Download Meridians

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TCM notion of Meridian
 A meridian is an ‘energy highway’ in the human body.
 Qi (energy) flows through this meridian or energy
highway, accessing all party of the body.
 Meridians can be mapped throughout the body;
 They flow within the body and not on the surface;
 Meridians exist in corresponding pairs and each
meridian has many acupuncture points along its path.
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TCM notion of Meridian
 The term ‘meridian’ describes the
overall energy distribution system of
Chinese Medicine and
 Helps us to understand how basic
substances of the body (Qi, blood and
body fluids) permeate the whole body.
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TCM notion of Meridian
 The individual meridians themselves are often
described as ‘channels’ or even ‘vessels’ which
reflects the notion of carrying, holding, or
transporting qi, blood and body fluids around
the body.
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TCM notion of Meridian
 It is tempting to think of the meridians of the
human body the same way as we think of the
circulatory system, but here is where the
similarities end.
 Conventional anatomy and physiology would
not be able to identify these pathways in a
physical sense in the way that blood vessels can
be identified.
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TCM notion of Meridian
 It is more useful to consider the meridian
system as an energetic distribution network
that in itself tends towards energetic
manifestation.
 Meridians can be best understood as a process
rather than a structure.
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TCM notion of Meridian
 There are twelve main meridians, or invisible
channels, throughout the body with Qi or energy
flows.
 Each limb is traversed by six channels, three Yin
channels on the inside, and three Yang channels on
the outside.
 Each of the twelve regular channels corresponds to
the five Yin organs, the six Yang organs as well as
the Pericardium and San Jiao or Triple Warmer.
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Composition of the Meridian System
 Include 3 large groups of regular meridians正经, extra meridians奇经 and
meridian divergences经别.
 There are twelve regular meridians, including three yin meridians of hand手三
阴经, three yang meridians of hand手三阳经, three yin meridians of foot 足三
阴经and three yang meridians of foot足三阳经, which are collectively called
“twelve meridians” or “twelve regular meridians”十二正经, and the major
tracks for qi-blood circulation.
 The twelve meridians have direct relationships of connection and affiliation with
viscera within the body, and external-internal relationships among themselves.
 The twelve meridians are the necessary passages for qi-blood circulation.
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Composition of the Meridian System
 There are 8 extra meridians, namely Ren任脉, Du督脉, Chong, Dai冲脉, Yinwei
阴维脉, Yangwei阳维脉, Yingqiao阴跷脉 and Yangqiao阳跷脉meridians,
collectively called eight extra meridians奇经八脉.
 They govern, communicate and regulate qi-blood within the twelve meridians,
but they have no direct relationships with viscera, no external-internal
relationships among themselves.
 The twelve divergences are the meridians branching out from the twelve
meridians.
 They originate respectively from the four limbs and run through the deeper
parts of the body cavity and reach up the superficial parts of the neck.
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Composition of the Meridian System
 The meridian divergences 十二经别of yang meridians branch out from their
meridians and run through the body, still return to their original meridians;
while the meridian divergences of yin meridians branch out from their
meridians, after running through the body, they join their pairing yang
meridians.
 The functions of the twelve meridian divergences are mainly to strengthen the
communication between the two externally-internally related meridians in the
twelve meridians, they can also serve as the supplement for regular meridians
by reaching some organs and components where the regular meridians do not
reach.
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Functions of the meridians
 The meridians and collaterals are the major body of the
meridian system, undertaking the role to circulate qiblood and communicate so as to connect all the viscera,
organs, orifices , skin, muscles tendons, bones, etc to
form an integral organic whole.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
1.
Communicate and connect all the parts of the body:
- the human body’s organic coordination and mutual relationship is
accomplished through communication and connection by the meridian
system；
-the twelve meridians and their branches run criss-crossly, coming and
going out, ascending and descending, mutual affiliation to and
connection with a pair of viscera;
- the eight extra meridians connect and communicate with the twelve
regular meridians;
- the twelve meridian musculatures and the twelve skin areas connect
and communicate with the skin, muscles,
- the twelve meridians link the peripheral tissues of tendons, muscles, skin,
limbs and joins with the internal organs.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
 For example, the hand Yangming meridians “runs by the mouth”, the foot Yangming
meridians”runs by the mouth, and curves around the lips”, the hand Yangming
meridian “crosses the philtrum to the site beside the opposite wing of the nose”.
 In this way, it makes the interior viscera communicate with the sense organs and
orifices so as to form a whole.
 Each of the twelve meridians affiliates to and connects with a Zang viscus and a Fuviscus,.
 For example, the lung meridian of hand Taiyin affiliates to the lung and connects
with the large intestine; and the large intestine meridian of hand Yangming affiliates
to the large intestine.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
 Some of the meridians, besides affiliate to and connect with special viscera, again
communicate with several other viscera.
 For example, the kidney meridian of foot Shaoyin not only affiliates to the kidney
and connects with the bladder, but also passes through the liver, enters the lung,
connects with the heart, and runs into the chest to join the pericardium.
 In addition, there are also the meridian divergences that supplement the
shortcomings of the regular meridians.
 For example, the divergences of the foot Yangming, foot Shaoying and foot Taiyang
all pass by the heart.
 Thus forms multiple communications among the viscera.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
2. Conveying Qi-Blood to Nourish the Whole body:
- Every viscus and tissue of the human body needs warming, nourishing
and moistening by qi-blood so as to play their normal function.
- Qi-blood are the material basis for life activity of the body and they must
depend upon the transportation and importation by the meridian so as
to distribute over the whole body for warming, nourishing and
moistening all the viscera and tissues, maintaining the normal functions
of the body.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
3. Reaction
and Conduction
- The body depends upon the meridian system to perform
transmission of life information and communicate among
every part.
- When a part of the human body is stimulated, through the
meridian system this stimulation will import into the relative
viscera within the body so as to make them produce the
relative changes physiologically or pathologically.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
3. Regulating
Functional Balance for the Body
- Where there is disharmony of qi-blood and
superiority or inferiority of yin or yang in the
body, the acupuncture and moxibustion therapies
can be used to trigger the regulatory action of the
meridian by reducing what is excessive, or
reinforcing what is deficient to regulate the body
and maintain the equilibrium.
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Physiological Functions of the Meridian System
 For example, when the stomach is in hypofunction, a
mild stimulation given may strengthen the gastric
contraction and increase the concentration of the gastric
juice.
 As the stomach is in a hyperactive state, a strong
stimulation given will cause inhibitory effect.
 Puncturing Zusanli足三里 (ST 36) point of the stomach
meridian of foot Yangming can regulate the peristalic and
secreting functions of the stomach.
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 The twelve meridians have lateral and symmetrical
distribution on the head, face, trunk and limbs.
 The six yin Meridians are distributed on the inner side
of the limbs and on the inner side of the chest and
abdomen.
 The six yang Meridians are distributed on the outer
side of the limbs and on the head, face and trunk.
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 The order and arrangement of the three yang meridians for
both arms and legs are as follows;
- Yang Ming (meaning bright yang or sunlight yang) has an
anterior position;
- Shao Yang (meaning middle yang) has a middle position;
- Tai Yang (meaning greater yang) has an posterior position,
 The three names have described the variations of yang qi or
yang energy.
 They can also be interpreted as the variations of the sunlight
received.
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 The order and arrangement of the three yin meridians are as follows:
-
Tai Yin (meaning greater yin) has an anterior position;
-
Shao Yin (meaning lesser yin) has an posterior position;
-
Jue Yin (meaning absolute yin or terminal yin ) has a middle position
-
The three names have described the variations of yin qi and the degree of
darkness of that position.
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 Each meridian is a Yin Yang pair, meaning each Yin organ is
paired with its corresponding Yang Organ;
 The Yin Lung organ, for example, corresponds with the Yang
large intestine.

Yang
Lung
Stomach
Heart
Bladder
Liver
Pericardium
Yin
Large Intestine
Spleen
Small Intestine
Kidneys
Gall Bladder
San Jiao
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The Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin
 Toward the thumb from the inside edge of the front
of the shoulder.
 Runs from a point on the breast just above clavicle,
along the inside of the arm to the thumb.
 Respiratory diseases, sore throat, cough, common
cold, pain in the shoulder and along the meridian
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The Large Intestine Meridian
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The Large Intestine Meridian of Hand
Yangming
 Runs from the tip of the index finger along the outer
part of the arm, then along the shoulder to the
throat, neck, and outside of the mouth, and then to
the crease at the nostril.
 Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, sore throat,
toothache in the lower gum, nasal discharge and
bleeding, pain along the course of the meridian
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The Stomach Meridian
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THE STOMACH MERIDIAN
 The outer channel of the U runs from the scalp
down along the ear and face (where men wear
sideburns) to the chin, where it joins the other
channel.
 From here, the meridian runs along the neck to
the clavicle and down directly across the nipple to
the abdomen, across the groin, down along the
thigh and calf, and on to the second toe.
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The Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming
 Stomach problems, abdominal pain, distension, edema, vomiting, sore
throat, facial paralysis, upper gum toothache, nose bleeding, pain along
the meridian
 Forms a large U shape on each side of the face before it runs downward
along the chest, thigh, and calf to a point at the top of the second toe.
 The inner channel of the U runs just below the eye to the tip of the outer
corner of the mouth, and then to the chinbone.
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The Spleen Meridian
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The Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin
 Runs from the outside of the big toe, up the inside of the foot, along the
shinbone to the knee, up the inside of the thigh to the stomach area, and
then runs on an angle to the outside of the armpit.
 Here it loops under the arm and runs down along the outside of the back.
 Problems of the spleen and pancreas, abdominal distension, jaundice,
general weakness and sluggishness, tongue problems, vomiting, pain and
swellings along the course of the meridian
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The Heart Meridian
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The Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin
 Runs from the armpit, along the inside of the arm, to the inside of the
wrist, to a point on the inside of the little finger just above the nail.
 Heart problems, dryness of the throat, jaundice, pain along the course
of the meridian.
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The Small Intestine Meridian
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The Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Taiyang
 Runs from the upper part of the little finger, just
above the nail, up the outside of the arm, along
the tricep, to a point in the center of the
shoulder blade on the back, up the neck, to a
point directly in front of the ear hole.
 Pain in the lower abdomen, sore throat, swelling
or paralysis of face, deafness, pain along the
meridian
36
The Bladder Meridian
37
The Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang
 Runs from the inside corner of the eye, up the forehead, over the top of
the head and down the centre of the back.
 Here it divides to form two parallel lines on the right side of the back
and two more on the left side, so that, in all, it comprises four meridian
lines.
 Runs from the inside corner of the eye, up the forehead, over the top of
the head and down the centre of the back.
 Here it divides to form two parallel lines on the right side of the back
and two more on the left side, so that, in all, it comprises four meridian
lines.
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THE BLADDER MERIDIAN
 Each set of two runs along the back, down the buttocks, and down the back
of each leg.
 Each set of two meridian lines joins at the back of the knee, becoming one
meridian line on each leg.
 From the knee the bladder meridian runs along the calf, to the back of the
ankle, along the outside of the foot, to the little toe.
 Bladder problems, headache, eye diseases, neck and back problems, pain
along the back of the leg
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The Kidney Meridian
40
The Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin
 Runs from a point at the bottom of the foot, along the arch, to the heel, up the
inside of the leg, to the sex organs, along the centre of the stomach, to a point
just below where the clavicle joins the sternum.
 Passing through the vertebral column, it enters the kidney and connects with
the bladder.
 The straight portion: Starting from the kidney, it ascends and passes through
the liver and diaphragm;
 Then it enters the lung, and runs along the throat up to the tongue, ending on
the two sides of it.
 The branch: Arising from the lung, it connects with the heart and enters the
chest to link the pericardium meridian of hand Jueyin.
 Kidney problems, lung problems, dry tongue, lumbago, edema, constipation,
diarrhea, pain and weakness along the course of the meridian
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The Pericardium Meridian
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The Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin
 Runs from the armpit, down the middle of the inside of the arm, across the
middle of the palm, to the tip of the middle finger.
 This meridian assists the heartbeat, circulation, and assimilation of nutrition.
 It also provides qi, assists in blood flow to the pericardium, and helps the
heart function.
 Poor circulation, angina, palpitation, diseases of the sexual glands and
organs, irritability, pain along the course of the meridian
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The San Jiao Meridian
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The Tri-Jiao Meridian of Hand Shaoyang
 Runs from the top of the fourth finger up the arm to the shoulder, up the neck, and
around the top of the ear to the temple.
 This meridian provides qi to the small-intestine meridian and the lymphatic system,
and assists circulation to the extremities. Runs from the top of the fourth finger up
the arm to the shoulder, up the neck, and around the top of the ear to the temple.
 This meridian provides qi to the small-intestine meridian and the lymphatic system,
and assists circulation to the extremities.
 The Tri-Jiao meridian also coordinates the three heating systems, which maintain the
body temperature.
 One is above the solar plexus, the second is in between the solar plexus and the
navel, and the third is below the navel.
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The Gall Bladder Meridian
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THE GALLBLADDER MERIDIAN
 Runs from the temple around the outside of the ear, down the back of the
head, then back up the side of the head, stopping just above the temple and
then running back down to the neck.
 This up-and-down motion along the side of the head creates a thin crescentmoon shape.
 From here, the meridian runs over the front of the shoulder, down the side
of the abdomen in a zigzag motion, to the hip, and then down the outside of
the leg, to the fourth toe.
 This meridian is concerned with the distribution of energy.
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THE GALLBLADDER MERIDIAN
 Runs from the temple around the outside of
the ear, down the back of the head, then back
up the side of the head, stopping just above the
temple and then running back down to the
neck.
 This up-and-down motion along the side of the
head creates a thin crescent-moon shape.
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The Gallbladder Meridian of Foot
Shaoyang
 Coming out superficially at the anterior aspect of the external malleolus,
finally it runs along the dorsum of the foot to the lateral aspect of the tip
of the 4th toe(Foot Qiaoyin足窍阴).
 Branch 3: Branching out at the dorsum of the foot (Foot-Linqi,足临泣 GB
41), it runs forward to the lateral aspect of the tip of the big toe.
 Returning, it passes through the nail and arrives at the hairy region of the
big toe (Dadun大敦, LV 1), where it links the liver meridian of foot Jueyin.
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THE GALLBLADDER MERIDIAN
 Runs from the temple around the outside of the ear, down the back of the
head, then back up the side of the head, stopping just above the temple and
then running back down to the neck.
 This up-and-down motion along the side of the head creates a thin crescentmoon shape.
 From here, the meridian runs over the front of the shoulder, down the side
of the abdomen in a zigzag motion, to the hip, and then down the outside of
the leg, to the fourth toe.
 Pain in shoulder, hand- and finger-joints, eye problems, illnesses of the hip
joints, diseases of the external genital organs of men, knee and ankle
problems and etc.
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THE GALLBLADDER MERIDIAN
 From here, the meridian runs over the front of the shoulder, down the side
of the abdomen in a zigzag motion, to the hip, and then down the outside of
the leg, to the fourth toe.
 This meridian is concerned with the distribution of energy.
 Gall bladder problems, ear diseases, migraine, hip problems, dizziness, pain
along the meridian
 Gall bladder problems, ear diseases, migraine, hip problems, dizziness, pain
along the meridian
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The Liver Meridian
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THE LIVER MERIDIAN
 Runs from the upper part of the big toe, up along the top of the
foot, along the inner parts of the calf, thigh, and groin, to the
outer part of the abdomen, to a point at the bottom of the
ribcage, to a point between the sixth and seventh ribs, directly
under the nipple.
 The liver meridian relates to the storage of nutrients and
energy.
 Liver problems, lumbago, vomiting, hernia, urination problems,
pain in the lower abdomen, diseases of gallbladder and bile
ducts, illnesses of the breasts and illnesses the external genital
organ of men and women and any diseases along the course of
the meridian.
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Lung Meridian Disharmonies
 Fever & chills w/chills
predominating;
 Body ache, stuffy nose w/clear runny
mucus;
 Sneezing, scratchy throat, lack of
sweat.
Chize (LU 5) Lieque (LU 7) Yuji(LU 10)
Large Intestine Meridian
 The large intestine meridian is a yang
meridian and is paired with the lung yin
meridian.
 Process waste and pass it through the
body.
 When there are blockages in the large
intestine meridian, they often manifest as
digestion and abdominal trouble.
Hegu 合谷
(LI4)
Yingxiang
(LI20)
Quchi(LI11)
Stomach Meridian Disharmonies
 Constant hunger, painful, swollen
a/or bleeding gums, regurgitation
a/or vomiting likely after eating,
burning sensation in the
epigastrium (upper stomach),
nausea, constipation .
Tianshu (ST 25)
Zusanli
(ST 36)
Neiting
(ST 44)
Spleen Meridian Disharmonies
 Poor appetite；
 Distention after eating;
 Weakness of the four limbs;
 Fatigue;
 Loose stools
Yinlingquan
阴陵泉(SP9)
Sanyinjiao
三阴交(SP 6)
Xuehai 血海
(SP 10)
Hand Shao Yin Heart Meridian
 Palpitations, thirst, tongue/mouth ulcers,
restlessness, red complexion, bitter taste in
the mouth other heat signs
 Disharmony of the Heart Meridian leads to
pain at the heart position
 Pain in the inner side of the forearm and heat
in the palm may also indicate problems in this
meridian.
Shenmen (HT 7)
Jiquan (HT 1)
Hand Tai Yang Small Intestine Meridian
 Swollen chin, stiff neck, sore throat,
hearing problems, yellow eyes, and
pain along the shoulder, upper arm,
elbow and forearm.
- Pain in the inferior abdomen, reduce
auditory acuity, stiffness of the back or
the neck, pain or stiffness in the
shoulders.
Houxi 后溪(SI 3)
Tinggong (SI 19)
Yanglao养老 (SI 6)
Disharmony of the Bladder Meridian
 It is the first meridian to be invaded if there is
any external attack.
 Painful eyes, runny nose, nose bleeding and
nasal congestion.
 Pain in the head, neck, back, groin and buttock
areas
 Urinary retention； enuresis； pain along the
pathway of the meridian
Weizhong
(BL 40)
Chengshan (BL 57) Kunlun (BL 60)
Leg Shao Yin Kidney Meridian
 Lumbar back pain and at the base of the
back, cold feet, haemoptysis, dyspnoea, dry
tongue, sore throat, lumbago, oedema,
constipation, diarrhoea, motor paralysis and
msucle atrophy of the lower limbs, hot
plantar side of the foot and pain along the
pathway of the meridian
Yongquan涌泉 (KI 1)
Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian
 Chest fullness, palpitation, irritabiity and
agitation, spasm and contracture of the
elbow and arm, hot palm and pain along
the pathway of the meridian, stiff head
and neck
Laogong (PC 8)
Neiguan (PC 6)
Disharmony of the Triple Heater Meridian
 Abdominal distention, swelling， urinary
incontinence, difficulty urinating, loss of
hearing, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
 Pain in the pharynx (throat), eyes, cheek,
back of the ear, shoulder and the upper arm
can occur as these structures are located
along this meridian's pathway.
Hand Shao Yang Triple Heater Meridian
Zhigou (SJ 6)
支沟
Yifeng翳风 (SJ 17)
Jianjing (GB 21)
Fengchi (GB 20) Yanglingquan
(GB 34)
Jianjing
(GB 21)
Disharmony of the Liver Meridian
 Disharmony of the Liver Meridian leads to
groin pain, chest fullness, urinary
incontinence, difficulty urinating, swelling of
the lower abdomen and hernias.
- Pulsatile headache, sneezing, blurred
vision, tinnitus, lumbar back pain, vomiting,
enuresis, urinary retention, hernia, pain in
the lower abdomen
Taichong太冲 (LR 3)
Xingjian 行间(LR 2)
79
Eight Extra Meridians
 The eight extra meridians are the general term for Ren, Du, Dai, Yinwei,
Yangwei, Yingqiao and Yangqiao meridians.
 Their distributions are not regular like the twelve meridians.
 They have no direct connection with and affiliation to the viscera, and also
with no exterior-interior relations among themselves, therefore they are
called extra meridians.
 The eight extra meridians strengthening the communication among the
twelve meridians
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Eight Extra Meridians
 Except for Dai meridian, most of the meridians run
from the lower to the upper, and no meridian
distributes in the upper limb.
 The eight meridians not directly connect with or
affiliate to the viscera, but they have close relations
with the brain and womb.
81
Eight Extra Meridians
 There is no exterior-interior relationship among the
eight meridians;
 The running routes of every meridian are not like
the twelve meridians, with no definite symmetrical
relation on both right and left.
 Ren, Du and Dai meridians are of only one route
running singly.
82
Eight Extra Meridians
 The eight extra meridians run vertically,
transversely, and crosswise among the
twelve meridians ;
 They have the functions to strengthen the
communication among the meridians, and
regulate qi-blood in the regular meridians.
83
Running Route of Du Meridian
 - Du meridian督脉 runs along the posterior mid-line
84
Functions of Du Meridian
 Du meridian has the function to command qi-blood of yang meridians in
the whole body;
 Du meridian runs along the midline of back and its meridian qi several
times meets qi of the three yang meridians of both hand and foot, Dazhui
GV 14 as their meeting point.
85
Functions of Du Meridian
 Dai meridian comes out from the 2nd lumbar vertibra and
Yangwei meridian meets at Fengfu (GV 16) and Yamen
(GV 15).
 Du meridian communicates with qi of all the yang
meridians.
 Du meridian runs along the inside of the spinal column
and is closely related with the brain and spinal marrow.
86
Functions of Du Meridian
 The viscera in the body cavities are controlled by
the Du meridian qi through the Back-Shu背俞穴
points of the bladder meridian.
 Du meridian branches out to join the kidney.
87
Running Route of the Ren Meridian
 Ren meridian任脉 runs along the anterior mid-line
88
Function of Ren Meridian
 Chong meridian meets Ren meridian at Yinjiao (GV 28)
 Links with all the yin meridians.
 Responsible for the origination and development of the fetus.
89
Running Route of Chong Meridian
 Chong meridian冲脉 runs in the abdomen, lower limb and
front of the spinal column
90
Function of Chong Meridian
 Chong meridian runs upward to the head, and downward to the foot,
posteriorly in the back and anteriorly in the abdomen and chest, running
throughout the whole body.
 It is the communication hub to the circulation of qi and blood, and can
regulate qi and blood of the twelve meridians.
91
Function of Chong Meridian
 The descending part of it runs in the lower limb,
opening into yin meridians;
 The descending part of it runs in the lower limb,
opening into yin meridians.
 It can receive and regulate qi-blood of the twelve
meridians and the five Zang-viscera and six Fu-viscera
92
Function of Chong Meridian
 It serves as “the sea of blood” and closely
associated with the menstruation and
pregnancy of women.
 Only when Chong and Ren meridians keep
smooth and qi-blood are abundant.
93
Running Route of Dai Meridian
 Dai meridian 带脉runs transversely around the waist.
94
Functions of Dai Meridian
 Only Dai meridian runs around the waist thus it has the function of
binding the meridians run vertically.
 It binds and controls the relative meridians to regulate qi of the meridians
 Malfunction of the dai meridian will lead to fullness of the abdomen,
weakness of the lumbar region and coldness to the pelvic region
95
Running Route of Yinqiao Meridians
 Yinqiao meridian阴跷脉 runs in the medial
aspect of the lower limb, abdomen, chest, head
and eye.
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Running Route of Yangqiao Meridians
 Yangqiao meridian阳跷脉 runs in the lateral
aspect of the lower limb, abdomen,
posteriorlateral aspect of the chest, should
and head
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Functions of Yangqiao & Yinqiao Meridians
 Qiao here means heel and,forceful and nimble.
 To communicate yin and yang qi of the whole bdoy, and regulate the
motion of the limbs and muscles.
 Moisten the eyes, control the closing-opening of the eyelids and the
motion of the lower limb.
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Running Route of Yinwei Meridians
 Yinwei meridian阴维
脉 runs in the medial
aspect of the lower
limb, abdomen and
neck.
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Running Route of Yangwei Meridian
 Yangwei meridian
阳维脉 runs in the
lateral aspect of the
lower limb,
shoulder and nape.
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Functions of Yinwei & Yangwei Meridians
 Wei means regulating and connecting with.
 The major functions of Wei meridians are to
regulate all the meridians of the body.
 Yin meridian in its course meets three yin
meridians of foot and finally joins Ren meridian,
so it regulates and connects with yin meridians
of the whole body.
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Functions of Yinwei & Yangwei Meridians
 Yangwei meridian meets three yin meridians of foot
and finally joins Du meridian, it regulates and
connects with yang meridians of the whole body.
 Both Yinwei and Yangwei meridians regulate
commonly to play the role of importing and exporting
qi-blood, but not participate their circulation.
102
Running Route of Yinqiao Meridians
 Yinqiao meridian阴跷脉 runs in
the medial aspect of the lower
limb, abdomen, chest, head and
eye.
103
Running Route of Yangqiao Meridians
 Yangqiao meridian阳跷脉 runs in
the lateral aspect of the lower
limb, abdomen, posteriorlateral
aspect of the chest, should and
head
104
Functions of Yangqiao & Yinqiao Meridians
 Qiao here means heel and,forceful and nimble.
 To communicate yin and yang qi of the whole bdoy, and regulate the
motion of the limbs and muscles.
 Moisten the eyes, control the closing-opening of the eyelids and the
motion of the lower limb.
105
Running Route of Yinwei Meridians
 Yinwei meridian阴维脉 runs in the
medial aspect of the lower limb,
abdomen and neck.
106
Running Route of Yangwei Meridian
 Yangwei meridian
阳维脉 runs in the
lateral aspect of
the lower limb,
shoulder and nape.
107
Functions of Yinwei & Yangwei Meridians
 Wei means regulating and connecting with.
 The major functions of Wei meridians are to regulate all the meridians of the
body.
 Yin meridian in its course meets three yin meridians of foot and finally joins Ren
meridian, so it regulates and connects with yin meridians of the whole body.
108
Functions of Yinwei & Yangwei Meridians
 Yangwei meridian meets three yin meridians of foot
and finally joins Du meridian, it regulates and
connects with yang meridians of the whole body.
 Both Yinwei and Yangwei meridians regulate
commonly to play the role of importing and
exporting qi-blood, but not participate their
circulation.
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Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• For instance, in urinary retention and stress urinary incontinence resulting
from diabetic cystipathy may both cause disorder of coordinative function
between the detrusor urinae of bladder and spincter urethrae.
• The former is caused by hyperglycemia results in injury of parasympthetic
nerve dominating the detrusor urinae of bladder, leading to weak
contractility of the detrusor urinae of bladder, with relative hyperactive
function of sphincter urethrae; while the latter is due to laxation of pelvic
floor muscles and decrease of contraction of sphincter urithrae caused by
various factors, thus the function of the detrusor urinae of bladder becomes
relatively hyperactive.
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Expounding Pathological Changes
• The meridians affiliate internally to the viscera,
distribute externally in the body surface.
• So when the body surface is invaded by the
pathogens, the pathogens may go through the
meridian system to go from the exterior into the
interior, from the shallow to the deep, gradually
transmit inward to the viscera.
• Hence, the meridian system is the route for
transmission of the exogenous pathogens from the
skin and body surface into the viscera.
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Expounding Pathological Changes
• As an example, when cold pathogen invades the body surface,
fever and aversion to cold, pain of the head and body
manifested.
• It is because the lung is associated with the skin and if the
pathogen in the exterior cannot be expelled, it will transmit
inward in to the lung and manifested cough, chest distress,
chest pain and etc.
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Expounding Pathological Changes
• The lung meridian and the large intestine meridian
connect with each other, so there may appear
accompanying disorder of the large intestine such as
abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation.
• Clinically, the meridian may be used to expound the
symptoms and signs of the special sites or the
corresponding sense organs and orifices in the body
surface that the disorders of the five Zang-viscera and six
Fu-viscera show.
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Expounding Pathological Changes
• For example, the liver meridian of foot jueyin curves round the external
genitalia, descends to the lower abdomen, spreads its branches over the
costal and hypochondriac region, and runs up to connect the eye connector;
• So stagnation of liver qi may show pains in the hypochondria and lower
abdomen;
• Up-flaming of liver fire may show redness of the eyes;
• Dampness-heat in the liver meridian may show scrotal wetness.
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Expounding Pathological Changes
• Mutual transmission of the visceral disorders may also be
explained by the meridian theory.
• The disorder of a viscus may affect the other viscus through the
meridians.
• For example, the liver meridian of foot Jueyin affiliates to the
liver, runs by the stomach and enters the lung.
• So the disorder of the liver may affect the stomach, and the fire
of liver may affect the lung.
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Expounding Pathological Changes
• The kidney meridian of foot Shaoyin enters the lung and
connects with the heart;
• So edema due to kidney deficiency may “invade the
heart” and “affect the lung”.
• The spleen meridian of foot Taiyin enters the heart;
• So failure of the spleen in transformation and
transportation may cause deficiency of heart blood.
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Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• Clinically one can analyze the symptoms of a disease combining
with the running route and the connected viscera of a meridian
so as to diagnose what meridian the syndrome associates with.
• For example, a pain in the hypochondria often indicates disease
of the liver and gallbladder;
•
A pain in the Quepen usually means disorder of the lung.
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Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• For headache, forehead headache relates generally to
Yangming meridian; lateral headache to Jueyin meridian;
occipital headache and nape pain to Taiyin meridian;
vertical headache toJueyin meridian.
• In addition, when some disease is developing in some
meridian and the meridian qi stagnates, there often
appear obvious tenderness, nodule or streak reaction; or
morphologic or temperature or electric resistant changes,
which are all indication to diagnosis of disease.
• For patients with abdominal carbuncle there appears
sometime tenderness in Shangjuxu (ST 37) point of the
stomach meridian of foot Yangming.
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Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• In genuine heart pain there is often pain at the left inframammary area in
anterior pectoral region, even radiating to the left arm and little finger.
• In disorders of the spleen and stomach there usually abnormal changes at
Pishu (BL 20) point.
• In irregular menstruation or nocturnal spermarrhea there is often
tenderness at Henggu (KI 11) point.
• For patients with a prolonged indigestion there appear sometimes abnormal
changes at Pishu (BL 20) point.
• Examination of the meridian is also helpful to judge the cold, heat,
deficiency and excess nature of disease.
120
Guiding clinical treatment
• Points are the sites where qi-blood in circulation of the body gathers, and
also the sites from where pathogens invade the body.
• Stimulating the points may treat the diseases of the viscera and the
meridians.
• The meridian system is thus the passageway for medicine to play its
property, and for the body to sense the stimulations from mechanical,
acoustic, optic, electric and magnetic agents.
• Treatment of disease by acupuncture and moxibustion is through
puncturing the point or applying burning moxa over the point to smooth
meridian qi so as to restore the function of the meridian in regulating
visceral qi-blood of the body.
121
Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• Acumoxibustion at the point may at the same time and at different levels
act on normal or abnormal functions of several organs and systems.
• For example, during the process of a operation under the acupuncture
anesthesia, acupuncture produces analgesic effect, at the same time it can
regulate the functions of the relative systems in multiple aspects, so that
during the operation the blood pressure and pulsation are kept stable, and
the degree of post-operative pain in the incision becomes mild,
complications like infection are reduced, and the post-operative recovery
gets rapid.
122
Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• For instance, in urinary retention and stress urinary incontinence resulting
from diabetic cystipathy may both cause disorder of coordinative function
between the detrusor urinae of bladder and spincter urethrae.
• The former is caused by hyperglycemia results in injury of parasympthetic
nerve dominating the detrusor urinae of bladder, leading to weak
contractility of the detrusor urinae of bladder, with relative hyperactive
function of sphincter urethrae; while the latter is due to laxation of pelvic
floor muscles and decrease of contraction of sphincter urithrae caused by
various factors, thus the function of the detrusor urinae of bladder becomes
relatively hyperactive.
123
Guiding Meridian Syndrome Differentiation
• Pharmacotherapy is also taking the meridian as the way.
• Only it is through the conduction and transportation by the meridian
system, can the medicine get to the focus to cure disease, playing its
therapeutic effect.
• Through long and repeated practice, medical scholars found the medicinal
theories on for natures, five flavors, as well as ascending, descending,
floating and sinking actions. This is closely related to the meridian theory.
• A particular herb has a selective therapeutic effect to the illness of a certain
meridian and its affiliated viscus, accordingly they founded the theory of
“meridian-tropism of medicinal”.
• It is a summarization of the law of medicinal treatment based on the clinical
practice.
124
Meridian massage
• Tui Na describes the various hand forms used to stimulate
related acupuncture points, channels and muscles. Chinese
massage can be used alone to improve circulation and
strengthen the body, or in synergy with acupuncture and herbs
for the treatment of many diseases.
• With the hand forms of pressing, pushing, pinching, rolling,
tapping, grasping etc., it can:
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Meridian massage
• Stimulate the related points, channels and muscles of the body
• Improve blood circulation and metabolism
• Regulate the flow of the Qi
• Remove stagnation and toxins
• Balance internal organs
• Recover the functions of the tendons, bones and joints
• Eliminate tiredness and fatigue
• Cure diseases and strengthen the body
• Stop pain
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