Meridian (Chinese medicine)
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The concept of meridians (Chinese: jing-luo 经络) arises from the techniques and doctrines of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, acupressure, and qigong. According to these practices, the body's vital energy, "qi", circulates through the body along specific interconnected channels called meridians. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for their existence.
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[edit] Background
Disruptions of the body's energy flow (such as stagnations, blockages and redirection) are thought to cause emotional and physical illness. To release those disruptions, specific points on the meridians called acupoints, or tsubo in the Japanese practice, are stimulated via needles, pressure or other means.
The Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature published by the World Health Organization listed about 400 acupuncture points and 20 meridians connecting most of the points. Such 20 meridians are usually called the "12 standard meridians" (十二經常脈 or 十二正經), with each meridian corresponding to each organ; and another "8 special meridians" (奇經八脈).
The twelve standard meridians go along the arms and the legs. They are: Heart, Lung, Pericardium, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Triple Warmer, Kidney, Spleen, Liver, Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder. Meridians are divided into Yin and Yang groups. The Yin meridians of the arm are, Heart, Lung and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are: Small Intestine, Large Intestine, and Triple Warmer. The Yin Meridians of the leg are Kidney, Spleen, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.[1]
The table below gives a more systematic list of the meridans:
| Meridian name (Chinese) | Yin / Yang | Arm / Leg | 5 elements | Organ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 手太陰肺經 | Major Yin (太陰) | Arm (手) | Metal (金) | Lung (肺) |
| 手厥陰心包經 | Yin (厥陰) | Arm (手) | ？ | Pericardium (心包) |
| 手少陰心經 | Minor Yin (少陰) | Arm (手) | Fire (火) | Heart (心) |
| 手陽明大腸經 | Yang (陽明) | Arm (手) | ？ | Large Intestine (大腸) |
| 手少陽三焦經 | Minor Yang (少陽) | Arm (手) | ？ | Triple Warmer (三焦) |
| 手太陽小腸經 | Major Yang (太陽) | Arm (手) | ？ | Small Intestine (小腸) |
| 足少陰腎經 | Minor Yin (少陰) | Leg (足) | Water (水) | Kidney (腎) |
| 足太陰脾經 | Major Yin (太陰) | Leg (足) | Earth (土) | Spleen (脾) |
| 足厥陰肝經 | Yin (厥陰) | Leg (足) | Wood (木) | Liver (肝) |
| 足陽明胃經 | Yang (陽明) | Leg (足) | ？ | Stomach (胃) |
| 足太陽膀胱經 | Major Yang (太陽) | Leg (足) | ？ | Bladder (膀胱) |
| 足少陽膽經 | Minor Yang (少陽) | Leg (足) | ？ | Gall Bladder (膽) |
The causal relationships between the points on the meridians and the corresponding parts of the body is still debated.
Authors Hernan Garcia and Sierra Antonio argue that the Chinese meridians have their counterpart in the Mayan acupuncture techniques practiced in the Yucatan. They say that the analogous concept is that of wind channels, and that most of the key points in Mayan acupuncture correspond with key acupuncture points in the Chinese meridian model.[2]
[edit] Criticism of TCM meridian theory
Clinical use of meridians frequently relies on the conceptual framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which some scholars have characterized as pseudoscientific. Proponents reply that TCM is a prescientific system that continues to have practical relevance.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Dillman, George and Chris, Thomas. Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo. A Dillman Karate International Book, 1994. ISBN 0-9631996-3-3
- ^ Garcia, Hernan and Antonio, Sierra. Wind in the Blood - Mayan Healing & Chinese Medicine. Redwing Books, 1999. SBN: 1-56643-304-2
[edit] Bibliography
- Lo S.Y. (2002) Meridians in acupuncture and infrared imaging. Medical Hypotheses 58(1):72-76.
- Nuclear Medicine & Acupuncture: A study on the migration of radioactive isotopes after injection at Acupoints Nuclear Medicine & Acupuncture.
[edit] External links
- Meridian Pathways Images showing the pathways of the 12 main meridians plus the Ren and Du Meridians
- The Mechanism of Acupuncture
- A meridian chart
