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Meridian (Chinese medicine)

The meridian system (simplified Chinese: 经 络 ;
traditional Chinese: 經絡; pinyin: jīngluò, also called
channel network) is a concept in traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM). Meridians are paths through
which the life-energy known as "qi" flows.[1]

Meridians are not real anatomical structures:

scientists have found no evidence that supports their
existence.[2] Major proponents of their existence have
not come to any consensus as to how they might work
or be tested in a scientific context.

Contents
History
Main concepts
12 standard meridians
Eight extraordinary meridians
Scientific view of meridian theory
See also Meridian system

References

History
The concept of meridians are first attested in two works recovered from the Mawangdui and
Zhangjiashan tombs of the Han-era Changsha Kingdom, the Cauterization Canon of the Eleven Foot
and Arm Channels ( 足臂十一脈灸經 , Zúbì Shíyī Mài Jiǔjīng) and the Cauterization Canon of the
Eleven Yin and Yang Channels ( 陰 陽 十一 脈灸 經 , Yīnyáng Shíyī Mài Jiǔjīng). In the texts, the
meridians are referenced as mài (脈) rather than jīngmài.

Main concepts
The meridian network is typically divided into two categories, the jingmai ( 經 脈 ) or meridian
channels and the luomai ( 絡脈 ) or associated vessels (sometimes called "collaterals"). The jingmai
contain the 12 tendinomuscular meridians, the 12 divergent meridians, the 12 principal meridians, the
eight extraordinary vessels as well as the Huato channel, a set of bilateral points on the lower back
whose discovery is attributed to the ancient physician Hua Tuo. The collaterals contain 15 major
arteries that connect the 12 principal meridians in various ways, in addition to the interaction with
their associated internal organs and other related internal structures. The collateral system also

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incorporates a branching expanse of capillary-like vessels which spread throughout the body, namely
in the 12 cutaneous regions as well as emanating from each point on the principal meridians. If one
counts the number of unique points on each meridian, the total comes to 361, which matches the
number of days in a year, in the moon calendar system. Note that this method ignores the fact that the
bulk of acupoints are bilateral, making the actual total 670.

There are about 400 acupuncture points (not counting bilateral points twice) most of which are
situated along the major 20 pathways (i.e. 12 primary and eight extraordinary channels). However, by
the second Century AD, 649 acupuncture points were recognized in China (reckoned by counting
bilateral points twice).[3][4] There are "12 Principal Meridians" where each meridian corresponds to
either a hollow or solid organ; interacting with it and extending along a particular extremity (i.e. arm
or leg). There are also "Eight Extraordinary Channels", two of which have their own sets of points, and
the remaining ones connecting points on other channels.

12 standard meridians

The 12 standard meridians, also called Principal Meridians, are divided into Yin and Yang groups. The
Yin meridians of the arm are the Lung, Heart, and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are
the Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Triple Burner. The Yin Meridians of the leg are the Spleen,
Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.[5]

The table below gives a more systematic list of the 12 standard meridians:[6]

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Quality of Yin Five

Meridian name (Chinese) Extremity Organ Time of Day
or Yang Elements

Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand

Greater Yin
(手太阴肺经) or Hand's Major Hand (手) Metal (金) Lung (肺) 寅; yín; 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.
(taiyin, 太阴)
Yin Lung Meridian

Shaoyin Heart Channel of Lesser Yin

午; wǔ; 11 a.m. to 1
Hand (手少阴心经) or Hand's (shaoyin, 少 Hand (手) Fire (火) Heart (心)
p.m.
Minor Yin Heart Meridian 阴)

Jueyin Pericardium Channel

of Hand (手厥阴心包经) or Faint Yin Pericardium
Hand (手) Fire (火) 戌; xū; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hand's Absolute Yin Heart (jueyin – 厥阴) (心包)
Protector Meridian

Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Lesser Yang

Hand (手少阳三焦经) or Triple Burner 亥; hài; 9 p.m. to 11
(shaoyang, 少 Hand (手) Fire (火)
Hand's Minor Yang Triple (三焦) p.m.
阳)
Burner Meridian

Taiyang Small Intestine

Small
Channel of Hand (手太阳小肠 Greater Yang 未; wèi; 1 p.m. to 3
Hand (手) Fire (火) Intestine (小
经) or Hand's Major Yang (taiyang, 太阳) p.m.
肠)
Small Intestine Meridian

Yangming Large Intestine

Yang Bright Large
Channel of Hand (手阳明大肠 卯; mǎo; 5 a.m. to 7
(yangming, 阳 Hand (手) Metal (金) Intestine (大
经) or Hand's Yang Supreme a.m.
明) 腸)
Large Intestine Meridian

Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot

Greater Yin
(足太阴脾经) or Foot's Major Foot (足) Earth (土) Spleen (脾) 巳; sì; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
(taiyin, 太阴)
Yin Spleen Meridian

Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Lesser Yin

(shaoyin, 少 酉; yǒu; 5 p.m. to 7
Foot (足少阴肾经) or Foot's Foot (足) Water (水) Kidney (腎)
p.m.
Minor Yin Kidney Meridian 阴)

Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot

Faint Yin 丑; chǒu; 1 a.m. to 3
(足厥阴肝经) or Foot's Foot (足) Wood (木) Liver (肝)
(jueyin, 厥阴) a.m.
Absolute Yin Liver Meridian

Shaoyang Gallbladder Lesser Yang

Channel of Foot (足少阳胆经) Gall Bladder
(shaoyang, 少 Foot (足) Wood (木) 子; zǐ; 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
or Foot's Minor Yang (膽)
阳)
Gallbladder Meridian

Taiyang Bladder Channel of Urinary

Foot (足太阳膀胱经) or Foot's Greater Yang
bladder (膀 申; shēn; 3 p.m. to 5
Foot (足) Water (水)
Major Yang Urinary Bladder (taiyang, 太阳) p.m.
胱)
Meridian

Yangming Stomach Channel

Yang Bright
of Foot (足阳明胃经) or Foot's (yangming, 阳 辰; chén; 7 a.m. to 9
Foot (足) Earth (土) Stomach (胃)
Yang Supreme Stomach a.m.
明)
Meridian

Eight extraordinary meridians

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The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance in the study of Qigong, Taijiquan and
Chinese alchemy.[7] These eight extra meridians differ from 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, i.e. internal organs. These channels were studied 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), written in 1578.

The eight extraordinary vessels are (奇經八脈; qí jīng bā mài):[8]

1. Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) – 任脈; rèn mài

2. Governing Vessel (Du Mai) – 督脈; dū mài
3. Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) – 衝脈; chōng mài
4. Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai) – 帶脈; dài mài
5. Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai) – 陰維脈; yīn wéi mài
6. Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai) – 陽維脈; yáng wéi mài
7. Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai) – 陰蹻脈; yīn qiāo mài
8. Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai) – 陽蹻脈; yáng qiāo mài

Scientific view of meridian theory

Scientists have found no evidence that supports their existence.[2]

Some advocates of traditional Chinese medicine believe that meridians function as electrical conduits
based on observations that the electrical impedance of a current through meridians is lower than
other areas of the body. A 2008 review of studies found that the studies were of poor quality and
could not support the claims.[9]

According to Steven Novella, "there is no evidence that the meridians actually exist. At the risk of
sounding redundant, they are as made up and fictional as the ether, flogistum, Bigfoot, and
unicorns."[1]

The National Council Against Health Fraud concluded that "[t]he meridians are imaginary; their
locations do not relate to internal organs, and therefore do not relate to human anatomy."[10]

See also
Acupuncture point
Chakra
List of acupuncture points
Marma adi
Nadi (yoga)
Pressure points
Glossary of alternative medicine

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References
1. Novella, Steven (25 January 2012). "What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?" (https://www.science
basedmedicine.org/what-is-traditional-chinese-medicine/). sciencebasedmedicine.org. Society for
Science-Based Medicine. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
2. Singh, S.; Ernst, E. (2008). Trick Or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine
(https://books.google.com/books?id=5m6CKTEr3I0C&pg=PA42). Norton paperback. W. W.
Norton. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-393-06661-6. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
3. Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature (http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9290611057.ht
m) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20060318223754/http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/p
ub_9290611057.htm) 2006-03-18 at the Wayback Machine, World Health Organization
4. Needham, Joseph; Lu Gwei-Djen (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge University Press. p. 100.
ISBN 0-521-21513-7.
5. Dillman, George and Chris, Thomas. Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo. A
Dillman Karate International Book, 1994. ISBN 0-9631996-3-3
6. Peter Deadman and Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. "A Manuel of Acupuncture" Journal of
Chinese Medicine, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9510546-5-9
7. T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation by Da Liu, pages 35–41 – Routledge and Keegan Paul 1987
ISBN 0-14-019217-4
8. The foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia, pages 355–365 – Churchill
Livingstone 1989. ISBN 0-443-03980-1
9. Ahn, Andrew C.; Colbert, Agatha P.; Anderson, Belinda J.; Martinsen, Orjan G.; Hammerschlag,
Richard; Cina, Steve; Wayne, Peter M.; Langevin, Helene M. (May 2008). "Electrical properties of
acupuncture points and meridians: a systematic review" (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/182402
87/#:~:text=Five%20out%20of%209%20point,electrical%20impedance%20and%20higher%20cap
acitance.). Bioelectromagnetics. 29 (4): 245–256. doi:10.1002/bem.20403 (https://doi.org/10.100
2%2Fbem.20403). ISSN 1521-186X (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1521-186X). PMID 18240287
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18240287).
10. "NCAHF Position Paper on Acupuncture (1990)" (http://www.ncahf.org/pp/acu.html). National
Council Against Health Fraud. 16 September 1990. Retrieved 13 May 2015.

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