Organ and Muscle Correspondence
Basic Concepts
Say you have a joint problem or a particular muscle problem. You should know that the origin of that pain is NOT where the pain is, but rather someplace else. It is usually related to an organ dysfunction. It goes like this
organ dysfunction => associated muscle tension => worn & painful joints
Good to know, huh? I match up the organs with the muscles/joints for you below but you need a little more info. Dr. Goodheart, the father of muscle response testing, discovered that there was a correspondence between an organ dysfunction and a specific muscle set dysfunction. Dr Thie developed this information into Touch for Health, a self help method for structural problems. What I learned in Touch for Health and have had demonstrated by many clients is that painful joints are caused by muscle tension across that joint, and, that muscle tension develops as a result of organ dysfunction.
Muscle problems usually relate back to an organ dysfunction (see table below). Muscle tension is the underlying cause of joint pain. Click to enlarge.
By way of example, stomach dysfunction will manifest in the following muscles: Levator Scapulae (hang with me I’ll be done the technical stuff real quick like), the anterior neck flexors and extensors, Brachioradialis, and Pectoralis Major Clavicular. OK done. When the stomach is in distress any or all of these muscles tense, and THEN the associated joints that they cross will begin to wear down. Ta dah, arthritis! If you knew which joints these muscles cross you can see which joints are associated with stomach dysfunction. Good to know, huh? So below I’ve summarized all the info into one table to help you trouble shoot where the origin of your problem may be. Information about muscles and specific joint problems are found in those posts.
How to Use the Table below
If you have specific long-standing or recurring joint problems, this table can help you narrow down which organs may be involved or responsible. Then you can go to those corresponding organ posts to see if you have other indicators of that organ’s dysfunction. Natural remedies will be given there. Begin by nourishing that organ into proper function and make note of your results. If this dysfunction tends to be genetic, you may need to support that organ at some level for the rest of your long life.
|
Organ
|
Muscles Affected if Organ is Dysfunctional
|
Joints Affected if Organ is Dysfunctional
|
|---|---|---|
| Stomach | Brachioradialis, Levator Scapulae, Neck Flexors and Extensors, Pectoralis Major Clavicular | Neck, Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist (Most neck problems are from the stomach as are most wrist problems) |
| Spleen | Latissimus Dorsi, Triceps, Opponens Policis Longus, Mid & Lower Trapesius | Shoulder, Elbow, Thumb |
| Heart | Subscapularis | Shoulder |
| Small Intestine | Abdominals, Quadriceps | Hip, Knee (Manifests as difficulty getting up from deep knee bends OR doing sit-ups) |
| Bladder | Tibials, Peroneus, Sacrospinalis | Spine (compression), Ankles (The cause of height loss and compressed/ruptured disks, also weak ankles) |
| Kidney | Psoas, Illiacus, Upper Trapezius | Neck, Hip |
| Gonads | Gluts, Adductors, Piriformis | Hip, SacroIlliac joint |
| Thyroid | Teres minor | Shoulder (rare) |
| Adrenals | Sartorius, Gracilis, Gastrocnemius, Soleus | Hip, Knee (Calf cramps, Plantar fasciitis) |
| Gall Bladder | Anterior Deltoid, Popliteus | Shoulder, Knee |
| Liver | Pectoralis Major Sternal, Rhomboids | Shoulder, esp right side (THE cause of pain between shoulder blades, esp on the right) |
| Lung | Deltoids, Anterior Serratus, Coracobrachialis, Diaphragm | Shoulder, Ribs |
| Large Intestine | Hamstrings, Fascia lata, Quadratus Lumborum (A tense Facia Lata is the major cause of hip replacement) |
Hip, Knee, Lower Back, SacroIlliac joint |
How to Reduce Wear and Tear on the Joint
Finally, to arrest the wear-and-tear on the joint as you are working on the underlying causes, I recommend using a massager to relax the muscle tension around the joint. If you have specific joint problems and want to find the associated muscles, just do a google search on the muscle(s) listed (or search elbow muscles) and then clik on ‘images’ to see exactly where they are. Then you can palpate the muscle(s) looking for tender areas. Those are the areas to massage. When you start building up the joint faster than you are wearing it down, the pain will resolve.
1 Comments
Leave a Comment
Consider this…..
I have learned more from very sick people than I have from double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over studies. My sick clients taught me how to get them well - things that even my teachers didn't know. I have such smart clients.
** Important Warning **
Nothing on this site is FDA approved. Nothing I write here is intended to be medical advice. Follow my recommendations at your own risk. Results may vary, and blah, blah, blah. So if the required warnings have not scared you away, then you have a chance. I'm reporting here what kinds of approaches actually helped very sick people get well, AND the kinds of things that actually made them sick (and it usually isn't lack of exercise, weight, menopause or smoking - it is the underlying cause of all those things.)
** Important Posts **
► I Went to the Doctor and the Doctor Said…
► THE Technical Info on the Herbs
► Uh oh, what was I supposed to do when I think I’m getting sick?
► Fatigue: The Mother of All Disease
► Childhood Disorders (ADHD, Behavior Disorders, etc.)
► Of Drugs, OTCs and Black Electrical Tape
► Pat’s book – Spiritual Disciplines for Physical and Emotional Healing
In case you were wondering..
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, b=bedtime. Make sure to read What to Expect on an Herbal Program (in the Herb menu) before beginning. Dosages given are about what my clients benefit from. You may be different. Begin slowly and see how each recommendation benefits you.
** Join the Discussion **
This website is a work in progress and a sharing tool. Feel free to use the comment forms to share your tried and true 'something natural'.
Thanks so much. I learned all this in massage school but that was a long time ago. It’s such valuable information. Now that I”ve reached the point where aging is beginning to show up in my joints, it’s good to have a directory that leads me back to what I, at one time, knew. I appreciate your clear and understandable approach.