Healing Stones for the Vital Organs

This article is an excerpt from "Healing Stones for the Vital Organs" and taken from the website www.innertraditions.comnnThe Organ Clock nnTHE ORGAN CLOCK in traditional Chinese medicine is a magnificent aid for the early identification of energy disturbances that, in the long run, can lead to bodily illness or psychic ailments. With the organ clock, the specific conditions of illness can be recognized and swiftly remedied. It is an instrument for the maintenance of health, applicable to both prevention and treatment of disease. nnFUNCTION AREAS AND ORGANS nnThe twelve function areas are mostly named after specific organs. They are not organs as delineated by Western medicine but instead represent a much broader concept, embracing multilevel bodily functions, emotions, psychic aspects, and spiritual abilities. The term organ clock, however, has become established in the literature, and therefore is used in this text. nnEXCHANGE BETWEEN ACTIVITY AND REST nnThe twelve function areas are not equally active and productive at any given time; rather, they have individual high and low phases throughout the course of the day. These phases occur in a fixed rhythm corresponding to the path of the sun. A function area is especially active at the time of day best suited for the performance of its duties. nn The activity of a function area does not decrease abruptly, but in a gently descending curve, reaching its low point after twelve hours, then rising again from there. nnONE AFTER THE OTHER nnEach function area works with its greatest strength for two hours daily. As soon as its activity wanes, the next function area reaches its own high point of activity. Thus the high points of the function areas alternate in a two-hour rhythm. The organ clock shows the rhythmic progression of these high points. The function area indicated for a specific time of day reaches its maximum activity during this time. At the same time, the function area on the opposite side of the organ clock is at its low point of activity, while the other areas are at different degrees of strength and weakness. nnHELP FROM THE ORGAN CLOCK nnWith the help of the organ clock, disturbances in the function areas can be recognized early on and treated, often long before they lead to illness. Someone who often awakens between 1:00 and 3:00 in the morning probably has a disturbance in the function area of the liver. Someone who feels very tired around 2:00 p.m. may have problems with small intestine function. As soon as such things are identified, the problems can be tackled. nn The organ clock allows easy discernment of which activities are best suited to which time of day, and which should be avoided, if possible, because they lead, over the long term, to illness. Synchronizing your daily life with the organ clock is a very effective way to preserve good health to a ripe old age. nn[From the Application of Healing Stones chapter] nnCHOOSING THE RIGHT STONES nnEvery application begins with choosing the right stones. For this, study those chapters within the second part of the book, Function Areas: Physical and Psychic Aspects of Healing, first checking the descriptions of the individual healing stones for each function area in order to get an overview. In doing this, take notes on the themes related to each function area.nn Now look over your notes and decide which theme is most important at the moment. If this decision is difficult, do it by elimination, progressively eliminating the less important themes until you have isolated the central theme. This should at least bring you to the point of focusing on a single function area. If several different themes within this function area stand out to you, this is normal. But in order to choose the right healing stone, it is also important to look within the function area and see which theme interests you most, then proceed with it. nn Once you have found or chosen a central theme, read the descriptions of the corresponding healing stones and decide which stone fits best. If this is a difficult decision, select as small a number as possible of appealing healing stones and compare their descriptions with those in the other themes of the function area. The healing stone with the overall description that fits you best is the right stone for you. nnnThe Lungs nnFROM THE CHINESE PERSPECTIVE, the day begins with the time of the lungs. In Zen Buddhist monasteries monks often rise at 4:00 a.m.--the high point of the lungs’ time--in order to begin the day with breathing practice or meditation. In this way, they use the full strength of their lung energy to meet the day and the world. nnRHYTHMS OF THE BODY nnBreathing, beginning with a baby’s first cry and ending with death, is--together with the heartbeat--the most dependable and most important rhythmical function of the body. The energy of the lungs is central to all the rhythms that determine life--from regular, strong breathing, to the pulse, to the rhythms of sleeping and waking. An irregular life rhythm (for example, a constantly changing work schedule) weakens the lungs. nnAmethyst calms breathing and allows it to become deeper. Amethyst helps to achieve a regular flow in life, including time for composing oneself and inner rest. Improves sleep and feeling of being awake and conscious during the day. nnApophyllite encourages openness to changing perceptions and needs when these have been suppressed by too much regulation. Supports confidence nin the flow of nature. nnBlue chalcedony and moss agate facilitate harmony between internal rhythms and the rhythms of nature. Also helpful for sensitivity to weather, temperature, seasonal changes, and jet lag. nnFluorite promotes regular bodily rhythms and restores order from disharmony brought about by irregular life changes. nnRock crystal (quartz) brings bodily rhythms into resonance with natural rhythms, especially the alternation of day and night and changing seasonal light levels.