The human foot has many acupoints, each of which connects to different parts of the body and reflects the health of those parts. The Ran Gu acupoint, associated with the kidney meridian, can reflect the condition of the kidneys to some extent. Now let's understand the principles of massaging the Ran Gu acupoint to nourish the kidneys and stimulate the appetite.
【Location of Ran Gu Acupoint】
1. Standard positioning: The Ran Gu acupoint is located on the inner edge of the foot, below the medial malleolus, at the junction of the red and white skin.
2. Method of locating the acupoint: The Ran Gu acupoint is located on the inner side of the foot, below the medial malleolus, at the junction of the red and white skin. It can be accessed while lying on your back or sitting upright.
To locate the acupoint quickly: Sit with your feet hanging down, and the obvious bony landmark in front of the inner ankle - the depression below the medial malleolus - is the Ran Gu acupoint.
3. Anatomy of the acupoint: The area below the Ran Gu acupoint consists of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, tibialis posterior muscle, and long flexor muscle of the toes. It is supplied by branches of the medial and plantar arteries of the foot. It is also innervated by the terminal branches of the medial cutaneous nerve of the lower leg and the medial plantar nerve of the foot.
The skin is supplied by the cutaneous branches of the medial cutaneous nerve of the lower leg. This area is the transition zone between the skin of the sole and the dorsum of the foot. The tibialis posterior muscle is innervated by the medial plantar nerve, and the long flexor muscle of the toes is innervated by the muscular branches of the tibial nerve.
【Massaging the Ran Gu Acupoint to Nourish the Kidneys】
The Ran Gu acupoint, also known as "Long Quan Acupoint," is named after the spring of a dragon. Regular stimulation of the Ran Gu acupoint can activate the kidney qi and essence, just like a spring gushing out. It is a commonly used acupoint for kidney health in acupuncture and moxibustion. It has significant effects on nocturnal emission, night sweats, irregular menstruation, weakness in the lower limbs, and sore throat accompanied by coughing up blood.
For male friends in particular, we can protect the health of our kidneys and achieve balance by massaging the Ran Gu acupoint. This is something we should not miss out on. Additionally, the Ran Gu acupoint is the Ying point of the kidney meridian. The Ying point belongs to fire, while the kidney meridian belongs to water. Another important function of the Ran Gu acupoint is to balance the interactions between water and fire in the body.
If you always feel like drinking water and get easily agitated, it may indicate excessive heart fire. By massaging the Ran Gu acupoint, you can use kidney water to calm down the heart fire. If you feel restless at night and have a dry mouth, the Ran Gu acupoint is also a "master" in solving these problems. Massage the Ran Gu acupoint before going to sleep, and you will soon feel more saliva in your mouth, less thirst, and less restlessness, allowing you to sleep soundly.
【Principle of Ran Gu Acupoint for Stimulating the Appetite】
The character "Ran" means "burn" in Chinese. "Gu" indicates that this acupoint is buried deep between the big bones on the inner side of the foot, hence the name "Ran Gu." This is the meaning of this acupoint given by ancient Chinese. Some experts in traditional Chinese medicine also believe that Ran Gu means "burning grain," implying that this acupoint is crucial for digesting food. Therefore, massaging the Ran Gu acupoint can quickly stimulate your appetite.
In addition, massaging the Ran Gu acupoint can also treat discomfort after overeating or the loss of appetite caused by dieting for weight loss. It can be said to have a dual regulatory function. By massaging the Ran Gu acupoint every day, your digestive system will maintain normal sensitivity and vitality.
Massage method: Press firmly with the thumb and then immediately release. When the thumb is pressed down, there will be a strong tingling sensation around the acupoint and even along the kidney meridian of the entire leg. But as you release your finger, the tingling sensation will immediately disappear. After the tingling sensation subsides, repeat the massage on the Ran Gu acupoint 10-20 times using the same method.
Principle: According to the theory of meridians in traditional Chinese medicine, strong and fast stimulation has a purging effect, while gentle and slow stimulation has a tonifying effect. The choice of tonification or purgation method for massaging an acupoint will lead to different effects, even opposite effects.
For the Ran Gu acupoint, we use the purgation method, and it is essential to perform the technique correctly to achieve noticeable results.
