Restoring the Precursors to Autonomic Balance
The practitioner’s role is to facilitate the restoration of autonomic balance and remove neurological interference caused by a nervous system in a high state of arousal. Once parasympathetic tone is restored, the necessary precursors for neuroplasticity are in place.
What is beautiful is that as TCM and somatic therapists begin to integrate a deeper understanding of how to work with the sines to restore vagal tone, we find that it has been hiding in plain sight.
A special thanks to Mr. Peter Deadman and the team at A Manual of Acupuncture for permission to use his images.
Startle Reflex
Role: The Startle Reflex is distinct from the Moro Reflex or FPR, but when reactive, all tend to fire together. Moro Reflex, or startle reflex, involves the sudden extension and then flexion of the arms in response to a startling stimulus. The Tai Yang sinew channels govern the back and outer arms, facilitating this protective, whole-body response to sudden environmental changes.
Integration: Permanent protective mechanism (should modulate).
Corresponds to:
- San Jiao (Arm Shao Yang) and Gallbladder (Leg Shao Yang) Sinew Channels: SJ Channel: the portion that encircles the ear is a primary focus, specifically SJ 15 through SJ 23, GB 22 up through GB 1, and St 8. Region above GB 20: starting point for assessment. Myofascial Trains: Lateral Line (LL).
- Stomach (Leg Yang Ming) Channel: In myofascial train theory, this is DFL and SFL, specifically focusing on ST 8, ST 7, ST 6, ST 5–ST 1, ST 2, ST 3, ST 4, then moving down to ST 9, ST 10, and ST 11. Myofascial Trains: DFL, SFL.
- Small Intestine (Arm Tai Yang) and Urinary Bladder (Leg Tai Yang) Sinew Channels: these are the paired Tai Yang channels. Myofascial Trains: Superficial Back Line (SBL): corresponds to the Urinary Bladder channel. Deep Back Arm Line (DBAL) and Superficial Back Arm Line (SBAL): correspond to the Small Intestine channel.
- Yang Qiao Mai: This is what allows the full-body pattern to run; these channels of secondary ancestry are where this plays out.
- Ren Mai / Du Mai (Governing Vessel) – Ren 22, 23 in combo with St 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Move this charge down.
Bracing patterns for palpation:
- SJ 16 through SJ 23: specific areas of focus for tension.
- Lateral sides of the neck: palpating up through SJ 17.
- Occiput: Du 15, du 16, UB 10, GB 20, GB 12 – run through to SJ 17 and St 6 (Hands only, no needles)
- Trigeminal plexus: palpating all the way around to the area in front of the ear.
Developmental/Sensory Deficits: Chronic anxiety, exaggerated “jumpiness” to sound/touch, and an inability to filter out background noise (auditory processing issues).
Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR)
Role: The Fear Paralysis Reflex is an early whole-body withdrawal and freeze response to perceived threat, emerging in utero and ideally integrating before birth. It represents instinctive inhibition of movement and breathing, with heightened autonomic arousal when safety is uncertain or when the “Startle” overwhelms thalamic processing.
Integration: Ideally integrates in utero or soon after (merging into the Moro reflex).
Corresponds to:
- Large Intestine (Arm Yang Ming) and Stomach (Leg Yang Ming) Sinew Channels. Myofascial Trains: Deep Front Line (DBL) and Superficial Front Line (SBL)
- Small Intestine (Arm Tai Yang) and Urinary Bladder (Leg Tai Yang) Sinew Channels. Myofascial Trains: Deep Back Line (DBL) and Superficial Back Line (SBL)
Chong Mai – Dai MAi: Master/couple points ineffective. Work directly on the channel, specifically, the internal pathways. Also, all points that intersect with the retinaculum can be considered part of the Dai Mai. Myofascial Trains: Spiral Line and Lateral Lines together
- UB – Kidney Channel with through and through technique: specifically, Upper Chong and intercostals
- Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and Du Mai (Governing Vessel) – Through and through technique
Bracing patterns for palpation:
- Seated through-and-through tissue work: between the upper Kidney channel and the Urinary Bladder channel posteriorly
- Upper Chong: looking for extreme spasticity Ren 22 through Ren 15, specifically T1 through T3 in teh 1,2,3 intercostals.
- Brachial plexus: anterior aspects and the anterior axilla region
- Pectoralis minor: spasticity and retraction from Ren 18 across to the axilla, including Lung 1 and Lung 2
- Teres minor: posterior aspect of the axilla corresponding to SI 9 and SI 10
- Stomach channel: specifically need to open ST 11, ST 12, and ST 13 to facilitate vagal tone through the clavicular triangle
- ST 13 into ST 14: if ST 14 and ST 15 are spastic, move to P 1
Clinical Pearls:
- Ren 18- Ren 22: Intercostals and spasticity through the upper kidney line
- Brachial plexus: DFAL/Lung Sinew Channel: Extreme spasticity from the Pectoralis minor (Lu 1, Lu 2) through the coracoid @ Li 15. Glue or rigidity @ Ps 2, P3, HT 1, and SI9 and the LI channel @ medial aspect of the humerus, extending down the radial aspect of the forearm to the thumb.
- Large Intestine (LI) Channel: Tension along the radial border (Yang Ming) corresponding to the internal rotation of the arm. Retraction of the shoulder girdle and medial compression of the humerus, locking the brachial plexus.
Developmental/Sensory Deficits: Emotional hypersensitivity, sensory defensiveness (over-reacting to noise/light), low tolerance for change, and “freezing” when overwhelmed.
