Earth

This movement gently lengthens the spine and reduces pressure at the base of the skull.

It helps:

  • Ease jaw tension
  • Reduce head pressure
  • Support posture without force

2. Embrace the Tree

This is one of the most powerful ways to feel whole-body alignment.

  • The chest softens / The head lifts gently / The spine lengthens / The weight drops into the feet

Like a tree, strong yet flexible.  This allows the jaw to soften, the neck to decompress, and the back and hips to share the load evenly.

Practice tip
 Just 2 to 3 minutes is enough.
 Stop before fatigue.
 The goal is not effort, it is ease.

“A living being is tender and flexible;  a corpse is hard and stiff.

It is the same with everything; leaves and grasses are tender and delicate, but when they die they become rigid and dry. Those who are hard and inflexible belong to death’s domain; but the gentle and flexible belong to life.”

What Real Alignment Feels Like

Alignment is not about forcing posture.

It is not:  Shoulders back, Chest out, Belly tight

That often increases tension.

Real alignment feels like support with less effort.

  • The head balances over the ribs
  • The ribs soften over the pelvis
  • The pelvis rests over the feet
  • The breath moves freely
  • The jaw lets go

This is where the body begins to feel safe again.

Practise With Me

If this resonates, come and practise with us inside Chi Flow with Jo.

A steady rhythm, simple daily LIVE classes, and a supportive community can help you reconnect with your body without overwhelm.  Because healing does not come from doing more.  It comes from doing the right things, gently, and consistently.

With Chi Flow with Jo, you will get:

  • Weekday live classes
  • Recordings you can follow anytime
  • Q&A support
  • Acupoints, food tips, and guidance
  • A community moving with you

💛 It’s €39/month, reducing to €20 after your first 3 months.

Ready to Start?

Join Chi Flow with Jo and begin restoring your energy, and feeling more like yourself again.

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    • 1. Why do my jaw, neck, back and hips all hurt at the same time?

    • Because the body works as one connected system. When tension builds at the top, especially around the jaw and base of the skull, it creates compensation patterns through the spine, back, and hips.

    • 2. Is it better to stretch or strengthen when I feel tight but weak?
    • Neither aggressively. When the body feels both tight and weak, it is often in a protective state. Gentle acupressure, soft movement, and nourishment help restore balance before stretching or strengthening becomes effective.

    • 3. Can food really help with nerve pain and tension?

    • Yes. In Chinese Medicine, food supports the internal environment of the body. Warm, nourishing foods help build blood, calm the nervous system, and reduce the “tight but weak” feeling by giving the body the resources it needs to relax and repair.

  • When to Seek Medical Support
  • If you are experiencing:
      • High heart rate
      • Persistent head pressure
      • Weakness or nerve symptoms
      • Changes in medication response

      • Please speak with your GP.  These practices work beautifully alongside medical care, not instead of it.

Go Deeper with Our Books

For those wanting to understand how movement, breath, and Chinese Medicine principles, Jo’s books provide practical guidance rooted in lived experience and clinical wisdom.

👉 Buy Five Element Wisdom cookbooks

Explore how to Find Your Flow and Live Well with Parkinson’s.

Movement does not need to be extreme to be powerful.
Small daily expansion reshapes the body.
Steady breath reshapes the nervous system.
Gentle repetition rebuilds confidence.

Every human body carries extraordinary capacity for renewal when given the right rhythm.

If April is asking you to soften into strength, come and practice with us.

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.

Topics: Breathwork, Parkinson’s support, sleep practices, Qi Gong, acupressure.

Burnt Out Carer? Simple Food, Acupressure and Gentle Movement to Restore Energy

Burnt Out Carer? Simple Food, Acupressure and Gentle Movement to Restore Energy

Ask Me Anything

Caring for someone you love can be one of the most meaningful roles in life. It can also be one of the most exhausting.

Many carers quietly carry physical pain, emotional stress and constant responsibility while trying to support a partner, parent or family member. Over time this can lead to caregiver burnout, where the body and mind simply run out of energy.

Recently I received a deeply moving question on the Ask Me Anything podcast.

“I have a fused spine, cervicogenic headaches, neuropathy and mild cauda equina syndrome and PTSD. But I’m living with my 91 year old Dad who has an inoperable gallstone, vascular dementia and now his prostate cancer has spread. So I’m looking for dietary advice for us both and exercise advice primarily for me but him too. Please help a burnt out carer.”

This question will resonate with many people caring for elderly parents or loved ones with chronic illness. When you are constantly caring for someone else, your own health can quietly move to the bottom of the list.

In Chinese medicine we look at this through the lens of energy flow.

When life becomes overwhelming the body’s energy slows down. Muscles tighten. Sleep becomes lighter. Pain becomes more noticeable. Over time the deeper reserves that support resilience become depleted.

The goal is not to fix everything at once. The goal is to gently restore movement, nourishment and calm to the body so energy can begin flowing again.

Below are three simple practices that can help support carers who are feeling exhausted or overwhelmed.

A Gentle Acupressure Point for Stiffness and Tension

One helpful point is Gall Bladder 34 (GB34).

This acupressure point is traditionally used to support the muscles and tendons of the body and can help when stiffness builds up from stress or overwork.

You will find it on the outside of the lower leg just below the knee.

Run your hand down the outside of your thigh and stop just below the knee joint. Slightly forward of the small bone on the outside of the leg you will feel a soft dip. This is GB34.

 

Using your thumb, apply gentle steady pressure until you feel a comfortable ache. Hold for about one to two minutes on each side while breathing slowly.

The pressure should feel soothing rather than painful.

Doing this once a day can help the body soften and restore circulation through the muscles and joints.

Many people notice their legs, hips and back begin to feel slightly freer over time.

A Simple Nourishing Food For Enery and Nerves 

When someone is exhausted from caring responsibilities, food should be warm, simple and nourishing.

One of the most supportive foods in this situation is bone broth.

In traditional Chinese medicine the bones and nervous system are linked to the Kidney system, which supports deep reserves of energy and resilience.

Bone broth provides minerals and nutrients that support the joints, nerves and immune system. It is also gentle on digestion, which is important when someone is under long term stress.

A simple way to make it is to simmer chicken bones or beef bones in water with a slice of ginger and a splash of apple cider vinegar for several hours.

The broth can then be stored in the fridge and enjoyed as a warm drink or used as the base for soups.

Even one small cup a day can provide nourishing support for both carers and elderly family members.

A Gentle Qi Gong Movement To Release Tension

When the body feels overwhelmed, the best exercise is often simple rhythmic movement rather than intense workouts.

A traditional Qi Gong practice called arm swinging (Ping Shuai) is particularly helpful for restoring circulation and relaxing the nervous system.

Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart.

Let your knees soften slightly and allow your arms to hang loosely by your sides.

Begin gently swinging your arms forward and back like pendulums.

Keep three things in mind:

Relax your jaw
 Let your shoulders stay loose
 Keep your knees soft

Start with two minutes and gradually increase to five minutes if it feels comfortable.

This gentle movement helps circulate energy through the body, warm the hands and relax the neck and shoulders.

For elderly people or those with limited mobility, a gentle seated version can also be calming.

Small Daily Practices for Burnt Out Carers

Caregiver burnout often develops slowly. The body adapts to long periods of stress until eventually it feels depleted.

Small daily practices can help restore balance over time.

Try creating a simple daily rhythm:

Press the GB34 acupressure point for a minute on each leg
Enjoy a warm cup of bone broth or nourishing soup
Spend two to five minutes doing gentle arm swinging

These small actions send a powerful signal to the nervous system that it is safe to soften and recover.

Support for Carers

If symptoms worsen, spread, begin waking you at night, or if medications change, it is always important to check in with your GP.

Supportive practices like acupressure, nourishing food and gentle movement work best alongside professional medical care.

If you are caring for a loved one while trying to maintain your own health, you are very welcome inside our Chi Flow community, where we practise gentle Qi Gong, breathwork and acupressure together each month.

Sometimes the smallest practices can make the biggest difference when energy begins to return.

What helps caregiver burnout naturally?

Gentle movement, nourishing warm foods, stress reduction and simple acupressure techniques can help support energy levels and reduce tension in the body. You can check  acupressure resources in our new book Find Your Flow: Live Well With Parkinson’s.

What exercise is best for carers with chronic pain?

Low impact movements such as Qi Gong, walking and gentle stretching are often more supportive than intense exercise when the body is under long term stress.

What foods help restore energy when exhausted?

Warm nourishing foods such as soups, bone broth, stews and mineral rich vegetables can help support the body when energy is depleted.

Join the Free Class

If you are curious about Qi Gong for Parkinson’s, chronic illness, fatigue, or healthy ageing, you are warmly invited to try a free class.

You do not need experience. You do not need flexibility. You simply begin where you are.

👉 Join the Free Class and experience the Eight Brocades for yourself.

Continue the Journey

If you would like ongoing support, Chi Flow with Jo offers:

  • Weekday live classes
  • Full Eight Brocades training
  • Acupressure guidance
  • Food medicine insights
  • Monthly health talks
  • Community gatherings

It is €39 per month, reducing to €20 per month after three months. Just €1 per class.

👉 Join Chi Flow with Jo HERE.

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.  

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.

Salty Taste in Your Mouth? What It Could Mean for Women Over 40

Salty Taste in Your Mouth? What It Could Mean for Women Over 40

Ask Me Anything, Conscious Cooking - Use Food as Medicine, understanding your body with the 5element system of TCM

Salty Taste in Your Mouth? What It Could Mean for Women Over 40

Have you ever noticed a salty taste in your mouth that just won’t go away, even when you’re not eating salty food? For many women over 40, changes in taste, thirst, or cravings can be subtle signs that the body is asking for support.

In Western medicine, your GP might check for dehydration, mineral imbalances, or underlying illness, and sometimes tests come back normal. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we look at the body through a different lens: one that connects your tastebuds, emotions, and energy systems.

In TCM, a persistent salty taste is linked to the Water element and the Kidneys, the powerhouse of your vitality, longevity, and hormonal health. November in Chi Flow with Jo, our focus is on the Kidneys and Jing, the deep essence that governs everything from bone strength to hormonal transitions in peri- and post-menopause.

Before we begin, a gentle reminder: this information is for complementary self-care and should be used alongside medical advice, not as a replacement.

The Five Element Framework & Food Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element Food Medicine teaches us that each organ and its meridian system is linked to one of nature’s elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. Each element has a season, time of day, emotion, colour, and sensory organ, clues that help us understand our bodies and the signals they send.

For example, the Water element relates to the Kidneys and Bladder, the season of winter, the emotion of fear, the colour black, and the sensory organ of the ears.

By noticing patterns, such as craving salty foods, changes in hearing, or feeling more fearful or anxious, we can identify which element needs nourishment and use food, flavour, and cooking methods to restore balance.

Why Salty Taste Points to Kidney Imbalance

In TCM, the salty flavour is the taste of the Water element. If you’re noticing a salty taste when you haven’t eaten anything salty, it can mean the Kidney system is out of balance, either overworked or needing deeper support.

The Kidneys store Jing, your essence, which is like your lifetime battery. Jing powers your growth, fertility, hormonal cycles, and how you age. As we enter peri, mid and post-menopause, Jing naturally declines, which is why it’s so important to protect and nourish it.

There’s also a fascinating connection between the Kidneys and the Heart. In the destructive cycle of the Five Elements, Water (Kidneys) controls Fire (Heart). If Water is weak, Fire can flare, leading to high blood pressure, palpitations, anxiety, and restlessness. For our listener with a salty taste and high blood pressure, this connection is especially relevant.

Acupressure for Kidney & Heart Balance: Kidney 3 (Taixi)

One of my go-to points for restoring Kidney strength and calming the Heart is Kidney 3, known as Taixi; the Great Ravine

Location:
You’ll find it in the hollow between your inner ankle bone and your Achilles tendon. Slide your finger accross from the ankle bone until you feel a soft dip before the tendon, that’s Kidney 3.

Benefits:

  • Nourishes Kidney Yin and Yang
  • Supports Jing (vital essence)
  • Calms the mind and reduces anxiety
  • Helps regulate blood pressure via the Kidney–Heart connection

How to use it:

  1. Sit comfortably with one ankle crossed over the opposite knee.
  2. Press gently but firmly with your thumb into the hollow.
  3. Breathe slowly and deeply for 1–2 minutes.
  4. Repeat on the other side.

Practise twice a day for best results.

This isn’t about forcing change, it’s about steady, consistent support for your body’s own balancing mechanisms.

Food Medicine: Corn Silk Tea & Kidney-Nourishing Foods

Corn silk tea is a gentle, traditional remedy in TCM for supporting the Kidneys and Bladder. It’s mildly diuretic, helps clear dampness and heat, and supports healthy fluid balance without overstimulating the system.

To make from fresh corn:

  • Peel back the husks and collect the silky threads from 2–3 corn cobs.
  • Rinse well.
  • Simmer in 1 litre of water for 10–15 minutes.
  • Strain and sip warm.

To make from dried corn silk:

  • Available loose or in teabags from health food shops.
  • Steep in hot water for 5–10 minutes.

The tea has a naturally sweet, grassy taste and can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.

Other Kidney–Jing supporting foods:

  • Black beans and adzuki beans
  • Black sesame seeds
  • Walnuts
  • Seaweed
  • Dark leafy greens
    Bone broth
  • Miso
  • Berries

Hormonal tip for women over 40:


 As Jing declines, we may notice hot flushes, poor sleep, low mood, or bone loss. Supporting Kidney Jing through food medicine can help ease these changes and improve energy, mood, and resilience.

You’ll find many more recipes for Kidney health and hormonal balance in my books, Shiatsu & the Art of Conscious Cooking and Good Food: Better Sex.

Qi Gong for Kidney & Hormonal Support

Qi Gong is a beautiful way to move energy through the Kidney and Bladder meridians, strengthen the lower back, and support hormonal balance. One of my favourites is the Kidney–Bladder Stretch and I’ll be teaching it in the free class at the end of the month. It’s great for encouraging flow of cranio-sacral fluid up and down the spine, massaging and supporting the kidneys

This combination of stretch and spiral massages the fascia, stimulates meridian flow, and harmonises the body during hormonal transitions.

If you’ve been experiencing a persistent salty taste, TCM reminds us to look deeper, to listen to what the body is telling us about our Kidneys, Jing, and hormonal balance.

You now have three simple tools to try:

  • Kidney 3 acupressure for Kidney–Heart harmony
  • Corn silk tea and Kidney-nourishing foods for deep vitality
  • Kidney–Bladder Qi Gong stretch to keep your energy flowing

WATCH THE PODCAST

Boost your Jing with Qi Gong, Acupressure & Food Medicine

In November Chi Flow with Jo, we’ll spend the whole month focusing on Kidney and Jing energy, with daily live Qi Gong, acupressure guidance, and seasonal food medicine to support you through hormonal changes.

Join us and give your Kidneys the love they deserve.

💗 Ready to Join?

Click here to become a member of Chi Flow with Jo → CLICK HERE

Or drop in for a class and feel it for yourself (sign up below). Join the Chi Flow with Jo community for live sessions, practice, and support.

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.  The information provided should not be considered medical advice.

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