Kidney 27
She Fu “Storehouse”
Nestled in the depression on the lower border of the clavicle and level with Lung 1 (Lu 1) you’ll find the final point of the kidney channel. The Qi at this point is the lightest and most refined, like the air we might encounter on a mountain top. Similarly, Kidney 27 (Ki 27) and Lu 1 rest atop the peak of the lungs poised to breathe in inspiration and thus empower our essence. The primary role of the point, according to Lonnie Jarret, is “to empower the Water (Kidney) to grasp the Metal (Lung) through the breath.”
“Ki 27 and Lu 1 rest atop the peak of the lungs poised to breathe in inspiration and thus empower our essence.”
One of the key functions of the Kidney system in Traditional Asian Medicine is to provide an anchor for the breath, so the Qi from the lungs can gently sink like a stone all the way down to the belly, allowing a full deep inhale. If the Kidneys fail to grasp the Qi from the lungs, it can rebel upward, causing breathlessness and asthma. The emotion associated with the Water Element is fear, and we know that habitual reaction to fear can lead us to anxious exhaustion, depleting our reserves. “Storehouse” provides a kind of reserve tank for the Kidney Qi, encouraging us to “breathe” deeply rather than react to anxiety and fear.
This Point Functions to:
Relax the chest, calming cough, asthma, and chest pain
Relieve anxiety, depression, and grief (the emotion of the the Lung, Metal Element)
Stimulate the lymphatic system and support immune function
How to Use this Point:
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Tapping with fingertips or loose fists at Ki 27, you may also add tapping over the thymus along the breast bone
Use Gua Sha, gently running your tool from Ki 27 outward beneath the collarbone toward Lu 1, or try incorporating the above into your Gua Sha facial routine
Want to experience the benefits Ki 27?
Give us a call, and read a bit about the Winter and how Traditional Asian Medicine harmonizes our own nature with the natural world.
