Meridians

 

The Meridian System - Origin and Principle of Meridians

Based on Yin and Yang, the doctrine of TCM was developed. This was later supplemented by the doctrines of meridians and the five elements. Central to this is the life energy, Qi. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it flows along the meridians.

Twelve main meridians run through the body. Each is assigned to an organ. Located along the meridians are the 400 primary acupuncture points. The median plane divides the body into the right and left halves and is untouched by currents.

The points are pressed during an acupressure massage (e.g., Shiatsu). Each point has a function for the flow of life energy and specifically affects the body's well-being. A common therapy besides acupressure is based on warming the points. Cupping is now considered outdated by many. Traditionally, the points are touched and thus activated by pricking with long or short needles. This promotes the flow of good Qi. If it flows sufficiently, the body is healthy, and the person feels good.

In Chinese medicine, meridians are channels through which the life energy Qi flows. There are 12 main meridians. Each meridian is assigned to an organ or organ system. Acupuncture points are located on the meridians. Various meridian therapies help patients stay or become healthy. The most well-known is acupuncture. According to TCM, health is, among other things, connected with a free and sufficient flow of Qi in the meridians. For example, if too little Qi flows, harmful Qi can enter the channel and damage the associated organ.

Only small parts of the courses of these channels are identical to those of blood vessels or nerve pathways. However, if radioactive substance is injected into acupuncture points, they can be made visible. During a treatment with acupuncture, moxibustion, or Tuina, the course of the meridian is often felt very precisely by the treated person. After death, the meridians are no longer detectable.

There are twelve main meridians on each side of the body, which run either from the torso to the fingertips, from the fingertips to the face, from the face to the toes, or from the toes to the torso. They connect top with bottom and inside with outside and are named after the organs assigned to them:

Lung Meridian, Large Intestine Meridian, Stomach Meridian, Spleen Meridian, Heart Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian, Bladder Meridian, Kidney Meridian, Pericardium Meridian, Triple Heater Meridian, Gallbladder and Liver Meridian.

Ren Mai and Du Mai are two other meridians that run interchangeably along the body's midline over the face, chest, abdomen, perineum, spine, and back of the head. Among many functions, the Ren Mai is considered the reservoir of Yin and the Du Mai as the reservoir of Yang. They belong to the eight "extraordinary" meridians, all of which serve as reservoirs, among other things. There are other types of meridians, of which only the tendinomuscular (tendon and muscle meridians) will be mentioned here. They are assigned to the main meridians and distribute their Qi through fine ramifications into the outer layers of the skin and into the fine spaces between the muscles (which exist according to TCM). They are the outermost layer of the body. If they are blocked by a pathogenic factor such as wind-cold, pain occurs in this area. If the Qi of the pathogenic factor is stronger than the body's own Qi, it will penetrate deeper into the body; the headaches and limb pains then disappear, and symptoms of the lung, for example, then appear instead. 

Twelve Main Meridians

There are twelve main meridians on each side of the body, which run either from the torso to the fingertips, from the fingertips to the face, from the face to the toes, or from the toes to the torso. They connect top with bottom and inside with outside and are named after the organs assigned to them: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Triple Heater, Gallbladder, and Liver Meridians.

The twelve main meridians run, separated by the median, through the left or right half of the body. According to TCM, the circulation cycle takes one day. From the toes to the torso and from there to the fingers, the six Yin meridians flow. From the fingers to the face and from the face to the toes, the six channels of Yang flow.

1. The liver corresponds to the element wood (Yin flow); in Yang, the gallbladder is paired with the element. The sensory organ eye corresponds to wood. Anger is associated with this element, and muscle is addressed with wood. The liver cleanses itself through sour taste, and the color green is assigned to this element. Wood is considered flexible and has upright and aspiring properties. The element stands for birth, symbolizes origin and wind; its season is spring.
2. Water represents the kidney (Yin flow), or the bladder is connected with water (Yang flow). The ear is the sensory organ of this element, its emotion is fear. Bone symbolizes it, and salty is the assigned taste. Black is the color of water. The element is conceived as flowing downwards. It stands for collection and cold. The season of water is winter.
3. The spleen corresponds to the element earth (Yin flow), and the stomach is symbolized with earth (Yang flow). The sensory organ of this element is the mouth, the emotion shaping it is worry. It stands for connective tissue and is associated with a sweet taste; its color is yellow. Earth is connected with sowing and ripening. Earth symbolizes harvest, transformation, and dampness. Its assigned season is late summer.
4. The lung corresponds to the element metal (Yin flow); this element is also that of the large intestine (Yang flow). The nose is considered the sensory organ of the element; metal stands for sadness, and the skin is its tissue. A pungent taste affects the organs, and the element metal is associated with white. Metal stands for transforming and separating properties. The characteristics of the element are separation, regeneration, and dryness. The season of metal is autumn.
5. The heart corresponds to fire (Yin flow), and it stands for the small intestine (Yang flow). The sensory organ of this element is the tongue, the emotion associated with it is joy, and blood is associated with fire. The taste of the element is bitter, and it is assigned to the color red. Fire is associated with flaring properties. Its main characteristics are growth, movement, and heat; its season is summer.

Two other meridians, the pericardium and triple heater meridians, are assigned to fire as a transporting, moving element. The task of the channels of Qi, called meridians, is to maintain or promote health. Targeted therapy based on these helps the patient. Often, an immediate increase in well-being is noticeable if the correct acupuncture points are targeted according to a diagnosis. For long-term therapies and their success, preparations specifically made for elements and their organs should be used. The taste nuances associated with the elements are considered to promote the flow of Qi. For example, in cases of lung problems, spicy food would be recommended. TCM stands for a holistic treatment of body and mind. The principle of bioresonance is based on certain substances that stimulate the flow of life energy. Bioinformation serves as messengers that create a resonance effect in the body. By drawing on the elements, the meridian flows are to be activated.