Warming the Belly

As a practitioner of abdominal therapy, I always start a session by tuning into the temperature of different areas of the abdomen. One common theme I see with prolapsed organs, fibroids, thyroid dysfunction, low energy, and emotionally “stuck” clients is a cold belly.

“Kidney Yang deficiency indicates that the warming, energizing, and controlling function of the kidneys is inadequate.  The kidney yang is often compared to a fire that enkindles the spirit and animates all other life processes.  Typical symptoms: cold signs such as aversion to cold, cold extremities, pale complexion, weak knees and low back, mental lethargy and poor spirit, lack of sexual desire, irregular menses, clear vaginal discharge, sterility, frequent urination, clear urine, edema, asthma, lack of willpower and direction, and an enlarged pale tongue.  The person tends to be inactive, indecisive, and unproductive.”  from Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford

Cold in the body is like ice; it’s hard, contracting, and motionless. Fibroids are a sign of cold, blocked energy in the pelvis.  Years ago, I did my Chi Nei Tsang certification week with Master Mantak Chia. One of the fellow students was a young woman with a large fibroid. The fibroid was large enough to protrude from her lower abdomen. During a Chi Kung demonstration, Master Chia administered Cosmic Healing Chi Kung to her fibroid. To us, it just looked like he was moving his hand in a counterclockwise spiral over her belly. He then invited us to feel the cold that was streaming from her womb. The air above her belly felt very cold indeed. He then reversed his hand motion to a clockwise direction, and we watched in awe as her belly softened and the fibroid shrank, much like ice melting away (seriously, it was incredible!). He then invited us to feel the space above her womb, and to my surprise, I felt the warmth radiating off her belly like heat radiating off warm coals. I’ll never forget that experience! See my fibroid management post here.

There are several causes of cold in the body, for instance, excessive amounts of cold foods, cold external environment, weak constitution, and even stored emotions. Excessive fear and insecurity can make us feel frozen and rigid like ice. According to Chinese medicine, the kidneys hold the fear response. If you feel you have cold conditions, see your local acupuncturist /herbalist or Chi Nei Tsang practitioner. All the organs work in a controlling and nourishing manner, so if you have kidney yang deficiency, your practitioner may work with your spleen and pancreas since the spleen supplies the kidneys with yang (yang is warming).

Self-Care

• Avoid cold, uncooked foods, especially in the Winter.  Add warming foods and teas like cinnamon twigs, ginger root, cloves, rosemary, garlic, caraway, and walnuts.  “Walnuts specifically improve the kidney yang and its capacity to ‘grasp the qi”.- Paul Pitchford. 
• Wear a Haramaki belly warmer.
  A Haramaki is like a sweater for your womb and kidneys.  It covers your belly, kidneys, and pelvis.  It’s also great for cycling, yoga, and breastfeeding. Jeans these days are so low-cut that it’s hard to find shirts that are long enough to cover the “muffin top” while seated or cycling. The Haramaki is an excellent solution. I bought three: a black one, an angora one, and a red one.
  Pregnant women in Central America wear red ones over their bellies to protect the baby from the “evil eye” (jealousy).

• Express and process your emotions. More on Kidney love here.  See a good counselor and/or get a Chi Nei Tsang massage.
• Chi Nei Tsang (CNT) is a form of bodywork used thousands of years ago in China by Taoist monks to strengthen and purify their bodies on their journey to enlightenment. CNT encompasses massage, breathwork, and Chi Kung principles to cleanse and purify the internal organs of built-up toxins and emotional stress.
• Self-Care Abdominal Massage. You can learn self-abdominal massage from a Chi Nei Tsang or an Arvigo® practitioner, or in one of my classes.
• Moxibustion: a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves burning mugwort to facilitate healing. It has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. The burning of moxa over specific areas is believed to expel cold from organs and meridians, thereby improving the flow of blood and qi.  Moxa is restorative to the uterus and an astringent decongestant, making it great for pelvic congestion. It is used for infertility, irregular menstruation, painful periods, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other cold disorders. It’s a comforting, relaxing treatment.
• A BioMat is a bed of amethyst crystals that emits far-infrared heat and negative ions. I have one on my massage table and use one at home to lie on like a cat basking on a sun-drenched surface.
• Walking and full body movements that keep the blood flowing!