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OVERVIEW OF MERIDIANS.
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The following sections provide an overview of the Meridian pathways used in TCM and lists them in corresponding pairs of Yin and Yang.
Major meridian points, including the sedation and tonification points for each meridian, and the corresponding phases for the meridian and the points on that meridian are including in a summary at the end.
There are five evolutionary phases (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood) and the organs are related to these phases (i.e. Wood for Liver and Gall Bladder).
Organs and their meridians for each phase are divided into Yin & Yang, thus Wood: Liver (Yin) & Gall Bladder (Yang).
A summary of the Ko and Shen Cycle of the Five Evolutionary phases has also been provided after outlining meridian points.
We have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot.
From each toe and each finger either a beginning or an end to a meridian, as one finger has two meridians, i.e. The Small Finger: Heart and Small Intestine meridian, and one toe has two meridians, i.e. the Big toe: Spleen and Liver meridian.
We can therefore conclude that there are twelve organ meridians, in addition to these there are two extra meridians known as: the conception vessel; running from the perineum up the front of the body to the chin, this is a yin meridian.
Running parallel to the conception vessel meridian starting at the crown of the head and following a path down the centre of the spine to the point of the perineum, is the Governing vessel meridian, this is a yang meridian.
It is possible to conclude from this that those meridians running over the hard surfaces, and travelling downwards from the top of the body to the bottom part of the body are Yang meridians (Colon, Triple Heater, Small Intestine, Stomach, Gall Bladder, Bladder).
Meridians running over the soft areas of the body and travelling upwards are Yin meridians (Lung, Pericardium, Heart, Spleen, Liver, Kidney). There are thus Six Yin and Six Yang meridians, excluding the Yang Governing and the Yin Conception vessel meridians.
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The Meridians of the Hands:
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Lung: Metal and Yin
The first point of the Lung meridian is Lung 1, is located at a point between the first and second ribs beneath the clavicle in a point between the anterior deltoids and pectoral muscles. The meridian runs up to the front top of the shoulder and down along the top of the arm over the hard top service in line with the outside of the thumb to Lung 11 which is located on the outside base of the thumb nail. The lung, is responsible for collecting Chi from Air, known as gathering Chi, the Lung meridian is of the evolutionary phase of metal and it is paired with the Colon meridian.
Colon: Metal and Yang
The Index finger, marks the beginning of the colon meridian, this is Yang. The point known as Colon one is to be found on the radial side of the index finger at the base of the finger nail, in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger is the point known as Colon four. This meridian runs up over the top of the bone, a hard surface, therefore yang, up to the top of the shoulder, up the side of the neck beneath the cheek to a point at the base of the nose known as Colon 20 or fragrant breath. The Colon meridian is paired with the lung and is also of the phase metal.
Pericardium: Fire and Yin
The middle finger marks the end of the pericardium, also known as heart governor or constrictor meridian, is Yin. The first point of the pericardium meridian, Pericardium one is located one Cun lateral to the nipple in the 4th intercostal space. The meridian runs down the soft middle inside part of the arm in a line directly in line with the top middle of the middle finger where the last point, Pericardium Nine is located. This meridian is a fire meridian and is paired with the triple heater meridian.
Triple heater: Fire and Yang
The ring finger marks the beginning of the triple heater meridian, sometimes also called the triple burner or warmer meridian. Triple heater 1 is found at the base of the nail of the ring finger, on the side nearest the little finger, and runs up the back of the arm and then across the top of the scapula to a point known as triple heater fifteen. This is a Yang Fire meridian.
Heart: Fire and Yin
The small finger marks two meridians, one Yin (heart) and one Yang (small intestine), both of these meridians are of the evolutionary phase of fire. The Heart (Yin) meridian ends at a point on the inside of the small finger at the base of the nail known as Heart Nine. This meridian runs up the inside of the ulna side of the arm over the soft fleshy area (it being Yin) to the inside of the arm pit.
Small intestine: Fire and Yang
This Yang Fire meridian begins at the base of the nail on the outside of the little finger and runs parallel to its paired meridian the heart, it thus runs over the hard surface (Yang) of the arm, and goes to the top of the scapula where it dips and then makes an upward passage prior to travelling to the top of the scapula again which it passes across the top of before going to the base of the neck.
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Meridians of the Feet:
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Spleen: Earth and Yin
This meridian begins on the outside (medial) of the big toe at the bottom corner of the nail, it runs up the inside of the foot over the ankle bone to a point about three fingers width above the ankle bone to a point known as spleen six. This is the point known as the meeting place of the three Yins (spleen, liver and kidney meridians). From Spleen 6 the spleen meridian runs up the front inside of the leg inside the ankle bone to the knee continuing up the front inside of the thigh and on in a line up the outside of the abdominal. Some authorities state that the spleen meridian then goes inside the body to the spleen, others state that is continues up to the inside of the anterior deltoids and then down to a point beneath the arm pit. The meridian is an earth meridian and is paired with the stomach meridian, both earth meridians.
Stomach: Earth and Yang
This Yang earth meridian begins at the point beneath the pupils with the eyes looking directly ahead. At a point beneath the cheekbones is the point Stomach 3. The Stomach meridian follows a path down from here through the nipples, then on either side of the stomach, between the oblique muscles, over the top front of the thighs, to the outside base of the knee. Just beneath the knee joint there is a point known as Stomach 36. The meridian continues from here and ends on the outside of the second toe at the base of the nail, in the webbing between the first and the second toe is located stomach 44. This Yang Earth meridian mirrors the path of its Yin Earth paired meridian the spleen.
Liver: Wood and Yin
This Yin Wood meridian begins at the inside of the big toes at the base of the nail and from here travels over the top of the ankle bone until reaching spleen six (meeting of three Yins). From spleen 6 the Liver meridian follows a path up the inside middle of the leg parallel to the seam of the trousers on the outside (path of gall bladder meridian) up the inside of the groin, then follows a slightly diagonal path to the fifth and sixth ribs. This meridian is paired with the gall bladder meridian.
Gall bladder: Wood and Yang
This Yang Wood meridian, begins at the outside corner of the eye, travels over the top of the ears down the back of the skull to the outside of the neck. On the outside Occipital ridge is a point known as Gall Bladder 20, from here the meridian moves down across the top of the top of the shoulders, at a point in the middle of the muscle inside the collar bone is Gall Bladder 21. The meridian then moves down to a point beneath the shoulder blade onto the side of the torso before it Zig zags the side of the body before following a path directly in line with the seam of the trousers. The meridian ends at the outside of the toe next to the little toe.
Bladder: Water and Yang
This Yang water meridian begins at the tear ducts of the eyes passes over the top of the head. The two meridians pass either side of the cervicle veterbrae. At a point inside the Occipital ridge, is located the point Bladder 10. The meridian then travels down either side of the spine to the first thoracic vertebrae where it divides at Bladder 11. One path going to Bladder 36 and traversing a path, which corresponds directly with the centre, back of the legs and outside of the ankle to the small toe. Whilst the other path which goes directly to the outside base of the Sacrum, where Bladder 30 is located, the meridian then goes up to the top centre of the sacrum before flowing down to Bladder 35 located at the base of the coccyx.
Kidney: Water and Yin
This Yin water meridian begins at the ball of the foot at a point known as Kidney one or gushing spring. It follows a line up the inside arch of the foot along the back of ankle bone and follows a path slightly to the inside of the bladder meridian, going up to the groin and then either side of the conception vessel meridian, to the base of the clavicle.
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Meridian Points: Sedation and Tonification:
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In the following section is included some information concerning specific meridian points and the evolutionary phases to which these points relate, for example where as lung meridian is a metal meridian, some points on that meridian relate to other evolutionary phases, as earth comes before metal in the Shen cycle of creation an earth point will tonify a metal organ, Where as the phase after metal is water, a water point on a metal meridian will sedate metal. A summary of this type of relationship is also provided below, as is the Shen (creative) and Ko (Destructive) cycles in the theory of the five evolutionary phases of TCM.
The Lung meridian is Yin metal. Lu. 11 is wood, Lu. 10 is Fire, Lu. 9 is earth, Lu. 8 is metal, Lu. 5 is water. Water sedates Metal (Lu 5). Earth tonifies it (Lu 9).
The Colon meridian is Yang metal. Co.1 metal, Co.2 is water, Co. 3 is wood, Co. 5 is fire, Co. 11 is earth. Water sedates Metal (Co 2). Earth tonifies it (Co 11).
The Pericardium meridian is Yin Fire. PC point 9 is wood, point 8 Fire, point 7 Earth, point 5 metal, point 3 water. Earth sedates Fire (PC 7) Wood tonifies it (PC 9)
The Triple heater meridian is Yang Fire, but the point Triple heater 1 is metal, point 2 water, point 3 wood and point 6 fire, point 10 earth. Earth sedates Fire (TH 10). Wood tonifies it (TH 3).
Heart meridian, Yin Fire. Heart 9 is wood, point 8 is fire, point 7 is earth, point 4 is metal, point 3 is water. Earth sedates Fire (Ht 7). wood tonifies it (Ht 9)
Small Intestine meridian, Yang fire, point 1 is metal, point 2 is water, point 3 is wood, point 5 is fire, point 8 is earth. Earth sedates Fire (Ht 8) Fire tonifies it (Si 5)
Stomach meridian, is Yang Earth. St 45 is metal, St. 44 is water, St. 43 is wood, St. 41 is Fire, St. 36 is earth. Metal sedates Earth (St. 45). Fire tonifies it (St.41)
Spleen Meridian, is Yin Earth. point Sp.1 is wood, Sp. 2 Fire, Sp. 3 Earth, Sp. 5 metal, Sp. 9 water. Metal sedates Earth (Sp. 3). Fire tonifies it (Sp. 2)
Liver meridian, is Yin Wood. Lv 1 is wood, Lv 2 is Fire, Lv 3 is Earth, Lv. 4 is metal, Lv 8 Water. Fire sedates Wood (Lv 2). Water tonifies it (Lv 8)
Gall Bladder meridian, is Yang Wood. Gb 44 is metal, Gb 43 is water, Gb 41 is wood, Gb 38 is fire, Gb 34 is earth. Fire sedates Wood (Gb 38). Water tonifies it (Gb.43).
Baldder meridian is a Yang Water. Bl 67 is metal, Bl.66 is water, Bl.65 is wood, Bl 60 is fire, Bl.54 is earth. Wood sedates Water (Bl.65). Metal tonifies it (Bl.67)
Kidney meridian is a Yin water meridian. Kd 1 is wood, Kd 2 is Fire, Kd 5 is earth, Kd 7 is metal, Kd 10 is water. Wood sedates Water (Kd 1). Metal tonifies it (Kd.7).
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Ko and Shen Cycles of Wu Xing
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Shen Cycle
Water tonifies Wood as it gives birth to it,
Wood tonifies Fire as it gives birth to it,
Fire tonifies Earth as it gives birth to it,
Earth tonifies Metal as it gives birth to it,
Metal tonifies Water as it gives birth to it,
Ko Cycle
Wood that destroys Earth
Earth which destroys Water
Water which destroys Fire
Fire which destroys Metal
Metal which destroys Wood
Ko & Shen Cycle Combined:
Water tonifies wood, but it is Wood that destroys Earth, (Wood grows over Earth).
Earth tonifies metal, but it is Metal which destroys Wood, (Metal chops Wood).
Wood tonifies Fire, but it is Fire which destroys Metal, (Fire melts Metal).
Metal tonifies water, but it is Water which destroys Fire, (Water puts out Fire).
Fire tonifies earth, but it is Earth which destroys Water, (Earth hems in Water).
Water (which gives birth to Wood) sedates Metal,
Metal (which gives birth to Water) sedates Earth,
Earth (which gives birth to metal) sedates Fire,
Fire (which gives birth to earth) sedates Wood,
Wood (which gives birth to Fire) sedates Water.
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| Nihon Go Shin Kage Ryu & Hakuda Ryu Kempo Jutsu
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Page Updated Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:08pm EST
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