Chinese Therapy About The Meridian System

In man’s body, there exists an integrated, complex network called the meridian system, by which various part of the whole body can be linked up, Qi and blood can circulate into all of the organs and tissues, their physiological functions can be adjusted, and the pathogens invading the body can be transmitted or expelled after occurrence of disease.

Meridian, usually being an abbreviated term for the meridian system, consists of both the meridians and collaterals. The meridian, or “JIng “(route) in Chinese, makes up the main trunk of the system; while the collaterals, “Luo” (net) in Chinese, is the branch of a meridian in the system. The meridians include the twelve regular meridians and the eight extra meridians, and the twelve (principal branches) meridian-divergences, the twelve meridian-musculatures, and the twelve skin-areas that attached to the twelve regular meridians. Collaterals can be divided into three parts, i.e., the fifteen major collaterals, minute collaterals and the superficial collaterals

The laws of running directions and connections of the twelve regular meridians are: “the three Yin meridians of hand travel from the chest to the hands, and connect the three Yang meridians of hand there; the three Yang meridians of hand from the hand to the head and connect the three Yang meridians of foot from there; the three yang meridians of foot from the head to the foot, and connect the three Yin meridians of foot there; the three Yin meridians of foot from the foot to the abdomen and chest, and connect the three Yin meridians of hand there.” Thus it forms a circulatory cycle in which the Yin and Yang meridians communicate with each other.

The eight extra meridians are another part of the meridian system. They are a general term for Du, Ren, Chong, Dai, Yangqiao, Yinqiao,Yangwei, and Yinwei meridians

The eight extra meridians form a crisscross network among the twelve regular meridians. Their function is to strengthen the ties (in-between) among the regular meridians and regulate Qi and blood inside the meridians.

The meridian system plays its regulative and coordinative functions by its inducing (reacting) and conducting actions, so as to maintai the dynamic balance of the whole body or to rebuild the balance broken down

As the waxing-waning of the meridional Qi has a direct bearing on the occurrence and (transference) transmission of disease, the meridians are often considered as the invading routes of the pathogens.

Since the meridians differ in their course and related viscera, it is possible to make a diagnosis of the affected meridian or viscera by analyzing the symptoms and signs colllected.

Selection of acupoints along the meridians means that the proper acupoints are (drawn up) chosen according to the diagnosis of the pathological changes of a certain meridian and its related viscera.

Some (certain) Chinese (medicines) drugs can direct (another) other drugs into the affected meridian and the pathological regions, so usage of (medicinal guides) meridian-guiding drugs can enhance the therapeutic effects of Chinese drugs (consequently).