In this post:
Yong Quan or “Gushing Spring”: Kidney 1 acupuncture point
As promised, I’m going to start introducing some acupressure points that you can use at home for better health and wellbeing. And a great place to start is with Yong Quan, the Kidney 1 acupuncture point. This is the only meridian point on the sole of the foot. Because it is directly in contact with the earth, this is a great point to use if you are feeling anxious, unsupported or ungrounded. It is deeply calming, and can draw excess energy away from the head to ease headaches and insomnia.
Thanks to its location on the sole of the foot, the Kidney 1 acupuncture point is also our connection to the Earth’s energetic pulse – the Schumann Resonance. Grounding ourselves upon the Earth through this point allows us to both plug into a potent source of Qi, and to remember our place in the great web of life. In this way, this point can be both deeply nourishing and calming for feelings of exhaustion, burnout and that tired-but-wired feeling.
The traditional name of the Kidney 1 acupuncture point is Yong Quan, meaning “Gushing Spring” or “Bubbling Well”. This alludes to the Kidneys’ association with fluids, and their connection to the Water element. Water is steady, slow and patient, and balances Fire. Therefore, this point can anchor Floating Yang that is rushing up to the head and causing hot flushes, headaches and racing thoughts.
The Kidney meridian continues up to the legs and abdomen, ending at the collarbone, which is why it can ease palpitations and also ease pain of the foot, leg and back. We can warm the Kidney meridian points to ensure the smooth flow of Qi: we say that “where there is free flow, there is no pain”. And this is why we love slippers and foot baths in Chinese Medicine! More on that below.
How to find the Kidney 1 acupuncture point
The Kidney 1 acupuncture point is located a third of the way from the base of your toes to the edge of your heel, You can point your toes to find the hollow area between the metatarsals (foot bones) of the 2nd and 3rd toes. This a large point, so take some time to connect with this area and feel which spots are most responsive, and which feel best to touch.
What are acupressure points & how to use them
Acupressure points are the same as acupuncture points, but instead of needles we stimulate the point with firm pressure, usually a thumb (though those of us who have had a Thai foot massage have probably experienced the acupressure poking stick!). Acupressure points are stimulated for a few minutes at a time, once or more times per day.. The exact location of acupuncture / acupressure points can vary from individual to individual, and even from day to day, so feel around for the most reactive point and go for gold!
What do the Kidneys do?
In Chinese Medicine, the Kidney channel and associated systems govern the brain, spine and organs of the lower abdomen (kidneys, bladder, prostate, reproductive organs, adrenal glands), while also having a bearing on knee and lumbar pain. And when we look at the anatomy and the foot, leg, pelvis and spine, we see that all of these areas of influence are in fact connected to the base of the foot by the fascia (the semi-conductive wrapping that surrounds all muscles, tendons, bones, organs, etc.). Therefore, Kidney 1 is a wonderful point to:
• calm yourself if feeling anxious, ungrounded, dizzy or light-headed
• relax elevated blood pressure
• cool hot flushes
• quiet the mind and drop off to sleep
• ease foot, leg and lower back pain
• soak in the ocean
• walk barefoot on sand or grass
• warm up with a foot bath (Epsom Salts are a bonus) or heat bag
The Kidneys like to be kept warm & cosy
Keeping Kidney 1 and the whole foot warm is important for the optimal functioning of the organs ruled by the Kidneys. This has been borne out in research that shows that cooling the feet can directly trigger a urinary tract infection in susceptible individuals. Keeping the feet warm is also important for those suffering leg pain, swelling or arthritis. So keep your feet toasty with slippers and / or socks, even though it might be tempting to walk barefoot on tiles or other cold surfaces at home (barefoot walks on the beach and grass are an exception!). You can also warm the Kidney 1 acupuncture point – and any other Kidney meridian points – with a heat bag, the warmth of your hand or a deeply nourishing foot soak.
Busy mind? Restless sleep? Anxiety? Hot flushes?
Try a hot foot soak to nourish your Kidney 1 acupuncture point
This simple tip can help to ground and anchor our Qi, and calm the Shen. The Shen is that vital spark of life in someone’s eye: it is our spirit, our soul, our consciousness and our awareness – and an unsettled or unsupported Shen can present as anxiety, wild dreams, racing thoughts and shallow sleep.
When things feel really busy and “heated” in the head, we can encourage balance by bringing the action as far away from the head as possible – to the feet, and the beautifully grounding Kidney meridian points there. This is a great way to collect the Shen and anchor Qi and Yang, so if you’re dreaming vividly, not dropping into deep sleep, or having trouble settling down at night, this might be for you!
Fill a tub with water as hot as you can comfortably handle, and add 1/2 to 1 cup of Epsom Salts (I always go for more!). Submerge your feet – you may need to go slow if it’s really hot! – and relax for at least 20 minutes.
Allow your mind to soften, and sink your awareness to down into your feet, to the Kidney meridian points there – and especially the Kidney 1 acupuncture point. Observe as any edgy energy is drawn out of your feet into the water, and feel any hardness in your body-mind-soul melt away as you do so.
In Chinese Medicine, minerals (like magnesium, which is in Epsom Salts) are often used to sedate and ground Qi, due to their heavy nature. Meanwhile, salt is used to soften hardness, so this combination of salty and anchoring in Epsom Salts can be very calming for our body-mind-soul.
In addition to the Kidney meridian points, we have many other meridian points in the feet, so this foot soak can be a treatment for the whole being. Enjoy!
Grounding through the Kidney 1 acupuncture point
As we’ve learnt, the Kidney 1 acupuncture point is a powerful one for grounding what is unrooted, calming the spirit and supporting the whole system. Connecting this point directly, barefoot, with the Earth connects us with the Earth’s Qi – its electrons and electromagnetic field – and can help to harmonise our own energy.
While connection with the Earth’s Qi has long been prized in the ancient health sciences, modern research is “discovering” that grounding can reduce inflammation, and for this reason has been enthusiastically adopted by various professional athletes. Other research suggests that grounding can lower stress and support nervous system regulation, ease pain, support sleep, and even help in the thinning of any over-coagulated blood (for better blood flow).
It has been shown to be beneficial for many common health disorders, like cardiovascular disease and autoimmune conditions like lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Grounding has also been shown to alter the numbers of circulating immune cells, as well as different immune markers and various chemical factors related to inflammation.
How to practice grounding
While the strongest results come from grounding with bare feet or bare skin, it can practised anywhere – even in shoes or 20 floors up in the sky! Simply allow your breath, and your awareness, to sink down to your root, and all the way down your legs. You can visualise tree roots growing down from your root, reaching down your legs and through your feet – at Kidney 1 – into the deep, constant Earth below. Allow yourself to soften and sink, feeling supported and steady.
More practices to nourish life
I have created 2 beautiful programs to further support you in grounding, anchoring and nourishing your Qi and the radiant health of your body-mind-soul.
Our daily habits are the foundation for our health and “immunity”. Every moment, meal, drink, thought, habit, etc. can bring us into greater alignment and can charge up our Qi – the life force energy that fuels every aspect of health. This is why I created the Radiant Energy Reset. A gentle, self-guided path of ancient health rituals, like the Kidney meridian care tips I shared here. Designed to cultivate Qi, Yin, Yang and inner connection – guided by the wisdom of your own body. Backed by ancient wisdom, not wellness trends. All the details here.
And in Coming Home to You, I show you how to cultivate and boost your Qi and your Shen – your spirit, soul, consciousness. Work with your meridians and energy centres, with just 10 minutes a day of Qi Gong & Emotional Alchemy. Connect to YOUR innate wisdom & guidance – and feel grounded in YOU. You already have all you need within. A gentle embodiment journey, instant access and at your own pace. Details here.
Recent Posts
In this post: Are you fed up with constant sneezing, itchy eyes, drippy nose - and the brain fog and fatigue that goes with it? Ever wondered why the slightest [...]
We've all seen the internet hype out there about ice baths. But, are ice baths good for you? For starters, they simply don't feel good - I mean, the facial expression [...]
In this post: I love seeing Chinese Medicine acknowledged for the powerful and time-tested healing system that it is! And recently, one of our foundational "Yang Sheng" practices has been [...]
In this post: If you've caught a little chill - or been caught in aircon, draughts or sudden cold weather - then you might want to brew up this beautiful [...]