HSC3521 4: WEEK 4 Lecture 2
Lecture 2 Week 4 TCM Review This lecture will give an overview of some of the material that we have covered in our text and lectures. Please don’t use it as your only source of studying for the exam – the exam will cover your text, lectures and power point presentations. The Meridians The circulating pathways of the twelve Meridians flow from the face to the feet, from the feet to the chest, from the chest into the hands, and from the hands back to the face. Yin Meridians The Yin Meridians pass along the inward side of the limbs and along the front of the body. It has already been mentioned that the pathways leading to or from the arms are called Hand Meridians, and those that descend to the legs or ascend from the legs are the Foot Meridians. The three Yin foot meridians ( Liver, Kidney, and Spleen) travel from the foot to the chest. This describes the circulation of energy over the entire body and delineates the pathways in which Qi flows. The three Yin Hand Meridians (Lung, Heart, and Pericardium) will flow from the chest to the fingertips, upward along the forward portion of the arm.
Yang Meridians The Yang Meridians flow along the outward side of the limbs and along the back of the body. The three Yang foot meridians (Gallbladder, Urinary Bladder, Stomach) travel from the head to the foot. The energy in the three Yang Hand Meridians (Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and the San Jiao) will be flowing from the fingertips, downward on the back part of the arm, to end their flow in the face. The Stomach Channel is one exception. Although it is a Yang Meridian, it runs on the front of the body with the Yin Meridians, instead of up the back like the rest of the Yang Meridians. The other exception is the Governor Vessel, which is a Yang Meridian in the center of the back, in which energy flows upward as opposed to the rest of the major Yang Meridians in which energy flows downward. The Governor Vessel, or Du Mai (Du or GV), follows the spine upward on the back, travels over the head and ends on the inner surface of the upper lip. It has no direct connections to any internal organ. Its energy flow is Yang and ascends from the bottom of the pathway beginning near the anus. It connects with all the Yang Meridians of the body, and is important in many conditions requiring manipulation of the Yang energy of the body. The Conception Vessel, or Ren Mai (CV or Ren) travels up the midline in front of the body. It runs from near the anus to the mouth, and its energy is Yin, ascending from the lower body to the upper, as does the Governing Vessel. In effect, these two meridians vertically encircle the body on its midline, front and back.
These two Vessels are not bilateral. They do not form a direct part of the organ meridian's energy circulation network, nor are they associated with any one organ. They belong to the eight Extra Vessels. As Qi circulates through the Primary Meridians, it alternates in coupled pairs of Yin and Yang Meridians, staying for two hours in the Yin and two hours in the Yang, in a smooth alternating rhythm. On acupuncture charts, the meridians appear as thin surface lines connecting a series of dots that represent the acupuncture points. Every Channel has an inner pathway and an outer pathway, and it is usually the outer pathway with its acupuncture points that is shown on most charts or drawings, and the inner pathways are not accessible to manipulation by needling. According to the Chinese, each Channel is connected to all the tissues, organs and functions over which its acupuncture points have an influence or produce an effect, whether in the immediate area of the points or at a much distant area. Summary 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. 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. You will also note that these pairs are also coupled ie., Lung with Large Intestine, Spleen with Stomach, Heart with Small Intestine, Kidneys with Bladder, Pericardium with San Jiao,
and Liver with Gall Bladder.
Yin Channels (Organ)
Yang Channels (Organ)
Lung
Large Intestine
Spleen
Stomach
Heart
Small Intestine
Kidneys
Bladder
Pericardium
San Jiao
Liver
Gall Bladder
Functions of Meridians/Collaterals 1) Transport Qi and blood and regulates yin and yang 2) Resist pathogens and reflect symptoms and signs (may transmit pathogens deeper) Internal diseases may also "show" along meridians/collaterals. 3) Transmits needle sensation and regulates deficient and
excess conditions. The key to an Acupuncture treatment is to regulate yin and yang Arrival of Qi is essential to obtaining therapeutic effects. Both patient and physician should feel Qi come to needle
8 Principles and their pulse qualities Yin
Yang
Interior (deep pulse)
Exterior (superficialpulse)
Deficient (weak pulse)
Excess (overly strong pulse)
Cold (slow)
Hot (Rapid
Meridian Gutter is a point on the Lung meridian (Metal Element). It helps to clear out old debris, allowing a fresh perspective Bubbling Spring is the first point on the Kidney meridian (Water Element). This point is where our feet come into contact with the earth. A bubbling spring refreshes, vitalizes, and cleanses. Returning Current is a point on the Kidney meridian (Water Element) that serves as the transition between the Metal and Water Elements. It helps to allow the wisdom to flow freely once the letting go has occurred.
Qi stagnation Emotional stress is the major cause of Qi stagnation: whatever the emotion, they all upset the proper flow of Qi in the Qi mechanism and lead to Qi stagnation. Each emotion has a certain effect on Qi (e.g sadness depletes Qi, worry knots Qi, etc), but, after a short time they all lead to some Qi stagnation, even those that deplete Qi.
PATHOLOGY
Qi stagnation is essentially a disruption of the Qi mechanism (Qi Ji) which means it affects the whole body Qi mechanism the flow of Qi in all organs of the body and all cavities, joints, skin, muscles, Fat, Membranes, etc. Implicit in the Qi mechanism is the flow of Qi in the proper direction in each place or organ: the flow of Qi in and out of organs, in and out of cavities, in and out of joints, and so on. The Qi mechanism is like a vast system of roads and motorways where traffic needs to be regulated by one-way streets.Two essential movements of Qi need to be coordinated: the ascending and descending of Qi, and the entering and exiting of Qi.
The Review Continues:
The Heart
1. The Heart governs the Blood. The Blood Vessels (tissue associated with the Heart and part of the whole system of the Heart in TCM) are where it circulates. 2. The Blood is made in the Heart, via the Heart Fire (Yang). Blood on the other hand, cools the Fire and prevents it from flaring up. The Spleen 1. Spleen produces Food Qi, which is the basis for the formation of Blood. 2. Spleen Qi keeps the Blood in the Vessels so that it does not extravasate. (Deficient Spleen Qi can result in Qi being unable to hold the Blood, resulting in hemorrhages.) The Liver Liver stores the Blood. When person is active, Blood flows to the muscles and tendons (governed by the Liver). When person lies down, Blood flows back to Liver. Liver Blood moistens the eyes, ensuring good eyesight and also moistens the sinews, promoting flexibility of joints. Liver Blood supplies the uterus with Blood, together with the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai - one of the eight Extraordinary or Ancestral Vessels), with which it is closely related. Therefore Liver Blood is very important for regular and healthy menstruation.
Lungs 1. Assist Spleen in sending Food Qi to the Heart to form Blood. 2. Control the channels and Blood Vessels by filling the Blood Vessels with Qi to assist the Heart's pushing action. Kidneys 1. Original Qi (stored in Kidneys) is needed to transform Food Qi into Blood. 2. Kidney stores Jing, which produces Marrow. Marrow generates bone marrow, which contributes to the formation of Blood. To nourish Blood in TCM, we must therefore tonify (increase energy of) the Spleen and Kidneys. However, the Heart, Spleen & Liver have the most direct relationship with the Blood: Heart governs Blood, Spleen holds Blood in the Vessels and the Liver stores Blood.
Solid and Hollow Organs (Zang Fu)Yin Organs are "Solid": constantly active, involved in production and storage of the body's vital Substances (Qi Blood, Body Fluids, Essence) Yang Organs are "Hollow": receive and circulate but do not store, involved in digestion, transformation, excretion.
Zang Organs (Yin): Lungs, Spleen, Heart, Kidneys, Liver
Fu Organs (Yang): Large Instestine, Small Intestine, Stomach, Urinary Bladder,Gall BladderForms of Qi:Yuan Qi, Zong Qi, Zhen Qi, Zhong Qi,Ying Qi,Wei Qi.
Functions and Movement of Qi:Qi can transform, transport, hold, raise, protect, and warm. Qi also has a normal flow or direction of movement associated with each Yin Yang organ.