| So, what is a meridian anyway? This is one of the | | | | the Yang large intestine. |
| first questions students of Chinese medicine want to | | | | Qi flows in a precise manner through the twelve |
| understand. Simply put, a meridian is an ‘energy | | | | regular meridians or channels. First, Qi flows from the |
| highway’ in the human body. Qi (chee) energy | | | | chest area along the three arm Yin channels (Lung, |
| flows through this meridian or energy highway, | | | | Pericardium, and Heart) to the hands. There they |
| accessing all party of the body. Meridians can be | | | | connect with the three paired arm Yang channels |
| mapped throughout the body; they flow within the | | | | (Large Intestine, San Jiao and Small Intestine) and |
| body and not on the surface, meridians exist in | | | | flow upward to the head. In the head they connect |
| corresponding pairs and each meridian has many | | | | with their three corresponding leg Yang Channels |
| acupuncture points along its path. | | | | (Stomach, Gall Bladder and Bladder) and flow down |
| The term ‘meridian’ describes the overall | | | | the body to the feet. In the feet they connect with |
| energy distribution system of Chinese Medicine and | | | | their corresponding leg Yin channels (Spleen, Liver, |
| helps us to understand how basic substances of the | | | | Kidney) and flow up again to the chest to complete |
| body (Qi, blood and body fluids) permeate the whole | | | | the cycle of Qi. |
| body. The individual meridians themselves are often | | | | - Arm Tai Yin channel corresponds to the Lung |
| described as ‘channels’ or even | | | | - Leg Tai Yin channel corresponds to the Spleen |
| ‘vessels’ which reflects the notion of | | | | - Arm Shao Yin channel corresponds to the Heart |
| carrying, holding, or transporting qi, blood and body | | | | - Leg Shao Yin corresponds to the Kidney |
| fluids around the body. | | | | - Arm Jue Yin corresponds to the Pericardium |
| It is tempting to think of the meridians of the human | | | | - Leg Jue Yin corresponds to the Liver |
| body the same way as we think of the circulatory | | | | - Arm Yang Ming corresponds to the Large Intestine |
| system, as the meridians are responsible for the | | | | - Leg Yang Ming corresponds to the Stomach |
| distribution of the basic substances throughout the | | | | - Arm Tai Yang corresponds to the Small Intestine |
| body just like the circulatory system, but here is | | | | - Leg Tai Yang corresponds to the Bladder |
| where the similarities end. Conventional anatomy and | | | | - Arm Shao Yang corresponds to the San Jiao |
| physiology would not be able to identify these | | | | - Leg Shao Yang Channel corresponds to the Gall |
| pathways in a physical sense in the way that blood | | | | Bladder |
| vessels can be identified. | | | | The arm and leg channels of the same name are |
| It is more useful to consider the meridian system as | | | | considered to ‘communicate’ with each |
| an energetic distribution network that in itself tends | | | | other in Chinese medicine. Thus, problems in a given |
| towards energetic manifestation. Meridians can be | | | | channel or organ can be treated by using various |
| best understood as a process rather than a | | | | points on the communication ‘partner’. As an |
| structure. | | | | example: a problem with the lungs can be treated by |
| Practitioners of Chinese Medicine must be as | | | | using points on the Spleen channel as they are both |
| knowledgeable about these meridian channels as the | | | | Tai Yin channels. |
| Western Doctor is about anatomy and physiology of | | | | In addition to the twelve regular meridians there are |
| the physical body. Without this thorough | | | | ‘Extraordinary Meridians’ that are not directly |
| understanding, successful acupuncture treatments | | | | linked to the major organ system but have various |
| would be difficult. A practitioner of Chinese Medicine | | | | specific functions: |
| must know how and where to access the qi energy | | | | 1) they act as reservoirs of Qi and blood for the |
| of the body to facilitate the healing process. | | | | twelve regular channels, filling and emptying as |
| There are twelve main meridians, or invisible channels, | | | | required |
| throughout the body with Qi or energy flows. Each | | | | 2) they circulate jing or ‘essence’ |
| limb is traversed by six channels, three Yin channels | | | | around the body because they have a strong |
| on the inside, and three Yang channels on the | | | | connection with the Kidneys |
| outside. Each of the twelve regular channels | | | | 3) they help circulate the defensive Wei Qi over |
| corresponds to the five Yin organs, the six Yang | | | | the trunk of the body and, as such, play an |
| organs as well as the Pericardium and San Jiao. These | | | | important role in maintaining of good health |
| are organs that have no anatomical counterpart in | | | | 4) they provide further connections between |
| Western medicine but also relate to processes in the | | | | the twelve regular channels |
| body. It is also important to remember that organs | | | | The meridian system of the human body is a |
| should not be thought of as being identical with the | | | | delicate, yet intricate web of interconnecting energy |
| physical, anatomical organs of the body. | | | | lines. If a person masters an understanding of this |
| Each meridian is a Yin Yang pair, meaning each Yin | | | | meridian system they will know the secrets of the |
| organ is paired with its corresponding Yang Organ: | | | | flow of Qi energy in the body. |
| the Yin Lung organ, for example, corresponds with | | | | |