What are Twelve Meridians ?
Twelve Meridians carry the life energy that vitalizes all life forms and allows them to grow. Different cultures call this life energy by different names; Chi, Ki subtle energy, life force, Spirit, Prana, and vital energy are all just some of its titles. Like electricity, this energy is invisible to the human eye. However, some experienced Chinese doctors can feel and trace these pathways of these energies with their hand. About 5000 years ago Chinese doctors mapped these twelve meridian lines. The discovery and understanding of these pathways of energy led to the development of acupuncture to balance Chi. The meridian, or channels, is invisible energy pathways in the body which form an energy network which connects all parts of the body, and connects the body to the universe. Body has twelve meridians. Each meridian is related to a specific Organ System in the body. The meridian pathways are often thought of as a network which links each meridian with each other as well as connecting all body structures such as the skin, tendons, bone, internal organs, and cellular structure, which enable Qi to flow freely throughout.
Twelve Meridians
What is Qi
• The energy which regulates the entire cosmos and human body is known as Qi (energy).
• Names of energy (in different countries)
• China – Qi or Chi
• Japan – Ki
• India – Prana
• America – Vital force
• U.K – Bio energy
Pathways of Qi (Energy)
• The Qi flows continously in human body.
• The Qi flows through definite paths in the body.
• At places Qi flows from top to bottom in body.
• At places Qi flows from bottom to top.
• At places Qi flows from Center to periphery.
• At places Qi flows from Periphery to center.
How The Twelve Meridian Work?
Like a river that provides life-giving water to its surrounding areas. Sometimes, however, the flow of energy is disrupted. An overload of energy in the form of strong emotions and trauma can block the flow of Chi. It is like a surge of electricity going to your TV and causing a circuit to blow. Optimal health depends on energy consistently flowing; balanced, free, and uninterrupted throughout the entire body.
The body Meridians work by regulating the energy functions of the body and keeping it in balance. If Ki stagnates for too long in any meridian, it can become blocked and eventually condense down and solidify (turn into matter), setting the stage for conditions that create cysts and tumor like masses. “As long as Ki flows freely through the meridians and the Organs work in harmony, the body can avoid disease.”
POLARITY OF QI – YIN/YANG
• Yin- Yang Theory is a very important theory of Chinese Acupuncture.
• Yin & Yang are two opposite but complimentary forces.
• In Chinese Acupuncture, treatment is performed on the basis of YinYang theory
Yin –Yang surfaces of Human Body
Surface away from Sun Surface facing the Sun
Yin-Yang Surfaces of body
YIN YANG
Hidden part of body Exposed part of body
Front part of body Back part of body
Below Diaphragm Above Diaphragm
Right half of body Left half of body
Front of face Back of face
Right half of face Left half of face
Front of Leg Back of Leg
Inside of Leg Outside of Leg
Front of Arm Back of Arm
Inside of Arm Outside of Arm
What are the criteria for choosing these twelve meridians?
•On the basis of location
•On the basis of Structure
•On the basis of Function
•On the basis of pathology
We have 12 bilateral Meridians. The two special vessels (the Conception Vessel and the Governor Vessel) are not bilateral. They are singular channels, which follow the midline of the body, one in front and one on the back. The following pages are diagrams of the locations of the meridians on the human body. There are a number of ways in which the Primary Meridians can be classified. One method is to classify them into two groups, according to their polarity of Yin and Yang. The Chinese determined that some of the Meridians are predominantly of Yin energy, and some are predominantly of Yang energy.
Yin Channels (Organ) Yang Channels (Organ)
Lung Large Intestine
Spleen Stomach
Heart Small Intestine
Kidneys Urinary Bladder
Pericardium Triple Warmer (TW)
Liver (LV) Gall Bladder (GB)
Route of Twelve Body Meridian
Lung Meridian
Large Intestine Meridian
Stomach Meridian
Spleen Meridian
Heart Meridian
Small Intestine Meridian
Urinary Bladder Meridian
Kidney-Meridian
Pericardium Meridian
Triple Warmer Meridian
Gall Bladder Meridian
Liver Meridian
The Primary Meridians are also grouped together in coupled pairs, each Yin meridian being coupled to a specific Yang meridian. The pairs are coupled according to the table above, i.e., Lung with Large Intestine, Spleen with Stomach, Heart with Small Intestine, Kidneys with Bladder, Pericardium with San Jiao, and Liver with Gall Bladder. Another way of classifying the Meridians is based on the main location of the Channel and its terminal point. Six Meridians are located on the upper portion of the body, and start or end on the fingers. The other six Meridians are located on the lower portion of the body and end or start at the toes. Which gives us the following relationships: Hand Meridians Foot Meridians Lung Stomach Large Intestine Spleen Heart Bladder Small Intestine (SI) Kidneys Pericardium Gall Bladder Triple Warmer Live
By combining the Yin/Yang and Hand/Foot classifications or groupings, we get the following pathways.
3 Yin Meridians of the Hand Chest to Hand
3 Yang Meridians of the Hand Hand to Face
3 Yang Meridians of the Foot Face to Foot
3 Yin Meridians of the Foot Foot to Chest
How emotions affect the 12 meridian system
In acupuncture theory there are sayings about the damaging effects of emotions:
Too much anger injures the Liver
Too much fear injures the Kidneys
Too much sadness injures the Lungs
Too much thinking/worrying injures the Spleen
Too much joy/excitement injures the Heart
Too much emotion injures the Heart
Keep in mind that in the context of acupuncture and Sujok Therapy the names of the organs when capitalized are not the same as the organs we know from western anatomy.