The Key to Feeling Centered and Calm is in This Acupuncture Point

There's an acupuncture point located approximately 3 inches below your belly button.  It's called "Source Qi," or "Ren / Conception Vessel #4."    

It's also called your "Dan Tian."

I first heard of this concept in martial arts.  

We used to do this exercise in Kung Fu with a staff.  There would be 2 people, standing opposite each other in a horse stance. One end of the wooden pole would be pressed against the Dan Tian of one peron, the other end pressed against the other person's Dan Tian.  There's a breathing exercise that goes along with it.  

It's a point I always check with our Acupuncture treatments.  (Note:  there are 2 test points for the Dan Tian.  The other one is right above the belly button.  I've noticed that people with naval rings often get this imbalance.  Not a judgment; just something I've noticed.)  

Inevitably, people then ask, what IS a Dan Tian?  "Umm...."  It's hard to explain!  

But I'll try:  it's the psycho-emotional-physical balance of your body. 

🙀 When the Dan Tian is imbalanced, there is almost always anxiety. 

😫 Often there's back pain specifically at L 5 - S 1 (Lumbar vertebrae 5, the last one right above the top of the Sacrum).  With nerve pain radiating down your legs, this area is often to blame. 

👩‍🍼 Gynecological problems, including infertility or excessive bleeding, can come from imbalance in the Dan Tian.  

🥹 Auto-immune problems.  We sometimes needle the Dan Tian (when it's free of pain, that is) for AI (crap, just realized we can't use this acronym for Auto-Immunity anymore!) problems.  

👧 Problems you've had "since forever."  Including scoliosis and other health issues that start in early childhood.  

It's called "Source Qi" because it's the origin of your first cells. 

The cells that first divided to make you into a person originated here.  It comes from the Qi that your parents "gave" you upon conception.  

There are 3 parts of the Dan Tian, but the most important is the point halfway between your belly button and pubic bone.  

This point is also called the "Cinnabar Field."  

Cinnabar is an element that changes colors when it's combined with other elements. 

That's the idea - this area that can transform and change.  It's where life originates and unfolds.  

Sometimes we're born with a weak Dan Tian.  This shows up with genetic malformations or bone problems that start in childhood. 

Sometimes we create Dan Tian problems from working too hard; stressing out; or not getting proper nutrition. 

Your Dan Tian weakens when you're recovering from illness, or after an injury. 

Having a baby weakens the Dan Tian temporarily.  

The 3 parts of the Dan Tian line up roughly with the 3 parts of the core, or Bandhas, in yoga.  

Other than "Ren 4," we have the center of the chest ("Ren 17") and between the eyes ("Yin Tang").  

To strengthen the Dan Tian, acupuncture works, of course.  

Posture is also key to a healthy Dan Tian.  In yoga, you want all 3 "locks" active in your poses.  This protects your spine and strengthens your muscles.  

There are Qi Gong, Tai Qi, and martial arts movements that balance the Dan Tian.  Deep breathing helps the Dan Tian.  As does meditation.  

Be patient.  An imbalance like this will take time to heal.  Each exercise or treatment helps build it back up.  We get a little bit better each time, I think it helps to remember.  There's no quick fix to something that took years to break.  Or if you're born with it.  The best thing we can do, the only thing we can do, is keep at it.  

How the Dan Tian Relates to Back Pain

The Dan Tian is opposite your back. 

If you're familiar with acupuncture, you may see how that's significant.  Opposites like Yin and Yang frequently come into play. 

When people say to "strengthen your core" to get rid of back pain, this is (basically) what they're talking about.  

It's one thing to do a PT exercise or something from a Youtube video for back pain. It's quite another to have a deep, body-level understanding how to constantly and consistently activate your core throughout your day to keep the pain away.  

One common exercise given for back pain is called "Cobra Pose" in yoga. ( * NOTE:  I'm not recommending to Google this and start doing it.  Please keep reading. :) * 

Why it often won't work to affect long-term pain or posture is that it's often done completely WRONG.  

❌ Many people focus on arching their back in the Cobra.  

While this may work for some people, it won't teach you anything about posture or core strength.  It's merely another stretch.  

What I focus on when I do the Cobra, is on my Dan Tian.  Pushing it into the floor.  And then, NOT arching. 

Arching of the back - let's refer to that as the "Cow" position:  

Instead, in my Cobra, I'm doing the opposite of that.  I'm doing a Cat.  

I'm pushing my lower abdominals into the floor.  From there, I focus on LENGTHENING my spine, not curving it.  Strong muscles are long muscles.  Short muscles may seem stronger, but they're strong through tension.  As you may already know, things that hold tension break easily.  

Here's a cue that helps me:  think if you put a temporary tattoo on your sacrum.  Now, picture holding your back in a way that shrinks that tattoo.  Does that work for you?  Let me know!  

Now, picture that "shrinking" going up your spine, breath by breath.  You should also feel at the same time, more engagement in your core/ Dan Tian.  

Over time, this can correct an overly curved spine by strengthening the core and keeping the shoulders down and back.  

If you get this, awesome.  😎  If not, reach out with any questions.