Elegant Mansion – a tonifying acupressure point that soothes anxiety and pain
Kidney 27 can relieve chronic pain (especially neck pain), improve respiratory health, and support a calm nervous system
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Kidney 27, or Elegant Mansion, is the last acupressure point of the kidney meridian. It’s considered a master point for toniying the entire body, connected to an earth energy circuit that starts with the Kidney 1 points on the soles of the feet. Stimulating Kidney 27 is said to help circulate healthy energy throughout the body and improve deep, diaphragmatic breathing – and can therefore be helpful for symptoms of chronic illness or pain.
Where is Kidney 27?
Kidney 27 sits right where the clavicle meets the first rib. If you feel for the medial ends of your clavicle (closer to the center of the body) and drop down just below the knobby end of the bone, you’ll feel a little hollow. Your fingers will be on the joint between your first rib and your sternum (breast bone), directly underneath the medial end of your clavicle. That little hollow is Kidney 27. It may be a bit sore or tender to the touch.
Kidney 27, the first rib, and neck pain
In TCM, Kidney 27 is said to help energetically with back pain, throat pain, and neck pain. I feel it’s particularly useful for neck pain. From a western perspective, pressure on Kidney 27 can help align the first rib. Alignment here is key to healthy cervical (neck) posture and range of motion.
The first rib is like a little necklace sitting right below the collarbone. It’s about as wide around as a circle you make with your thumbs and forefingers – in other words, not very large! In my bodywork practice, the first rib is vulnerable to shifting off-center and getting stuck, either at its joints with the sternum in the front of the body, or with its joints with T1, the first thoracic vertebra of the spine. Gentle pressure on Kidney 27 can help re-adjust the first rib into alignment, sometimes with an audible click.
In my experience, having the first rib is “out” is extremely uncomfortable. When the first rib is in good alignment, movement in the entire cervical spine feels easier and softer. Twisting your head from left to right is more fluid. It’s less of a strain on the neck to look down while cooking or reading. Sometimes just breathing into Kidney 27 and adding gentle pressure on your exhale is enough to reset the first rib and alleviate neck pain. Any energetic benefits that come along for the ride are welcome!
Kidney 27, breathing, and anxiety relief
In TCM, Kidney 27 is said to increase breathing capacity and support healthy respiratory function overall. Perhaps as aresult of this, Kidney 27 is also used for alleviating anxiety. Practicing deepening your breathing, especially lengthening your exhale, can help soothe symptoms of anxiety, and including gentle pressure on Kidney 27 is a great way to hone your focus.
Ways to self-stimulate Kidney 27
The easiest way to stimulate Kidney 27 by yourself is just by using your fingertips. Play with positioning to find what feels most comfortable for you. Sometimes just pressure feels good, or a circular motion. Tapping the points is another option. I love using tuning forks on these points (they are terrific for releasing the first rib). Whatever you choose, stay with the points long enough to deepen your breathing and allow the tissue to relax. Gently turning your head from side to side may help with loosening the muscles of the neck and relieving any discomfort there.
To finish
The acupuncture points of Traditional Chinese Medicine are wonderful tools for meditation, anxiety relief, and self-healing. Kidney 27 is a master point for tonifying the entire body, and is said to support healing chronic illness and pain. In my experience, Kidney 27 is particularly great for supporting a healthy cervical spine, and for improving a meditative focus on diaphragmatic breathing. Using tapping, pressure, or tuning forks, you can self-stimulate this point, and tonify your own Elegant Mansion – your gorgeous body.
Thank you for reading!
Energy flows through you always,
Shona