Zong Jin

Abstract

The primary function of the Zong Jin or Ancestral Sinews is to maintain the integrity of the anatomic and functional relationships of the head, chest and pelvic cavities and allow the circulation of Qi and Blood (Xue) in these cavities. The Ancestral Sinews include the muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia associated with five paired muscles: the sternocleidomastoideus (SCM) muscles (connects the head to the chest), the diaphragm (connects the chest to the spine), the iliopsoas muscles (connects the spine to the pelvis), the rectus abdominus muscles (connects the chest to the pelvis) and the paravertebral and gluteal muscles which support the spine. The Ancestral Sinews also provide padded areas to absorb physical and emotional shocks and store latent external and internal pathogens to protect the Zang-fu organs. When these sinews become affected by pathology, stiffness, pain and trigger or other Ah-shi points are found when palpated and reduced range of motion can be observed in the affected region. Involvement of the Ancestral Sinews may be associated with chronic pain, lameness, dermatopathies, digestive disorders, respiratory disease and other chronic disorders that do not completely respond to routine acupuncture treatment. To fully resolve these disorders, one or more of the Ancestral Sinews may need to be released. The muscles, ligaments and tendons of the Ancestral Sinews are first addressed with acupuncture of GB-41 and GB-27. Additional treatment requires the use of specific acupoints for each one of the Ancestral Sinews as follows: for SCM GB-12, TH-17 and ST-12, for the diaphragm BL-17 and GV-4, for iliopsoas muscles ST-25 and CV-2, for rectus abdominus muscles treat tight points along the KID and ST Channels and for paravertebral muscles BL-10, BL-17, BL-23 and BL-40.