Stomach 25 – Tianshu Heaven’s Pivot

Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott

May 27, 2020

Stomach 25 Tianshu is the 25th point on the Stomach or Leg Bright Yang acupuncture channel, and the

Alarm point or Front-Mu point for the Large Intestine

Location of Tianshu

2 cun lateral to the centre of the umbilicus. The point is halfway between the centre line and the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.

abdominal depression besides umbilicus shows Stomach 25 — Photo by Yoann Boyer

Needling Stomach 25

Up to 1.5cun vertically or obliquely inwards towards the centre line. NB: do not needle pregnant women with this point.

Needle sensation at Stomach 25

Local to the area and inferiorly. Often a heavy, gripping sensation.

Moxa: up to 100 cones

This may seem a lot of moxa, and it is, so if you are applying it, do so with great care and attention to your patient. Make the moxa cones small and be aware that this quantity might be used only for severe deficiency.

ACTIONS of Stomach 25 Tianshu

Removes stasis eg of Qi Stasis and Blood Stasis
Readjusts the intestines
Harmonises Spleen and Stomach
Ascends clear Qi and descends turbid Qi
Clears damp and damp-heat

Removes stasis of Qi and Blood

In the abdomen:

pain,
swelling,
oedema,
sharp pains,
abdominal masses in women,
coldness in the area of the umbilicus,
clears excess causing haemorrhoids.

Find out more about stasis of Qi and blood under Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis.

Readjusts the intestines

Acute and chronic problems in digestion
Abdominal fullness with vomiting
Moves food stationery in intestines
Intestinal paralysis
Gas
Intestinal Parasites
Constipation
Dysentery
Poor appetite

Harmonises Spleen and Stomach

Irregular menses
Painful menses
Helps Spleen transform food into Qi and Blood
Strengthens weakness
Sterility from Spleen/Stomach disharmony
Diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency

Ascends clear and descends turbid

Mania, raving, related to Spleen/Stomach disharmony

Clears damp and damp-heat in the form of

Leucorrhoea
Retention of Urine
Diarrhoea with undigested food
Dysentery

Comment on Tianshu, Heaven’s Pivot

The point is said to control the whole lower abdomen, but it also strongly affects the space above the umbilicus.

When your stomach – your abdomen – hurts Tianshu may help.

Its name ‘Heavenly Axis’ or ‘Heavenly Pivot’ refers to the way it acts at their meeting point to readjust and harmonise between the two spaces (ie above and below it) and between the Stomach and the Large Intestine. Useful then for Stomach Qi stagnation.

It can also be used to calm the mind, which after all, has such a major impact on our emotions and our digestion, but personally I would use it with additional points for this purpose. So it can be used for ‘nervous stomach anxiety‘.

In some forms of Japanese acupuncture, they support treatment of eye problems with Stomach 25.

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