Meridian /Channel

Meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as "qi" flows through out body. (simplified Chinese: traditional Chinese: pinyin: jnglu, also called channel) There are twelve standard meridians or channels , also called Principal Meridians, with each meridian corresponding to each organ and extending to an extremity. There are also "Eight Extraordinary meridians or channels , two of which have their own sets of points, and the remaining ones connecting points on other channels.

The 12 standard meridians are divided into 2 groups (Yin and Yang ).
The Yin meridians of the arm are: Lung, Heart, and Pericardium. Arm Yin: flow from the torso along the inner edge of the arms to the fingers. Proximal to distal The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen, Kidney, and Liver. Yin Meridians of the leg: flow from the toes along the inner edge of the legs to the torso. Distal to Proximal The Yang meridians of the arm are: Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Triple Warmer. Arm Yang: flow from the fingers along the outer edge of the arms to the head. Distal to Proximal The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder. Yang meridians of the leg , flow from the head down the torso and along the outer edge or back of the legs to the toes. Proximal to distal

When acupuncture was adopted in the western world a standard nomenclature was developed to clearly identify the acupuncture points on meridians. This model achieved wide acceptance and today virtually every book on acupuncture refers to acupuncture points using it. Each acupuncture point is identified by the meridian on which it is located and its number in the point sequence on that channel. For example Lu-9 identifies the 9th acupuncture point on the lung meridian

Eight extraordinary meridians

1. Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) - [rn mi] 2. Governing Vessel (Du Mai) - [d mi]
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) -[chng mi] Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai) - [di mi] Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai) - [yn wi mi] Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai) - [yng wi mi] Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai) - [yn qio mi] Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai) - [yng qio mi]

In this course we use only the first 2 meridians.

Lung-Meridian (Tai Yin)

points: 1 11 Abbreviated as LU ( median nerve) Starts just below the mid clavicular line LU 1 & 2 @elbow Jt LU5 @palmar crease LU8 @ base of 1st metacarpal LU9 & right @ nail bed LU11

LU 2: a big depression medial to coracoid process in infraclavicular fossa. LU9: on the lateral anterior crease of wrist depression on ulnar side of the tendon of abductor pollicis longus muscle

Heart-Meridian (Shao Yin )

points: 1 to 9 Abbreviated as HE, HT or H, we use HT. Starts @ arms inner anterior as aspect HT1, elbow HT3, @first palmar crease HT6 end @ nail bed of little finger HT9.

HT 7: in the depression lateral to the attachment of tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris to pisiform bone. HT 3: on anterior cubital region, in depression midway between biceps & medial epicondyle of the humerus.

Pericardium-Meridian (Jue Yin)

points 1 to 9 Abbreviated as PC or P, ( median nerve) PC 1 STARTS @ AROUND 5 RIB/INTERCOSTALS & PASSES IN MID ARM TO FOREARM @ELBOW PC3, RIGHT ON DISTAL PALMAR CREASE PC7 @ TIP OF THE MIDDLE FINGER PC9

Large intestine (Yang Ming) -Meridian

points: 1 to 20 Abbreviated as LI or CO (colon), we use LI ( 5 & 7TH CRANIAL NERVE, SUBCLAVIUS, axillary, suprascapular, & radial nerve, STARTS LATERAL TO TIP OF INDEX FINGER LI1 PASSES THRU 1ST WEB SPACE LI4*** @ BASE OF 1ST METACARPAL LI5 GOES LATERALLY TO ELBOW LI12 MID ARM LI13 DELTOID TUBEROSITY L114 @ TIP OF SHOULDER JOINT LI15 JOINT LAND MARK (ac joint LI 16), SUBCLAVIUS LI17 MID NECK 18, UP FACE AND GOES TO OTHER SIDE OF UPPER LIP LI19 & 20

Small intestine (Tai Yang) -Meridian

points: 1 to 19 Abbreviated as SI, (cranial never 5, supra & infraclavicular & radial nerve) IMAGINE DRAW 7 FROM MID EAR(SI19) TOWARDS BASE OF NECK (SI15)LEVATORS(SI14), SUPRASCAPULAR INFRASCAPULAR TO QUADRANGULAR SPACE(SI9) DOWN TO ANCONEOUS(LATERAL CONDYLE)(SI8), TOWARDS POSTERIOR MEDIAL LINE OF FOREARM TO TIP OF PINKY(LITTLE FINGER).SI1

Triple Heater (Shao Yang)-Meridian

points: 1 to 23 Abbreviated as TH STARTS @ CORNER OF EYE (TH23) GOES AROUND POSTERIOR EAR @ TIP (TH20) NECK TOWARDS (IMAGINE TO DRAW 3 FROM TIP TOWARDS GH JT) POSTERIOR GLENOID FOSSA TH14 & PASSES POSTERIOR & IN MIDDLE OF ARM & FOREARM TO RING FINGER TH1

Kidney-Meridian (Shao Yin); Points: 1 to 27 Abbreviated as KI, KD

or K, under sole of foot KD1to centre of medial archmakes a circle around medial malleolli goes up just knee joint just above inner thigh ( KD10) goes up abdomen chest & ends just below medial1/4 of clavicle.KD27

Spleen-Meridian (Tai Yin) (21 points); Abbreviated as Sp1 to 21 begings @ bigtoes nail bed medially (SP1) & goes till proximal medical arch( SP4) & goes toward talus & tibial junction (SP5) towards just below knee joint(SP9) runs upper inner leg midpoint(SP11)& goes up abdomen on to end in the upper/inner chest.

Liver-Meridian (Jue Yin)

points: 1 to 14 Abbreviated as LR ,LV or Liv, we use Liv begins @ the toenail runs up the inside of leg, up the side of the torso to end just below nipple.

Bladder-Meridian (Tai Yang) (67 points; Abbreviated as B, BL or UB

(urinary bladder), we use B. starts @ inner medial corner of eye, goes upward over forehead, down the middle of the back & leg & ends @ toenail of little toes.

Gallbladder-Meridian (Shao Yang) 44 points: Abbreviated as GB,

Starts @ side of eye, goes above ear, down the side of trunk & legs to 4th toe nail bed

Stomach-Meridian (Yang Ming) 45 points Abbreviated as ST Starts below the

eye makes U turn on face goes up the forehead, from lowest point of u(imagine a tuning fork) travels down chest & goes along nipple line to abdomen & down the outside of leg to end @corner of 2nd toenail.

Extraordinary meridian: yin energy governs the Conception vessel Conception vessel 24 points Also known as Ren, abbreviated as CV, we use cv: this starts midway between the anus and the genitals, runs in a straight line up the front of the body and ends at the midline below the lower lip. It plays a vital role in ones ability to reproduce and influences the yin meridians of the body.

Extraordinary meridians: Yang energy governs the Governor vessel

Governing vessel has 28 points Also known as Du, abbreviated as GV, we use gv: this starts midway between the coccyx and the anus and runs straight up the midline of the back, over the head and ends on the inside of the mouth at the junction of the gum and upper lip. It governs the yang meridians of the body.