There is an acupuncture point on your body that ancient practitioners wrote “treats all diseases”. Wow! Widely used in many acupuncture treatments to build white and red blood cells and fight inflammation, this point is also a digestive superhero.
Zusanli is what we call this point, which means distance or rectify. Originally the translation was for the word li which is a measurement of distance, and it was said a person could walk 3 miles further after exhaustion if this point had been stimulated.
Meant to strengthen or boost the qi, Zusanli works on several digestive disorders along with the spleen (the Chinese center of the digestive process), to transform and transport the food we eat. To ancient practitioners, good stomach qi was life. Even when faced with a serious illness, if one was determined to have strong stomach qi, healing and recovery would occur. Stomach 36 point or Zusanli, is the single most important point in the body to stimulate the action of the stomach and spleen in generating qi and blood. (from A Manual of Acupuncture, Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker, 2007.)
Tonifying qi in the entire body is what most individuals seeking acupuncture need to treat their underlying condition, so this is a widely used point. Also good for treating manic behavior, the blood enhancing properties of Zusanli connect it to the heart and unbalanced emotions such as manic depressive behavior, abusive talk, and outrageous laughter.
Stimulating this point using acupressure can increase energy, boost immunity, and help ease digestive distress. Individuals with alternating constipation and diarrhea, or slow digestion can benefit from daily manipulation of this point.