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Meridian (Chinese medicine) - Wikipedia,…
Meridian (Chinese medicine) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The meridian (simplified Chinese: 经络; traditional Chinese: 經絡; pinyin: jīngluò) is a concept central to traditional Chinese medical techniques such as acupuncture, and to martial arts such as tai chi and qigong. According to these practices, there are channels along which the energy or qi of the psychophysical system is considered to flow. Such techniques are said to achieve their effects by manipulation and, ideally, balancing of the energy running through a network of complex bodily patterns. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.[1][2] The translation "meridian" is claimed to be improper for inaccuracy.[3][4]
Contents 1 Main concepts 1.1 Twelve standard meridians 1.2 Eight extraordinary meridians 2 Hypothesized relationship to other traditional medicines 3 Criticism of traditional Chinese meridian theory 4 Role in dreams 5 See also 6 References 7 External links
Main concepts In traditional Chinese medicine, patterns of physiological and emotional disharmony are thought to be caused by blockages or disruptions of energy flow along the meridians. To correct such malfunction, specific acupoints along the meridians are stimulated by means of needles, moxibustion or simply the application of pressure. A standard teaching text comments on the nature and relationship of meridians (or channels) and the Zang Fu organs:
“
The theory of the channels is interrelated with the theory of the Organs. Traditionally, the internal Organs have never been regarded as independent anatomical entities. Rather, attention has centered upon the functional and pathological interrelationships between the channel network and the Organs. So close is this identification that each of the twelve traditional Primary channels bears the name of one or another of the vital Organs. In the clinic, the entire framework of diagnostics, therapeutics and point selection is based upon the theoretical framework of the channels. "It is because of the twelve
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Primary channels that people live, that disease is formed, that people are treated and disease arises."
”
—Spiritual Axis, chapter 12.
From the beginning, however, we should recognize that, like other aspects of traditional medicine, channel theory reflects the limitations in the level of scientific development at the time of its formation, and is therefore tainted with the philosophical idealism and metaphysics of its day. It has been argued that that which has continuing clinical value needs to be reexamined through practice and research to determine its true nature.[5] There are about 400 acupuncture points and 20 meridians connecting most of the points, however by the 2nd Century CE, 649 acupuncture points were recognized in China.[6][7] These 20 meridians include the "twelve regular channels" or "twelve regular meridians", with each meridian corresponding to each organ; nourishing it and extending to an extremity. There are also "Eight Extraordinary Channels" or meridians, two of which have their own sets of points, and the remaining ones connecting points on other channels.
Twelve standard meridians The "twelve standard meridians" go along the arms and the legs. They are: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Triple Warmer (aka Triple Heater), Gall Bladder, and Liver. These terms refer to biological functions and not the structural organ, which is why there are some on the list with no corresponding anatomical structure. Meridians are divided into Yin and Yang groups. The Yin meridians of the arm are: Lung, Heart, and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are: Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Triple Warmer. The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen, Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.[8] The table below gives a more systematic list of the twelve standard meridians:[9][10]
Meridian name (Chinese)
Yin / Yang
Hand 5 / elements Foot
Organ
Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand (手太阴肺经) or Taiyin Lung Meridian of Hand
Taiyin (greater yin)
Hand (手)
Metal (金) Lung (肺)
Shaoyin Heart Channel of Hand (手少阴心经) or Shaoyin Heart Meridian of Hand
Shaoyin (lesser yin)
Hand (手)
Fire (火)
Heart (心)
Hand (手)
Fire (火)
Pericardium (心包)
Fire (火)
Triple Heater (三 焦)
Jueyin Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Hand (手厥阴心 (absolute 包经) or Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of Hand yin) Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand (手少阳三 焦经) or Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian of Hand
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Shaoyang Hand (lesser yang) (手)
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Taiyang Small Intestine Channel of Hand (手太 阳小肠经) or Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian of Hand
Taiyang (greater yang)
Hand (手)
Fire (火)
Yangming Large Intestine Channel of Hand (手 阳明大肠经) or Yangming Large Intestine Meridian of Hand
Yangming (yang brightness)
Hand (手)
Large Metal (金) Intestine (大 腸)
Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot (足太阴脾经) or Taiyin Spleen Meridian of Foot
Taiyin (greater yin)
Foot (足)
Earth (土) Spleen (脾)
Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Foot (足少阴肾经) or Shaoyin Kidney Meridian of Foot
Shaoyin (lesser yin)
Foot (足)
Water (水)
Kidney (腎)
Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot (足厥阴肝经) or Jueyin Liver Meridian of Foot
Jueyin (absolute yin)
Foot (足)
Wood (木)
Liver (肝)
Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel of Foot (足少阳 Shaoyang Foot 胆经) or Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian of (lesser yang) (足) Foot
Wood (木)
Gall Bladder (膽)
Small Intestine (小 肠)
Taiyang Bladder Channel of Foot (足太阳膀胱 经) or Taiyang Bladder Meridian of Foot
Taiyang (greater yang)
Foot (足)
Water (水)
Urinary bladder (膀 胱)
Yangming Stomach Channel of Foot (足阳明胃 经) or Yangming Stomach Meridian of Foot
Yangming (yang brightness)
Foot (足)
Earth (土)
Stomach (胃)
Eight extraordinary meridians The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance in the study of Chi Kung, Tai chi chuan and Chinese alchemy.[11] These eight extra meridians are different to the standard twelve organ meridians in that they are considered to be storage vessels or reservoirs of energy and are not associated directly with the Zang Fu or internal organs. These channels were first systematically referred to in the "Spiritual Axis" chapters 17, 21 and 62, the "Classic of Difficulties" chapters 27, 28 and 29 and the "Study of the 8 Extraordinary vessels" (Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao) by Li Shi Zhen 1578. The eight extraordinary vessels are:[12] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Directing Vessel (Ren mai) Governing Vessel (Du Mai) Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai) Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai) Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai) Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai) Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai)
Hypothesized relationship to other traditional medicines …wikipedia.org/…/Meridian_(Chinese_m…
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Authors Hernán García and Antonio Sierra 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.[13] Alberto Villoldo, author of "Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of the Americas", indicates that these Chinese meridians coincided exactly with the flux lines or cekes which are known to Inca medicine people as ríos de luz, rivers of light that flow within the luminous body. The kawak, the seers, can see the rivers of light or cekes along the surface of the skin. And Shamans throughout the Americas rely on their ability to massage the points where it was blocked so that the light could flow freely again.[14]
Criticism of traditional Chinese meridian theory See also: Acupuncture: Criticism of TCM theory In 1694, during the "quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns", after having seen some meridian diagrams from the Lèi Jīng and misinterpreting them as anatomical drawings, British Scholar William Wotton wrote this famous criticism of TCM[15]: It would be tedious to dwell any longer upon such Notions as these, which every page of Cleyer's book is full of. The Anatomical Figures annexed to the Tracts, which also were sent out of China, are so very whimsical, that a Man would almost believe the whole to be a Banter, if these Theories were not agreeable to the occasional hints that may be found in the Travels of the Missionaries. This, however, does no prejudice to their [Medicinal Simples], which may, perhaps, be very admirable, and which a long Experience may have taught the Chineses to apply with great success; and it is possible that they may sometimes give not unhappy Guesses in ordinary Cases, by feeling their Patients Pulses: Still, this is little to Physic, as an Art; and however, the Chineses may be allowed to be excellent Empiricks, as many of the West-Indian Salvages [Savages] are, yet it cannot be believed that they can be tolerable Philosophers; which, in an Enquiry into the Learning of any Nation, is the first Question that is to be considered. Skeptics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) often characterize the system as pseudoscientific. Proponents reply that TCM is a prescientific system that continues to have practical relevance. Others will say that this is a simple communication mismatch between the reductionist Western medical system focused on form, and the holistic Eastern system focused on function, and that they are both valid ways to approach development of knowledge.
Role in dreams Although many believe that there is no anatomical or histological basis for the existence of meridians, Y.D. Tsai from Taiwan proposed a "repair nerves" hypothesis in 1995. [16] In the brain and spine, there are autonomous "repair nerves", one of whose actions is to expand the blood vessels. Repair nerves connect with compression and pain nerves, and are grouped into many chains called meridians in Chinese medicine. When some repair nerves are prodded by compression or pain to send out their repair signals, a chain reaction spreads out to set other repair nerves in the same meridian into action. The purpose of this chain reaction is to allow the muscular movement and compression on the outer parts of the body, especially on the palms and soles, to bring along the daily nourishment of internal organs. …wikipedia.org/…/Meridian_(Chinese_m…
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Tsai further hypothesized: The autonomous nerves receive not only the real signals from the sensory nerves but also the simulated signals from hallucination. While dreaming, the body employs the meridians to repair the body and help it grow and develop by simulating very intensive movement-compression signals to expand the blood vessels when the level of growth enzymes increase. The so called "Qi" by Chinese is a hallucinative sensation of swollenness or tingling, which can cause the expansion of blood vessels. The "pulse-feeling" diagnosis can also be explained as that a change in the distribution of resistance, caused by the expansion or constriction of blood vessels along meridians, will change the wrist pulse pattern when the heart pumps.
See also Acupoint therapy Acupuncture point List of acupuncture points Marmam Pressure points Terms and concepts in alternative medicine
References 1. ^ Felix Mann. Chinese Medicine Times (http://www.chinesemedicinetimes.com/section.php? xSec=122) , vol 1 issue 4, Aug. 2006, "The Final Days of Traditional Beliefs? - Part One" 2. ^ NIH Consensus Development Program (November 3-5, 1997). "Acupuncture --Consensus Development Conference Statement - This statement is more than five years old and is provided solely for historical purposes. Due to the cumulative nature of medical research, new knowledge has inevitably accumulated in this subject area in the time since the statement was initially prepared. Thus some of the material is likely to be out of date, and at worst simply wrong. For reliable, current information on this and other health topics, we recommend consulting the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus" (http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm) . National Institutes of Health. http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm. Retrieved 200707-17. 3. ^ "“经络”成了“子午线” 中医术语翻译惹争论" (http://cj.39.net/ylhy/xwdt/zcfg/088/15/614731.html) . 2008-08-15. http://cj.39.net/ylhy/xwdt/zcfg/088/15/614731.html. Retrieved 2009-04-28. (Chinese) 4. ^ 朱建平. "中医术语规范化与中医现代化国际化" (http://www.cttcm.com.cn/mcsyyjd14.htm) . http://www.cttcm.com.cn/mcsyyjd14.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-28. (Chinese) 5. ^ Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text, p. 35. Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Translated and edited by John O'Connor and Dan Bensky. Eastland Press, Seattle, 1981 (Fourteenth Printing, 1997). ISBN 0-939616-00-9. 6. ^ Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature (http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9290611057.htm) , World Health Organization 7. ^ Needham, Joseph; Lu Gwei-Djen (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-521-21513-7. 8. ^ Dillman, George and Chris, Thomas. Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo. A Dillman Karate International Book, 1994. ISBN 0-9631996-3-3 9. ^ Peter Deadman and Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. "A Manuel of Acupuncture" Journal of Chinese Mediceine, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9510546-5-9 10. ^ 中医药学名词审定委员会. 中医药学名词, 北京:科学出版社, 2005. ISBN 7030151542 11. ^ T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation by Da Liu, pages 35-41 - Routledge and Keegan Paul 1987 ISBN 0140192174 12. ^ The foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia, pages 355-365 - Churchill Livingstone 1989. ISBN 04430389801 13. ^ Garcia, Hernan and Antonio, Sierra. Wind in the Blood - Mayan Healing & Chinese Medicine. Redwing Books, 1999. ISBN 1-56643-304-2 14. ^ Alberto Villoldo. Shaman, Healer, Sage Hamony Books, 2000. ISBN 0-609-60544-5 …wikipedia.org/…/Meridian_(Chinese_m…
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15. ^ Needham, Joseph; Lu Gwei-Djen (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Press. pp. 281–282. ISBN 0-521-21513-7. 16. ^ Y.D. Tsai (1995). "A Mind-Body Interaction Theory of Dream" (http://myweb.ncku.edu.tw/~ydtsai/mindbody/) . http://myweb.ncku.edu.tw/~ydtsai/mindbody/.
External links Meridian Pathways (http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/meridians/meridians.html) Images showing the pathways of the 12 main meridians plus the Ren and Du Meridians The Mechanism of Acupuncture (http://www.acupuncture.com//education/theory/mechanismacu.htm) A meridian chart (http://www.traditionalmedicine.net.au/images/meridian.gif) Traditional Chinese medical science (http://www.365tcm.com/topics/channel) Meridians, Acupuncture Points and Martial Arts Instructions (http://www.flashmavi.com/taiji_meridians_acupuncture_points.shtml) Pressure Point Charts (http://www.bojuka.ca/pressure-points-charts.shtml) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_(Chinese_medicine)" Categories: Traditional Chinese medicine This page was last modified on 24 July 2010 at 13:09. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers
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