When the patient has cold feet it must be treated. It is an influx problem. We do not understand the importance of cold feet, it is not normal to have cold feet, neither is a swollen belly, but we are so used to it that we do not pay attention.

At the knee we have channels that descend and channels that ascend. On the leg, Bladder descends and Kidney ascends. At the feet, at the Jing points there is a phenomenon of polarization, yang energy descends to them, transforms into yin and ascends.

When there are cold feet, the energy that descends toward the Jing point to polarize is blocked. It cannot descend. Since the energy has to go somewhere, it goes to the distinct channel. In the case of the Bladder channel, the energy that descends through the leg at BL-40 will ascend through the distinct channel of the Bladder. If the distinct channel becomes saturated, the energy will flow toward the longitudinal Luo, the vessel that starts at BL-58 and ascends toward the head. These vessels accommodate the influx increasing their energy quantity. This is a simple influx.

If the distinct channel and the longitudinal Luo are saturated, the energy that cannot descend has to go somewhere. In this case it goes up the main channel in the opposite direction. This case is a contrary influx, it is more serious and more difficult to cure than a simple influx.

Simple and contrary influxes are pathological states, too much energy rises to the head and nature tries to defend us by trying to block the influx. It does so by closing the Window of Heaven points. Closing these points for a long time is equivalent to stagnating Qi and Blood. Recurring pain and pathologies appear, in crisis. The symptoms are intermittent. They frequently affect the upper part of the body. For example sinusitis, vertigo, headaches. You can treat them, but if you do not resolve the cold feet, the influx, you really do not resolve the problem, it will happen again. Palpate the dorsalis pedis pulse, if it is weak it must be treated.

The distinct channels all pass through the heart, therefore when the distinct channel is affected there will be Heart manifestations: tachycardia, anguish, nervousness.

The longitudinal Luos have their own symptomatology, we base ourselves on their symptoms to make a diagnosis of deficiency or excess. In the case of influxes, the symptomatology is always of excess:

If the Luo is in excess, disperse the Luo point.

Example of influx through distinct channel

Patient with headache in the occipital zone. Also has lower back pain.

• Is the pain permanent or intermittent? -Intermittent, I have crises. I go periods without pain.
• When your head hurts, does the heart beat faster? -No-. Palpitations? -No-. Anguish, nervousness? -Yes, when my head hurts I am nervous and anxious-.

Channel Bladder Divergent Channel. As a test you can needle BL-10 in dispersion, which is a Window of Heaven point. BL-10 is the upper meeting point of the Bladder's distinct channel with the main channel. If it is an influx, the point was sensitive and painful on palpation. After needling the patient will feel immediate relief.

To treat the influx, also use the lower meeting point of the Bladder's distinct channel, BL-40, and the Jing point, BL-67 to make the energy descend downward.