G-JO ACCUPRESSURE
by Michale
Blate
Self-treating Colds
G-Jo Point #9, Stomach Meridian
Point 36.
Michael Blate is Executive Director of
The G-Jo Institute, a natural health educational organization he co-founded
in 1976. He is the author of more than 20 books on natural healing;
and since 1978, he has appeared on nearly 2,000 radio and TV talk shows
to share self-health information and techniques. For a free, illustrated
special report on the healing benefits of G-Jo Acupressure, please contact:
The G-Jo Institute, P.O. Box 848060, Dept. T, Hollywood, Florida 33084-0060
USA; 954-791-1562; www.g-jo.com
As everyone knows, colds last for seven days without treatment; but
with treatment, they only last a week. However, that's a truism that
isn't really true, anymore. In fact, there are at least several ways
to stop the beginnings of a cold dead in its tracks. Three in particular
come immediately to mind: G-Jo Acupressure ...ice ...and "Dr. Mike's
Special Tonic & Wallpaper Remover."
I'll describe these - and several other "Michael-tested"
cold remedies - in a moment.
What are "colds"? The word "colds" has been applied
to many symptoms that come together and last, as I've said, for about
a week. First and foremost, they are upper respiratory infections. Symptoms
of colds and influenza typically include fever, cough, dull aches and
pains, nasal congestion (catarrh), etc.
From an "energy medicine" standpoint, a cold is an allergic
reaction that occurs when the lungs have suffered enough abuse to cause
a "bout of cleansing" to occur. That's why we always feel
somehow "cleaner and more refreshed" after a cold finally
departs. An infection, yes; but an opportunistic one that only occurs
when the lungs are "out of balance."
And because of this, a number of doctors of energy medicine -which
would include acupuncturists, homeopaths, naturopaths and such - often
suggest letting a "cold" just run its course. It's simply
nature's way of saying, "Ease up on your lungs, dear friend. Make
a change in your life."
The body-and-mind ("bodymind") must have a means of balancing
("cleansing" or healing) itself and purging the abundance
of abuses we heap upon ourselves. Some people accomplish this through
headaches or other types of recurring "pattern pains"; others
cleanse themselves through periodic digestive upset. And in my own case,
and apparently many others, a "cold" is the way that this
natural healing response happens.
Actually, I seldom experience colds any longer since I made some important
improvements in my "healthstyle." In the first place, I became
a vegetarian and stopped smoking nearly a quarter-century ago. Doing
that reduced my bi-monthly "colds" to something more like
twice a year. Getting rid of all refined sugar and most dairy products
cut those in half, some five years later.
Then the "hot shower/cold shower" technique I described to
you about a year ago (take as hot a shower as you can comfortably manage,
then finish with a cold shower), just about erased colds from my life,
forever. It's a simple, but very effective method ...especially when
you do it consistently.
The few colds that do make it through that first line of defense begin
(in me) as a scratchy throat. Left untended, they progress to a terribly
sore throat, then racking, productive coughing for at least half a box
of Kleenex. Other sufferers have their own patterns of "doing a
cold."
I have discovered, however, that there are three G-Jo Acupressure techniques
which can nearly always "reverse" the process ...if I trigger
them early enough. One point is on my scalp, near the crown of my head
- it always becomes sensitive when a cold is about to strike. Simply
triggering that point a dozen times, or so, usually does the trick.
The other two points also work well. One set of them is where the base
of my skull meets the top of my neck, just to either side of the spine.
Pressing and massaging around that area (when the scratchy throat tells
me a cold wants to manifest itself) will reveal the tenderness that
is common to most "good" G-Jo Acupressure points.
The last of these point-pairs is found on the face, just where the
nostrils join the cheeks (G-Jo point #112 - see illustration). Massaging
them deeply enough to cause a wincing discomfort will usually (in my
case) "cancel" the itch in my throat. I find that, if I can
reverse "the itch," I'll probably keep it from descending
into my lungs.
Another useful technique for nipping a cold in the bud revolves around
the use of ice. Take two ice cubes, put them on a plate, and set the
plate on the floor. Now place the pad of each big (great) toe upon an
ice cube and, keeping the toes "iced," watch TV or read for
a few minutes. Here's what will happen: For the first minute, your toe-pads
will feel painfully cold ...but let them stay on the ice, nonetheless.
Shortly, the pain will numb; and for the next ten or 15 minutes, it
will be tolerable. On the second surge of true discomfort, remove the
toes from the ice. You should feel the cold actually breaking up during
that time of being "on ice."
Then there's "Dr. Mike's Tonic...." This is an absolutely
amazing potion I concocted years ago (and I still have a gallon or so
of it remaining). It is a tincture of cayenne - very hot cayenne - peppers
and ginger, in a vodka base. An eye-dropper bottle full of this stuff
lasted four of us (taking it every day) in India, our entire three-week
trip. In other words, you can only handle a few drops of this at a time.
But WOW!
Taken as soon as you feel symptoms such as I've described for myself
(we each seem to have our own "kind" of colds), a couple of
drops of "Dr. Mike's" will curl my toes, water my eyes and
cure my cold in a flash. Or almost any other kind of bronchial or respiratory
distress, it would seem.
But what if you've let the cold go and "do its thing"? Here,
again, "Dr. Mike's" can be prescribed...if you have the stomach
for it. Otherwise, a nice pot of ginger tea - well, infusion (or decoction,
if you want to be totally correct) - can work literal wonders. At least,
temporary wonders.
And don't forget Sanjeevini, the remarkable prayer-based method we
brought back from India and which has since become one of our top, two
healing modalities at The G-Jo Institute. Yes, there's a "sacred
diagram" for colds and influenza. And you should add any other
symptoms, as well: Fever ...headache ...constipation - just throw them
in the pot.
Remember the technique? Take an eye-dropper bottle filled with water
(for example) and place it atop the special "healing diagram"
I've included here. Say any prayer you choose for 15 seconds, or so,
then start taking a few drops of this new "medicine" you've
just created for yourself.
This remarkable healing system is free for all to use. The original
manual, complete with the "healing fragrance" diagrams, may
be downloaded by anyone from the Internet. It is found at www.uriel.net/~lakhani/index1.htm
However, as it was originally produced in India, much of the supplementary
material will be rather unfamiliar to a Western reader. The G-Jo Institute
has produced its own Sanjeevini instructional manual, complete with
the same diagrams and essential information, but written with the Westerner
in mind. This report is priced at $22.00 (postage included).
There are many other more-or-less "natural" cold remedies
I've uncovered over the years - painting the soles of your feet with
iodine...placing crushed garlic on the soles of the feet after protecting
them with a layer of Vaseline (never place crushed garlic against unprotected
skin - it's too "strong") ...holding ice on the nose...and
dozens more. These, too, have just become available in another Self-Health
Report we've published (also $22.00 postpaid).
But between the G-Jo Acupressure, the ice and "Dr. Mike's Tonic,"
your next cold should be a breeze...assuming you survive the cures.
Be well!
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by
Michale Blate
In many ways, G-Jo Acupressure points are not unlike keys on your computer
keyboard. Push one key, this happens; push another, that happens. Through
a complex system of wires and signals, a little fingertip pressure far
removed from the computers screen, CPU or diskdrive can make great things
occur: A book produced a business deal done a letter to a friend or
loved one.
If your body is the computer, and G-Jo points the keys, it can mean
something even better relief from sometimes even longstanding suffering.
G-Jo, the least sophisticated form of acupuncture without needles, relies
on fewer than 200 of the body's more than 1200 known acupuncture points.
These are the tiny spots that respond best to both self- and therapist-applied
pressure which is applied in a deep, digging or goading kind of triggering.
What separates a G-Jo acupoint from all other acupoints? Two features,
primarily: A broadacting quality (most G-Jo points have at least half
a dozen uses); and it being easy enough to find and apply for self-treatment
of various symptoms and bodily dysfunctions (many acupuncture points
are difficult to find or have only a few, known uses).
There are virtually no common ailments that respond to drugstore or
OTC remedies which will not respond equally well and in many cases,
better to G-Jo Acupressure point stimulation, properly performed. Knowing
the best point(s) for the particular symptom or ailment is, of course,
important. But as mentioned in my last column, some points are better
more broadacting than others, making them good first points to try.
Especially if you have no idea which points to use.
Such an acupoint is G-Jo point #9. Known in Chinese as tsu san li,
or Walk Three Miles, this seemingly omnipotent point is said to give
an exhausted person enough energy to even walk three more (Chinese)
miles (li). In acupuncture (energy medicine) terminology, G-Jo Point
#9 is more commonly known as Stomach Meridian Point 36.
There are no less than four dozen(!) uses commonly ascribed to this
point, ranging from constipation and bowel distress to tachycardia,
prostate disorders and pneumonia. From an acupressure standpoint, this
point can frequently be used in conjunction with many other points,
since it has such a profound result upon the entire bodymind.
The downside: This point is rather more difficult to locate than many
other G-Jo acupoints. Specifically, it will be found in the depression
or trough that runs parallel to the front of the shinbone, to the outer
(lateral) side of that bone, and about three body inches about the width
of one hand, measured across the knuckles beyond, or distal to, the
bottom of the kneecap (patella), toward the foot.
But it is buried deeply in that trough-like depression very deeply.
You must normally use the bent knuckle of the pointer finger or the
eraser tip of a pencil, not just light fingertip pressure, both to find
and trigger the point effectively.
This point is often useful in treating eye problems, lower back distress,
colds and influenza, and nearly any ailment of the gastrointestinal
system. Like G-Jo Point #7 (described in last issues column), which
is often used in combination with #9, the latter is a first choice for
easing distress in both the internal and external sexual organs. In
fact, G-Jo #9 may be used in conjunction with any other acupressure
treatment for problems occurring between the toes and upper abdomen.
It is the great point for indigestion.
Intestinal and peptic ulcers, pain in the middle and lower parts of
the body, knee and leg problems, hip and gall bladder distress, and
itchiness of the skin all tend to respond favorably to G-Jo Acupressure
triggering of this point. Because of its effects upon the lower body
organs, and in particular, the kidneys, people suffering from fear and
stress (which is described as a nagging, low-level fear that has no
apparent rationale) may find relief with point #9. In energy medicine,
fearful feelings are often ascribed to imbalanced functioning of the
kidneys and urinary bladder.
In short, this is a point for guts, both physically (the entire gut)
and emotionally (to calm stress).
All G-Jo Acupressure is done bilaterally (that is, on either side of
the body) unless the point lies atop the frontal or spinal meridian.
Once you have located the point, trigger it in the deep, goading massage
that separates G-Jo from most of the various other forms of acupressure.
Work the point deeply until an acupressure reaction a feeling of warmth,
clamminess, perspiration, etc. occurs. But in any event, even if youre
one of the few people who doesn't experience an acupressure reaction,
the point need not be triggered more than a minute, or two, to produce
beneficial results.
For lay use, G-Jo Acupressure is applied symptomatically that is, as
soon as symptoms manifest themselves. If this is a good (effective)
point, by the time you've finished triggering the spot, your symptoms
should be greatly reduced or (at least temporarily) totally gone. While
the target symptom(s) may eventually return, you should enjoy increasing
spans of relief time, as the power of acupressure restores balance to
your ailing body. And to an energy doctor, increasingly longer periods
of relief indicate that healing is in process.
Unlike the blocking effects of certain pain-killers, acupressure is
therapeutic. If you do not receive benefits from the process, it usually
means: You are using the wrong acupressure point (keep trying others
until you find one that works); you're not doing the process properly
did you actually find the tiny-but-tender point, and work it deeply
enough?; or your ailment may be more serious than it seems. Obviously,
it's then time to take the next step and seek professional help.
This remarkably simple technique has been a mainstay of Oriental families
for thousands of years. Today, the basic knowledge of using these acupressure
points is one effective way of bridging the gap between the traditional
wisdom of the Eastern way of healing and the marvels of Western science.
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