The Water Within the Fire: Acupuncture + the Power of Flow

Have you ever stood near a rushing waterfall and felt your whole body respond—goosebumps, a deep inhale, maybe even tears that catch you off guard?

It’s like time pauses, and your whole body listens.
That’s the magic of water in motion. It stirs something ancient inside us. Something wild. Something wise.

I recently hiked Great Falls after a night of heavy rain, and wow… the water was wild. Cascading in thick sheets. Crashing with rhythm. I felt it in my chest and in my bones. Goosebumps. Awe. A deep, wordless “yes.”

Why are we so drawn to waterfalls?

Because we are water.
We’re also rhythm. Movement. Flow.
And somewhere deep down, our bodies remember what it means to let go, to cleanse, to surrender to something bigger than ourselves.

For those of you familiar with Five Element acupuncture, you might be wondering—why am I talking about water (Winter) in the middle of Summer (Fire)?

Here’s something especially beautiful about Five Element theory: each of the fire meridians: Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, and Triple Heater has a water point on its channel or meridain. It’s like an internal waterfall. A place where the fire can cool down. Where emotions can soften. Where we remember how to flow instead of burn out.

Lately, I’ve been hearing that word a lot in the treatment room: burnout.

Whether it’s from the rush of end-of-year school events, shifting summer routines, or the ongoing demands of work and life—this time of year often brings transition. And with transition can come exhaustion. We’re closing one busy cycle and stepping into another, without always catching our breath.

That’s where these points come in.
They remind us how to cool the fire. How to pause. How to flow again.

Heart 3 – “Lesser Sea” (Shaohai, 少海)
Found at the inside of the elbow, this point invites the Heart to cool, soften, and feel again. Like stepping into calm water after a long day in the heat. It can ease anxiety, calm the mind, and soften emotional tension.

Small Intestine 2 – “Forward Valley” (Qiangu, 前谷)
A delicate point on the pinky finger, this one brings clarity. When the mind feels cluttered or emotions are overwhelming, this “valley” helps drain the excess and let insight rise—just like a waterfall clearing its path through stone.

Pericardium 3 – “Crooked Marsh” (Quze, 曲澤)
Another elbow point, this is about protection and boundaries. The Pericardium guards the Heart, and this watery marshland helps release built-up tension—especially when we’re holding everything in.

Triple Heater 2 – “Fluid Secretion Gate” (Yemen, 液門)
This gate opens the flow between our inner and outer worlds. Think of it like a pressure release valve. It's great for stress, headaches, and that tight, wired feeling that comes from being "on" for too long.

If your internal waters feel stagnant, overheated, or just plain depleted, let’s work together to restore balance.