Meridians

Over the past several weeks, we have been discussing the TCM view of the human body, which is the model taught At the core of this model is the notion that a set of three entities, call the functional entities, are responsible for producing and maintaining health. The three functional entities are:

1. The Five Fundamental Substances: The substances that give rise to and maintain life. They are: Qi (vital life energy), Xue (Blood), Jinye (Body Fluids), Jing (Essence), and Shen (Spirit).
2. Zang-fu: A set of 5 pairs of yin-yang organs that produce the Five Fundamental Substances.
3. Jing-luo (meridians): The channels that connect the Zang-fu organs and regulate the flow of the fundamental substances throughout the body.

Understanding yin-yang theory is crucial to understanding TCM

So far, we have explained the fundamental substances and Zang-fu organs in great detail, but we have yet to discuss the importance of the Jing-luo. The Jing-luo or meridian points are of extreme importance in Traditional Chinese Medicine and serve as the cornerstone for understanding how the healing modalities in Oriental Medicine operate, such as acupuncture and tui-na massage.

In this article, we will discuss the Jing-luo and their importance in TCM.

What are Meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? | AMC Acupuncture School | Miami, Florida

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a meridian or Jing lou is a channel through which qi and the other fundamental substances flow. They are known by many different names, such as acupuncture meridians, acupoints, and energy vessels.

The meridians function as a network, much like a highway system, that can be mapped out throughout the entire body. They are similar to the circulatory system in western medicine, but it needs to be emphasized that meridians are non-physical.

If you have ever seen an acupuncture model and have wondered what the several points or dots on the body are, they are the location points for specific meridians.

Fully understanding the vast system of meridian networks and their functions, is a complicated subject that takes years of study at an acupuncture program and is beyond the scope of this blog.

For the sake of simplicity, we will divide the Jing Luo network into two major categories: the jingmai or main meridian channels and the luomai or collateral vessels.

What are the Jingmai in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM)?

The jingmai refers to the collective system of the main meridian channels. Their primary purpose is to regulate the flow of qi throughout the body. Generally speaking, there are seventy-two major jingmai. Of the seventy-two, twenty are considered to be the most important in acupuncture and will the main focus of this blog. The main meridian categories are:

1. Twelve Major or Primary Meridians- These are the most important meridians of the body. They connect to the Zang-fu organs and are the main pathways that transport qi and xue (blood) throughout the body.
2. Eight Extraordinary Vessels-Their primary function is to connect the twelve primary meridians.
3. Twelve Divergent or Distinct Meridians-These meridians are responsible for connecting the wei (defensive) and yuan (parental) qi.

Acupuncture Print circa 100 BC. This shows the different Jingmai points.