At GoPatch, we’re often asked a simple yet important question: Why does GoPatch go over the navel? It’s a great question and the answer blends two systems of natural medicine: Homeopathy and Asian Medicine.
The easiest way to answer this question is that the navel is a well-known acupuncture point with deep roots in traditional healing systems. Placing the patch over this area helps engage the body’s natural healing response and supports fast-acting relief.
The more complex answer calls for a deeper dive into the different systems of medicine and various key components within it.
Now to get into the nitty gritty.
Asian Medicine + The Navel:
In Asian Medicine, Qi, or energy, is a central concept. When Qi is flowing smoothly, you feel well, grounded and energized. When Qi is blocked or imbalanced, you feel general unease and discomfort. This can manifest as physical discomfort or it could be emotional discomfort.
Another central concept of Asian Medicine is the meridian. There are 12 major meridians in the body. Meridians are channels that form a network in the body through which Qi flows.
The navel is viewed as the body’s center — both physically and energetically — and is considered a key point for restoring balance and promoting healing by moving Qi and blood. Often referred to as the “Spirit Gate” or Shenque, the navel holds deep significance, as it was our lifeline in the womb, providing the nourishment that sustained life through the umbilical cord. Because of this vital connection, the navel is believed to play an essential role in supporting overall health and well-being.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a key component of Asian Medicine. It has gained substantial recognition in modern healthcare for its efficiency in managing various kinds of pain.
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points, known as “acupoints”, on the body to help alleviate pain and discomfort. These points are found along the meridians of the body. Thus, these points can be targeted to relieve stress, anxiety, nausea, and more. Sound familiar?
The navel is considered to be the focal point of the body’s network of energy pathways. Needles are never put in the navel, but it has been used for various forms of healing for many years. The Spirit Gate helps with many health matters, here are just a few:
- Calming the mind / reducing anxiety
- Improving sleep
- Supporting emotional well-being
- And more
Homeopathy:
The principle of Homeopathy is “like cures like”, this means that something that brings on symptoms in a healthy person can – in a very small dose – treat an illness with similar symptoms.
Homeopathy is also an energetic medicine, its healing is gentle yet powerful. Homeopathic medicine uses very diluted amounts of mineral, flower, animal, and plant-based substances.
Homeopathic doctors, or homeopaths, dilute ingredients by adding water or alcohol. The mixture is then shaken in a process called “potentization”. It is generally believed that the lower the dose, the more powerful the medicine. Many of these remedies no longer contain any molecules of the original substance. Thus, you’re left with the energetic imprint of the substance.
As Vitality Magazine puts it, “A homeopath looks at your life events and your reactions to these events to determine where your energy or life-force has stagnated. A carefully prescribed homeopathic remedy can unblock the stagnant energy and advance you on your path to becoming whole.”
This perspective touches at the heart of why Nicole created GoPatch – to help the body restore balance and help individuals get back to celebrating life.
Homeopathy + Asian Medicine – How GoPatch Came to Be
Homeopathic remedies (the ingredients in the patch) are applied to the navel (the energy center in Asian Medicine) to provide healing relief. The navel, by being covered, produces warmth as well which in turn adds to the relief.
When our Founder, Nicole Burdock, initially made GoPatch, she used a roll of duct tape and her knowledge from a decade of schooling in naturopathic medicine and Asian medicine. She then created a prototype for the first ever homeopathic patch for motion sickness.
We highly recommend reading her full story here.
To let you in on a little secret, we also often get asked, Can I place the patch somewhere else?
The short answer? Yes.
The long answer? We always recommend placing our patches over the navel first but many customers have found that placing it around the abdomen has worked for them too.
How it All Ties Together – The Fusion of Old and New:
At GoPatch, we believe the best solutions come from respecting both ancient knowledge and modern needs. We don’t use pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or sedatives—just natural ingredients paired with centuries-old wisdom about how the body heals. The navel isn’t just a convenient spot—it’s a deeply connected energetic portal through which healing happens.
Whether you’re using GoPatch to calm a nervous stomach before a big meeting, to stay centered on a long drive, or to manage anxiousness in a crowded space, know that you’re tapping into something much deeper than a patch. You’re working with your body and giving yourself a chance to return balance within your body, naturally.
Sources:
Chinese Meridian Theory | National Cancer Institute
Qi Stagnations and Stress: What to Do to Relieve Stress | Acupuncture Points
Belly Button Healing: Does it Really Work? | Lindsey Elmore
Healing Traditions Across Asia: From TCM to Himalayan Salt Practices | peppino
What is Acupressure and Does it Work? | Cleveland Clinic
Energy Medicine: The Subtle Art of Healing Beyond the Physical | Quantum Homeopathic Clinic
Homeopathic Medicine for Reclaiming Lost Energy | Vitality Magazine
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