Owl

Hi everyone, I have written a new essay, "Unwinding the Gathering Sinew" to complement the Crystal in Uranus article I wrote several months ago. Whereas the focus of "Crystal in Uranus" is to decongest the prostate and the lower Dan Tian from the inside out, this essay is written for exploring and decongesting the prostate and other structures around the male pelvis from the outside in. I would like to thank Trunk for hosting this article. Owl

Crystal in Uranus: Illuminating the Male Pelvis By Owl I have written this article to support the ongoing refinement of Jing Gong by this community. Jing stagnation is one of the major complications of Jing Gong, which can lead to physical, emotional and spiritual turbulence. One of the most likely places where jing get stagnated is in the male pelvis, a.k.a. lower dan tian. There are numerous benefits to relieving pelvic tension: Increased qi, blood and jing circulation in the pelvis. This promotes prostate health and enhances all alchemical practices that utilize this cauldron. Increased qi, blood and jing circulation in the lower limbs all the way to Kidney 1 (Yong Quan). This promotes grounding and relieves pelvic tension that blocks communication between the upper and lower halves of the body. Increased awareness of the anus, rectum and lower abdomen and how this area is one of the very best barometers for overall body tension. Therefore, a key to resolving this tension. Improved postural alignment of the whole body as the layers of fascia get untangled here and the release is propagated throughout the myofascial web of the body. Over the years, we have seen a variety of methods developed to free up this area of the body for qi, blood and jing circulation. Now, I would like to introduce yet another method. The key to this approach is to go from the INSIDE out. I call this method "Crystal in (yo)Ur anus". Here, we definitely need the right tool. It is called the Crystal Wand. It is an S-shaped clear acrylic tool originally made for stimulating the female G-spot. It is now also being advertised as a prostate massage tool. I propose that it is much more than a prostate massager. Used in a creative way, it can educate you kinesthetically the internal structures of your pelvic bowl. Once you insert the wand about half-way through your anal canal, turn it in place 360 degrees. This sweep of the S-hook will inform you that your rectum is not just a tight canal. It is also expandable and allows you to explore the bowel-like structure of your pelvis. You can massage your tailbone, sacrum, bladder, prostate, seminal vesicles, urogenital diaphragm, pelvic diaphragm and even some lateral rotators from the INSIDE! A visual aid: Make a ring with your LEFT index finger and LEFT thumb. Point the rest of the fingers to the front of you so you have a ring in the horizontal plane. Put your RIGHT index finger through the ring and curl it. Turn your curled RIGHT index finger around for 360 degrees. It is very safe to explore the pelvic bowl as long as you do it gently and slowly. Your intuition and sense of wonder will lead you to explore places deep inside yourself which you never thought existed or accessible. Using the same visual aid, let's continue our exploration in more details. First, let's establish our bearings. Let's just say that the horizontal ring is actually a clock face. 12 o'clock is where the tip of your curled RIGHT index finger is facing directly to the front (away from you). This is our starting point. Pelvic Clock: Looking From Above Here are several fun anatomical trails we can explore: Trail 1: The anterior wall: the Jing chamber. Trail 2: The pelvic floor: the urogenital and pelvic diaphragms. Trail 3: The posterior anchor: the coccyx and the sacrum. Trail 4: The lateral wall: obturator internus. Trail 5: The posterior wall: piriformis. Trail 1: The anterior wall: the Jing Chamber. At 12 o'clock, if you press directly forward you will usually find the prostate. If you go a bit more upward at 1 and 11 o'clock you will find the ampullae of the ductus deferens. At 2 and 10 o'clock you will find the seminal vesicles. Note that about 60% of semen is produced by the seminal vesicles with most of the remainder by the prostate. The ampullae act as reservoirs for sperm cells transported from the epididymis. I believe these 3 structures are what the ancient daoists collectively referred to as Jing Shi(Chamber). The muscular bouncy wall you feel beyond the seminal vesicles belongs to the bladder. Trail 2: The pelvic floor: the pelvic diaphragm. At 12 o'clock, retreat the hook a little and aim it directly downward (towards the ground instead of forward). You are in the neighborhood of the first acupuncture point of the Conception Vessel, Ren 1 (Hui Yin). Perform a 360 degrees sweep around the clock. This is your pelvic diaphragm, the floor of your pelvis. The pelvic diaphragm is actually made up of the levator ani and the coccygeus. The levator ani is in turn made up of puborectalis, pubococcygeus and iliocyccygeus, each forming a larger U shape sling around the rectum. Trail 3: The posterior anchor: the coccyx and the sacrum. At 6 o'clock, you will find the tip of the coccyx. Note that almost the entire pelvic diaphragm is anchored in the coccyx. As such, it is an important site for exploration. Also, half-way between the ring and the tip of the coccyx is the first acupuncture point of the Governing Channel: Du-1 (Chang Qiang). Further in and slightly up in the 6 o'clock direction is the sacrum. The importance of the sacrum has been discussed by many. Here I just want to point out that the fascia of the pelvic floor is continuous with that of the coccyx and the sacrum. The sacrum itself is linked to all the lumbar, thoracic and cervical vertebrae via the anterior longitudinal ligament. Trail 4: The lateral wall: obturator internus. Between 2 to 4 o'clock and between 10 to 8 o'clock, advance the hook beyond the tendinous arch that feels like a bony ridge and you will feel the fascia of obturator internus - a lateral rotator of the hip. Again, note that the fascia of the obturator internus is continuous with the pelvic floor. Trail 5: The posterior wall: piriformis. Between 4 to 5 o'clock and 8 to 7 o'clock you will find another body ridge which is really where the coccygeous muscle goes over the sacrospinous ligament. Beyond this ridge you will drop into an opening (the greater sciatic foramen). Above this opening you can feel the piriformis. This opening is also where the sciatic nerve emerges from the pelvic bowl and goes into the back of the leg for most people. A tight piriformis is usually implicated for sciatica. If you advance your hook beyond this opening, you can potentially touch the gluteus maximus - the most superficial muscle that makes up most of your butt cheek. Crystal Wand Models There are currently 2 models: Crystal Wand and Deluxe Crystal Wand. They are available at http://www.doctorg.com/crystalwand.htm. Even though I have owned the original model for years and do not own the Deluxe, I think the Deluxe is a good one to start with. It is slimmer so it is a lot easier for insertion and getting into tight crevices. Besides, the ribbed end provides a better grip and therefore better control. Comparison with Aneros I personally own 3 Aneros models: Classic, Helix and Eupho. I use Aneros for pleasure and Crystal Wand for muscular and fascial release. To me, Aneros is yin, Crystal wand is yang. In other words, one for pleasure, the other for work. Lubrication Histologically, the rectum is very similar to the colon. Therefore I choose not to use any lubrication in this area that I wouldn't want absorbed into my blood stream. In other words, commercial lube is out of the question for me. My personal favorite mixture is organic olive oil with organic aloe vera gel (Lily of the Dessert 99% Gelly). From time to time, I also add some bee wax (Burt's Bees Hand Salve) to change the consistencies of my homemade lube. Body Position My favorite position is standing, with one foot on a chair. This seems to provide the best access for exploration. Safety I have been using the crystal wand for almost 8 years now. I have never been injured by this method of exploration. Granted there are a lot of delicate structures and nerves running through the region. Gentle probing and ample lubrication are indespensable in this approach. Remember to breath! Emotional Healing The anus, rectum and pelvis can be supercharged with strong feelings dating back to the pre-verbal phase of your life as an infant. Lots of compassion, patience and gentleness towards self are needed to experience, acknowledge, let go of and integrate whatever came up on the journey. Anatomical Notes There could be minor changes in the terrain depending on how an individual holds tension in this area. Individual anatomical differences can also play a role. Depending on how your brain catalogs and represents felt sense, your experience may not match the trails description completely. Remember, the map is not the territory. Acknowledgement I would like to thank Trunk and Sean for their editorial efforts and kind encouragement. Deep appreciation also goes to Dr. BL for transmitting to me her magical sense of wonders and awe for human anatomy. References: 1. Abrahams PH, Marks Jr SC, and Hutchings RT. McMinn's Color Atlas of Human Anatomy 5th Edition. Elsevier Science Limited, 2003. 2. Agur AM. Grants's Atlas of Anatomy 9th Edition. Williams and Wilkins, 1991. 3. Biel, Andrew. Trail Guide to the Body 3rd Edition. Books of Discovery, 2005. 4. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, and Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, 2005. 5. Morton DK, Peterson KD, and Albertine KH. Dissection Guide for Human Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone, 2003. 6. Myers,TW. Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists. Churchill Livingstone, 2001. 7. Netter, FH and Hansen JT. Atlas of Human Anatomy 3rd Edition. ICON Learning Systems, 2002. 8. Sauerland, EK. Grant's Dissector 12th Edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 1999. 9. Schultz, RL. Out in the Open: The Complete Male Pelvis. North Atlantic Books, 1996. 10. Schultz RL and Feitis, R. The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy and Physical Reality. North Atlantic Books, 1996. 11. Venuti, JM et al. 3D Visualization of the Male Pelvis and Perineum: An Argument for Revision of Classic Representations of the Region. Proceedings of the Third Visible Human Project Conference, October 5 & 6, 2000.

Darin, I don't have the requisite alchemical attainments to accurately translate the diagrams and their accompanying text for you. However, the last sentence in the paragraph next to the Kan Hexagram Lady is pretty obvious. It reads, "If you have not met a fully-attained one who can teach you in person, how can you decide where the mysterious pivot is?" Indeed. The only person who can accurately translate this scroll for you is someone who has gone through the process himself. In other words, a master/teacher. After reading the preface and postscript several times over, I came away with a very clear impression that this scroll is meant to be accompanied by oral transmission from master to disciple. In fact that has always been the case in Chinese history. The key is always passed down orally, never written down. So there you have it, should you insist on proceeding without a living teacher, then you are going against the very warning embedded in the text. You decide. Good Luck.

Plato, I have just voted for your project. I have to say, all of the past 8 years I've followed your "adventures" online, this one is by far the most heart-warming for me. It serves to remind us that having a genuine heart-to-heart connection to other people and the rest of humanity is crucial for the health of a cultivator. It is far too easy to get stuck in the nitty gritty of meditation and qi cultivation and forget that we are warm blooded creatures who share this life with many others. Perhaps when we are training overselves to integrate vertically with heaven and earth, we can also put emphasis on spiral-horizontal, heart-based exchanges with other humans in our daily lives. I hope this is the just the beginning of many more world-changing endeavors of yours. What a way to start a new year! Owl

It sounds like you probably have damp heat in the Liver-Gallbladder system. Since there are so many liver cleanse products out there, it is hard to generalize. My experience is that as a whole they are usually cold, purging, bitter and drying from the TCM perspective. That's why it is usually helpful in the case of stagnation due to damp heat. However, a formulation like that runs the risk of harming the qi and yang of the spleen-stomach system. Furthermore, like in Affenbrot's case, the yin of the Liver can be easily damaged if that's your weak link. Liver qi depletion is the least likely consequence. In fact, there is no such thing as a Liver qi depletion according to modern TCM. Even in the classics, there is not much discussion of liver qi depletion when it comes to herbal therapy. It is mainly an acupuncture concept. As far as He Shou Wu goes, it is most likely to aggravate your situation if you take it as a single herb. It is a liver blood tonic that is slightly warm and enriching. Consuming warm-enriching medicinals while having damp heat obstructinng the Liver-Gallbladder is like adding gasoline to fire. A TCM herbal stragtegy for you is mostly going to center around clearing damp heat from the Liver/Gallbaldder without harming the qi of the spleen/stomach and/or Liver yin. Of course, this is pure speculation on my part since I can't see you and take your pulse in person. This is the domain of a qualified TCM doctor. As you can see, the do-it-yourself TCM approach is risky. I have seen many cases in Asia and America where people have been harmed by taken TCM medicinals without guidance from a professional, some almost died. Chinese medicine is a highly sophisticated system of medicine that requires the same level of theoretical foundation and clinical training to practice safely. Just because it is all natural doesn't mean it can't be lethal. It is not so much about the medicinals used, it is the critical reasoning that goes behind the scene that makes Chinese medicien so powerful. Be safe, Be well.

If you're interested in a systemic remodeling and getting to the root of the issue, I suggest seeing a practitioner of Rolfing/Hellerwokr/Structural Integration. My speculation is that you have patterns of holding and using your body that are deeply ingrained from your years of construction work. They may not be the most effecient patterns for you and is causing systemic problems like in your knees and elbows. If you just "fix" the knee or the elbow, it doesn't really resolve the core issue. Some years ago I experienced knee pain everytime I got done with my Aikido training. I checked in with a Rolfer. Sure enough, I had severe external rotation from the hip on down. So everytime I walk, I was destroying my knee and ankle. The intensity of the martial arts training just aggravated it and make it a lot more pronounced. I went thru a series of work to correct all sorts of fascial constrictions that was causing me to use my body in very inefficient and harmful manners. More importantly I got my Rolfer to teach me how to walk, sit and run in a structurally sound and efficient way. Since then, my knee problems never returned. I cannot stress enough the value of expert advice from competent practiotioners. Several hours of reeducation can sometimes save us a lifetime of suffering and fumbling in the dark. There is a common misconception that a body part/joint that is in trouble is somehow weak and needs to be strengthened. The real situation can be more complex than that. There is usually a group of muscles that are holding on too tightly and some which are too streched out. Any strengthening needs to happen after the imbalance has been corrected. Else the problematic pattern just got more solidified and etched into the body. For rebuilding the knee structurally, TCM has many tried-and-true herbs and formulations thanks to thousands of years of experience with broken bones and torn ligaments in wars and street fighting.

I mean to grab them with the other hand and squeeze.

Bill, Pain on the outside of the arm usually points to tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). In your case it is probably chronic overuse of the extensor muscle/tendon of your forearm combined with less than ideal body mechanics while working. Several things to try out: 1) See if you can find body and hand positions that allow you to use the force of your entire body(hip & leg force) rather than solely swinging/working from your forearm. This can take some pressure off those tired muscles and tendons. 2) Press the following acupoints as frequently as possible thru out the day: LI 4 and LI 10. 3) Grasp the muscles of the forearms until they are relaxed, followed by stroking the arm from the elbow to the fingertips 10-20 times. Do this 2-3 times a day. 4) If your pain is relieved by applying heat, then use more heat compress and get some 701 plasters from chinatown. Stop eating: 1) Shellfish 2) Cold foods and iced drinks. 3) Reduce or stop eating sour foods. (Sour enters the liver, liver governs the tendons, sour astringes, therefore sour constricts and shorten tendons) These info mostly came from Tom Bisio's A Tooth From the Tiger's mouth. There are many more good advices in the book. Highly, highly recommended. Only $12 on amazon. Many professional acupuncturists use the same info to treat their patients.

Ryan, Over the years, as a community, we have seen a fair share of young men who face the same dilemma as you do now. Trunk, one of our most experienced and wise practitioners, has written some very pertinent essays to address the very questions that you have posed. I believe you can find much guidance in his writings. I must warn you of the dangers of forcibly holding back hot yang energy in your body when it is perfectly necessary and healthy to let it go. Many have been burnt (literally) by this misguided practice. Please be extra careful and critical of what you've learned so far. You might want to re-read the Dao De Jing. Water doesn't struggle.

I had a client who came in for post-surgery work after his kidney and testicle got removed due to cancer. He also went through radiation. He did not use any alternative method. All standard biomedical procedure and care. He seems to be doing very well when I saw him. When I worked with his scars and body, I could not detect a shred of negative energy in his body. That was just 2 weeks after his last radiation. When I first met this person a year ago, I sensed a lot of suppressed anger and he was oozing hostility behind a calm facade. He was diagnosed with cancer in April and went through surgeries in May and June. When I saw him in July, he was a completely changed man. He became very relaxed and the smoldering anger was gone. It was quite a metamorphosis. I think he surrendered to the process and completely let go of his old resentments and learned to modulate his Type-A personality. In the process, he met a very kind man and fell in love. This all happened in less than 3 months. This case reminds me that healing can sometimes happen very rapidly when we accept illness as a process for deep introspection and transformation. It is also interesting to note the close relationships between the testicles, the Liver, the Liver Channel, anger and bound-up, frustrated sexual energy. As for your friend, I suggest gentle massages near the scars once the stitches came off. We don't want scar tissues to build up there and start drawing the fascial web into the body - planting seeds for further stagnation in the future. Regular massage of the remaining healthy testicle and inguinal region is highly recommended as a preventative measure.

It is true that some active points/pathways are not found exactly where books described them. In fact, sometimes we can't even find them in the same spot on a person from day to day. Yet this possible migration of points/pathways are localized whithin a resoanable area like a 1-2 inch radius. One will not find the Ren channel on the spine nor can Ming Men be found below the navel in the front. Therefore, many acupuncturists use the standard description to get to the right neighborhood and use palpation/energetic awareness to refine and pinpoint the best location.

Hmm ... Maybe you can tell us a bit more about the reason(s) you wanted to study the points and meridians? To what level of proficiency/mastery? There are many less expensive alternatives, including free info on the web which is more than sufficient for most purposes.

It took us a year to learn the 12 meridians and some 400 points in acupuncture school. Various methods were used: 1) Finding points on yourself. 2) Finding points on others. 3) Massaging them. 4) Needling them. 5) Meditating on individual points. 6) Meditating on the flow of meridian pathways. 7) Trace the flow of meridian on others/self energeticaly using your hands. 8) Trace the flow of meridian on others/self by direct drawing on the skin. 9) Draw/trace on a statue. And of course, read about their functions and indications and various classical/modern writings on the points/meridians. A Manual of Acupuncture by Deadman & Co is currently the standard. You can see 2 pdfs containing sample pages of it in my article. Under the Notes section, Trunk has also added some good links on the various products related to the book.

Don't bother. I will put some magnolia bark in the "parcel" destined for you tomorrow. Wait, would that disqualify my parcel for the media mail rate? While we're at it, do you want some Huang Jing too? Magnolia bark can have a very relaxing effect on my nervous system. I stopped playing with it last year when I discovered I couldn't lift my fingers after just a 5 gram decoction. It also kills my ability to feel pleasure in my body. Still want to try some? :-)

Owl: Year: Water Ox Month: Earth Goat Day: Fire Tiger Hour: Wood Horse Inner Element: Metal Constellation: Horse Elements: Wood/3 Fire/4 Earth/3 Metal/1 Water/1

Good to hear that the King has won over another subject under his reign! BTW, the huge seed within each gooey sack is not to be eaten raw. I've heard that they are consumable after prolonged boiling. Never tried it though. To answer your question, we eat durian using our fingers. Isn't that the most sensual way of enjoying the creamy delicacy? As for the queen, please be careful when you get ready to squeeze her open between your palms. The purple blood that comes oozing out of her body will stain your clothes for the next millennium. BTW, a durian drops to the ground on its own when it is ripe. Interestingly, it only does so during the night. So a leisurely stroll after dark in an orchard full of beautiful durian trees is - pure suicide

Oh Sean! You really made my day. This is the most hilarious durian story I've ever heard. Wait till I tell my parents about it! This is the price you paid for not consulting the "Wise Owl" before your encounter with the King of Fruits. On opening the Durian Fruit 1. Locate the apex (i.e. opposite the stem) of the Durian Fruit. 2. Stab a heavy knife into the navel of the apex. 3. Crank and crack the fruit open by turning the knife (in place) in the navel. 4. The fruit will split into multiple compartments longitudinally from the stem to the apex along its natural "fault" lines. 5. Each compartment houses a row of yellow buttery sacks. Important: The yellow goo in the sack is Durian!!! You're supposed to eat it! The white fibrous compartments that houses the yellow goo, well ... it is just the packaging. I think you might be the first human in history who actually ate it. BTW, I will be more than happy to eat the yellow goo for you if you can FedEx that to me the next day If you're still having trouble with opening the fruit, you can easily view live demos along Jackson Street (China Town) in San Francisco esp. in Sept/Oct. Durian is indeed very rich. When I was little, I used to eat durian as a meal by itself. TCM-wise, Durian is warming, rich and very tonifying. We like to balance it out with mangosteen, the Queen of Fruits. Mangosteen is cooling, sweet and fluid replenishing.

There is nothing inherently safe about TCM formulas. Each formula is specific to a kind of imbalance in the body. Being overweight can be due to food stagnation, spleen qi deficiency, phlegm accumulation etc. If your friend's problem is due to simple food stagnation, then Bojenmi can help. But if it is due to only spleen qi deficiency, then Bojenmi may do more harm than good because the mostly clearing herbs can harm the spleen qi. The question is: How do we know that your friend's problem is due to food stagnation, spleen qi deficiency, or phlegm accumulation? What if it is a mixture of all the above? What if there are also other imbalances involved? In my opinion, the safest and wisest thing to do is to consult a licensed TCM practitioner.

Welcome Alek! Please don't be embarrassed, I love flowers too! Flowers have very positive symbolism in Daoist philosophy and important uses in Daoist/Chinese medicine.

Hello everyone! This is Owl. So glad to finally come out of the shadow of the deep forest and say hi. It has been a long 8 years of silently observing the beautiful unfolding of this community. I have been deeply moved by Trunk's work, wildly entertained by Plato's adventures, and warmly embraced by this magical space held by Sean. I want to thank all those who have shared their practices, struggles and triumphs over the years. A little about myself: - I am ethnically Chinese. Born in South East Asia. Came to the US as a young adult. - Fluent in modern and classical chinese. - In and out of chinese medical training since 2000. Currently full-time in TCM graduate school. - Daoist meditation: never advance beyond the healing sounds, and inner smile - Dabbled in a variety of bodywork and movement work a la Tao Bums. I hope to post a few articles in the near future on topics related to daoist practice and chinese medicine. Owl