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Revision as of 08:42, 25 December 2009

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]

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 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. 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 recognised 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 / Foot 5 elements 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)
Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Hand (手厥阴心包经) or Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin (absolute yin) Hand (手) Fire (火) Pericardium (心包)
Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand (手少阳三焦经) or Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian of Hand Shaoyang (lesser yang) Hand (手) Fire (火) Triple Heater (三焦)
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) Small Intestine (小肠)
Yangming Large Intestine Channel of Hand (手阳明大肠经) or Yangming Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Yangming (yang brightness) Hand (手) Metal (金) Large 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 (足少阳胆经) or Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang (lesser yang) Foot (足) Wood (木) Gall Bladder (膽)
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. Directing Vessel (Ren mai)
  2. Governing Vessel (Du Mai)
  3. Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)
  4. Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai)
  5. Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai)
  6. Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai)
  7. Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai)
  8. Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai)

Hypothesized relationship to other traditional medicines

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ Felix Mann. Chinese Medicine Times, 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". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2007-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  3. ^ ""经络"成了"子午线" 中医术语翻译惹争论". 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2009-04-28. Template:Zh icon
  4. ^ 朱建平. "中医术语规范化与中医现代化国际化". Retrieved 2009-04-28. Template:Zh icon
  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, World Health Organization
  7. ^ Needham, Joseph (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-521-21513-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  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
  15. ^ Needham, Joseph (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Press. pp. 281–282. ISBN 0-521-21513-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Bibliography

  • Lo S.Y. (2002) Meridians in acupuncture and infrared imaging. Medical Hypotheses 58(1):72-76.
  • J. Kwon et al., "Scanning probe microscopy study of microcells from the organ surface Bonghan corpuscle", Applied Physics Letters, vol. 90, article number 173903, 2007. (Note: This 2007 paper has quite some references related to Bonghan Kim's theory on meridians.)
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