How Acupressure and Qi Gong Can Boost Immunity, Banish Coughs and Colds, and Stop Spontaneous Sweating

How Acupressure and Qi Gong Can Boost Immunity, Banish Coughs and Colds, and Stop Spontaneous Sweating

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How Acupressure and Qi Gong Can Boost Immunity, Banish Coughs and Colds, and Stop Spontaneous Sweating

When you think about winter sniffles, sweaty discomfort, and that dragging lack of energy, it might feel like you’re stuck in an endless cycle. But in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these symptoms often signal something deeper, an imbalance in your body’s energy, or “Qi”. Let’s explore how acupressure, Qi Gong, and nourishing food medicine can help restore balance and improve your immune system.

Why Sweaty Bum and Frequent Colds Happen: A TCM Perspective

One of my podcast listeners shared that she suffers from frequent coughs, colds, low energy, and, quite uniquely, sweating around the top of her bum and sacrum. From a TCM perspective, these symptoms point to a deficiency in Kidney Qi. In TCM, the kidneys play a vital role in controlling the body’s energy reserves, immunity, and fluid balance.

Sweating around the sacrum often indicates Kidney Qi deficiency, which prevents energy from flowing smoothly up the spine. This stagnation can weaken your immune system, making you prone to external invasions like coughs and colds. But here’s the good news: there are simple, effective ways to restore Kidney Qi and improve your overall health.

Nourish Your Kidney Qi with Food

Diet is foundational in TCM. To strengthen Kidney Qi and support your immune system, focus on blue and black-colored foods, which are considered especially nourishing for the kidneys: For the full outline of which colour food supports which organ see my books.

  • Seaweed – A mineral-rich superfood that’s excellent for Kidney Qi.
  • Black Beans and Adzuki Beans – Perfect for soups and teas. (find the recipe)
  • Black Rice – Traditionally reserved for emperors, it’s packed with nutrients.

Blueberries and Blackberries – Delicious and full of antioxidants.

For additional warmth and nourishment, include:

These foods will fortify your Kidney Qi, giving you the vitality to fight off colds and flu.

Acupressure for Immune Strength and Energy Flow

Acupressure is a powerful tool to unblock stagnant energy and nourish your kidneys. Here are the key points to focus on:

  1. Bladder 31, 32, 33 (V of the sacrum):
    • These points are along the bladder channel and can be stimulated by tapping or rubbing the sacrum with your knuckles. This helps to warm and invigorate the Kidney Qi.
  2. Governing Vessel 14 (The Great Hammer):
    • Located at the base of the neck, this point is crucial for boosting immunity. Massage around the big vertebra at the top of your spine, moving in circles. This encourages the upward flow of energy.
  3. Bai Hui (Hundred Meetings Point):
    • Found at the top of the head, you can locate this by placing your thumbs on your ears and letting your middle fingers meet at the crown. Tap gently while visualizing a line of energy running through your body.

Qi Gong Exercises to Move Stuck Energy

Qi Gong combines breath, movement, and intention to promote energy flow and strengthen the immune system. Try these exercises:

1. Kidney Warming:

  • Rub your palms together until they’re warm, then place them over your lower back, massaging around your kidneys and sacrum. This simple practice is deeply nourishing for Kidney Qi.

    2. Turtle & Crane Neck Exercise:

    • Sit straight with your chin slightly tucked. Slowly roll your chin into your chest, then extend it outward as if you are a turtle emerging from it’s shell.  Then change direction letting the chin lead out like a crane’s beak and rolling it down and in to the chest. Repeat this rolling motion to release tension in the spine and encourage energy flow up the Governing Vessel.

    3. Microcosmic Orbit Breathing:

    • Align your spine and visualize energy traveling up from your sacrum to the top of your head as you inhale. On the exhale, guide the energy down the front of your body to your lower abdomen. This exercise balances the body’s energy and clears blockages.

    The Wisdom of Chinese Medicine

    As the ancient TCM saying goes, “When Qi flows, health follows; when Qi stagnates, disease occurs.” By nourishing your Kidney Qi with food, activating key acupressure points, and practicing Qi Gong, you’ll not only improve your immune function but also restore a sense of vitality and balance to your life.

    So, whether you’re battling winter colds or looking for relief from that awkward sweaty discomfort, these simple practices can make a profound difference. May your days be filled with warmth, health, and joy.

    WATCH/LISTEN TO ALL PODCAST EPISODES HERE

    Final Thoughts

    Acupressure and Qi Gong offer gentle, yet profound methods to manage incontinence by addressing its root causes. By nourishing the kidneys, stimulating chi flow, and balancing contraction with relaxation, you’ll find greater control and well-being.

    Explore these practices further and incorporate the recommended foods into your daily routine. Remember, contraction and expansion, flow and stillness—this is the way of the body and life. Let Qi Gong guide you to health and joy.

    For more tips, classes, and support, join Chi flow with Jo or contact Jo for individual support

    DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

    The Ask Me Anything podcast series has been created to answer your questions using my knowledge of Chinese medicine, Qi Gong, Qi Food therapy and Shiatsu. 

    You can ask a question by clicking on THIS LINK, or you can watch past episodes to see if your question has already been answered.

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    Also, join me in Chi Flow with Jo every weekday morning for live online Qi Gong where we will practise Qi Gong, as well as self-acupressure, delicious healthy recipes, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tips and Meridian stretches.  

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    Struggling to catch your Breath?

    Struggling to catch your Breath?

    Acupressure Points, Ask Me Anything

    Feeling like you’re out of breath all the time?

    Can’t do much because of it? In our most recent episode of Ask Me Anything, Marie reached out with the same problem. She said that once a week she was out of breath, not able to do much but relax because of it.

    For Marie, this sounds like an energy rising causing that feeling of congestion in the chest. Ideally, the kidneys should be able to grasp the breath so we don’t get congested and cause heart problems.

    So let’s address how to manage that! We are mainly going to focus on acupressure for this issue.

    Kidney 27 Acupoint

    One of my favorite points is Kidney 27, which we will be focusing on.

    Kidney 27 is the Shu Mansion or Elegant Mansion.

    You can massage this point and press into it to connect with your own energy and feel relief.

    You can also massage along the other kidney points between the ribs.

    In Chinese Medicine the Kidneys hold your essential energy. This is the energy you were born with that you inherit from your parents. This is where we want to have our vitality coming from. If we are going non-stop all the time, this energy is going to weaken and won’t be able to grasp the breath. Making it difficult to breathe and feel settled. 

    CV 17 Acupoint

    In Chinese Medicine each organ has a flavor, a time of day, an element. The kidney is the water element. Through massaging into that point of Conception Vessel 17 – Centre of the Chest, you are helping balance the water and fire element. If we don’t have enough kidney energy, then there’s nothing there to ground that fire. If we let the fire get out of control you could find you have insomnia, hot flushes, and anxiety. 

    With these acupoints, you want to do them everyday. They are very simple and an easy exercise to practice. 

    Grief can be stored in the Chest

    A lot of sadness and grief can be stored in the chest area. With these points we can help to move that sadness out of the chest.

    One thing that can also really weaken the kidneys and doesn’t help balance heart fire, is coffee. This is not me saying coffee is bad or good but maybe just look at how much coffee you are consuming. Coffee is one of those substances that keeps us going, and going, and going, when really we should be resting. So, if you’re drinking 3 cups of coffee a day, I would really recommend changing that out and try dandelion root coffee or chicory root coffee. 

    In conclusion

    In conclusion, when dealing with a struggle to breathe it is important to nourish the kidneys. We can do this through acupoints that help calm and move energy along.

    Join the Chi Flow community

    Join Chi Flow with Jo and embrace a healthier, more vibrant you. Together, we’ll combine the ancient wisdom of Qi Gong, mindful self-care, and balanced eating to elevate your New Year energy. 

    With Love and Chi,

    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.