Transcript 1 General introduction to meridians and acupoints

1 General introduction to meridians and
acupoints
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The theory of meridians and
acupoints is the basic theory of
acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.
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The science of meridians is the
routes that connect different parts of the
body; while the science of acupoints is
to explain the relation between the
viscera and the meridians.
1.1 General introduction to meridians
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Definition of the Meridians:
 Difference between Meridians and
collaterals :
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the routes
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transport qi and blood
 regulate yin and yang
 connect the zang-organs with the fuorgans
 associate the external with the internal as well as the upper with the lower.
Differentence between
meridians and collaterals
 Meridians
 main trunk
 run up and
down ,interiorly
and exteriorly
within the body
 in the deeper
layer .
 collaterals
 branches of meridians
networks,thinner and smaller
than the meridians,
 run crisscrossly over the body .
 Collaterals can be further
divided into subcollaterals
which called minute collaterals.
 The shallow collaterals are
called superficial collaterals
which distribute all over the
body.
1.1 Composition of meridian system
 the twelve regular meridians
 the twelve meridian branches
 the twelve meridian tendons
 The twelve skin areas
 The eight extraordinary vessels (please
see your book)
 The fifteen collaterals
1.1.2 Distribution of meridian system
 1.1.2.1 The twelve meridians
1.1.2.1.1 Distribution on the surface of the body
1.1.2.1.2 Association of the twelve meridians with the
viscera
1.1.2.1.3 Running direction , circulation and
convergent principle of the twelve meridians
1.1.2.1.4 Extetnal and internal relation
 The definition of the twelve meridians :
 the main part of the meridian system
 also known as “the twelve regular meridians”
 including three yin and three yang meridians
of the hand , three yin and three yang
meridians of the foot.
 The distribution rules of the The twelve meridians :
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(1) symmetry
(2) four limbs:
The yin meridians ________ inner side
the yang meridians ________ lateral side
The taiyin and yangming meridians (yin and yang)
________the anterior side
The shaoyin snd taiyang _______the posterior side
the jueyin and shaoyang ____the middle side
The jueyin meridian of the foot has two kinds
cases :one is anterior to the taiyin meridian of the foot
(8 cun down to the medial malleolus ),the other is
between the taiyin and shaoyin meridians .(8 cun
above the medial malleolus)
 The rule of the the association of the
twelve meridians with the viscera :
 "pertaining and connection".
 Yin meridians pertain to the zang
organs and connect with the fu organs
yang meridians pertain to the fu organs
and connect with the zang organs.
 Running direction:
 The three yin meridians of the hand run from
the chest to the hand;
 the three yang meridians run from the hand to
the head;
 the three yang meridians of the foot run from
the head to the foot;
 the three yin meridians run from the foot to
the abdomen."
 Circulation:
 The twelve meridians form a cycle of qi
and blood circulatory system.
 The circulatory order: lung__large
intestine __stomach ___spleen___heart
___small intestine ___urinary bladder
____kidney ____pericardium
___sanjiao _____gallbladder ____liver
____lung .
 Convergent principle :
 the yin and yang meridians in external
and internal relationship converge over
the end of the four limbs ;
 the yang meridians (with the same
name )converge over the head and
face ;
 the yin meridians and yang meridians
(in a cycle-like connection) converge
over the chest .
 External and internal relation
 an important interrelation among the
twelve meridians similar to that of the
relation between zang organs and fu
organs, refers to the correspondence of
the three yin and three yang meridians .
1.1.2.2 The meridian branches of the twelve
meridians
 1. Definition :
 stem from the twelve meridians
 run deep into the trunk , associate with the viscera and join the
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meridians in external and internal relation .
2. Distribution characteristics :"stemming, entering,
outthrusting(leaving) and combination''.
"Stemming" stem from the areas below the knees and elbows,
"entering" enter the body and usually associate with the viscera
in external and internal relation, the branches of the three yang
meridians of the foot also associate with the heart;
"outthrusting "come out to run in the superficial areas over the
head and neck;
"combination" the branches of the yin meridians combine with the
yang meridians that they are in internal and external relation with,
while the branches of the yang meridians with the meridians that
they stem from.
1.2. 4 .3The tendons of the twelve meridians
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1. The definition :
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(1)the areas where qi from the twelve meridians
accumulates
(2)the regions where the twelve meridians are
connected with the musculature and joints.
2. The distribution rule :
The same like the projection of the meridians that
they are connected with on the body surface,
especially on the four limbs.
3. Function :
nourish and govern the musculature and joints to
maintain the normal activities of the body and
strengthen the relation of the twelve meridians with
the three yin and three yang meridians on the same
side.
1.1.2. 5 The twelve skin areas
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the definition :
 the regions where the twelve meridians
distribute on the skin,
 the regions where the meridian qi
effuse over the skin
 the regions of the functional activities of
the twelve meridians reflected on
1.1.2. 6 The eight extraordinary
meridians
 1. Definition of the eight extraordinary
meridians
 2. Difference between the twelve
meridians and eight extraordinary
meridians
 collective term
 the governor vessel(Du meridian)
 conception vessel(Ren meridian)
 thoroughfare vessel(Chong meridian)
 belt vessel(Dai meridian)
 yin link vessel(Yin wei meridian) yang
link vessel(Yang wei meridian)
 yin heel vessel(Yinqiao meridian) and
yang heel vessel(Yang qiao meridian).
Difference :
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1.No external and internal relation
2. in close relation with the extraordinary fu
organs.
3.
No their own distributing routes and just
run around among the twelve meridians except the
governor and conception vessels.
4.No their own specific acupoints except the
governor and conception vessels.
5. they do not transport qi and blood like that of
the twelve meridians, just accumulate and regulate qi
and blood in the twelve regular meridians.