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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 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concept that alleges meridians are paths through which the life-energy known as "qi" (ch'i) flows.[1]

Meridian system

Meridians are not real anatomical structures: scientists have found no evidence that supports their existence.[2] One historian of medicine in China says that the term is "completely unsuitable and misguided, but nonetheless it has become a standard translation."[3] Major proponents of their existence have not come to any consensus as to how they might work or be tested in a scientific context.

History edit

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 () rather than jīngmài.

Main concepts edit

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 Zung Fu (臟腑) organs and other related internal structures. The collateral system also 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).[4][5] 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 edit

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.[6]

The table below gives a more systematic list of the 12 standard meridians:[7]

Meridian name (Chinese) Quality of Yin or Yang Extremity Five Elements Organ Time of Day
Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand (手太阴肺经) or Hand's Major Yin Lung Meridian Greater Yin (taiyin, 太阴) Hand () Metal () Lung () ; yín; 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Shaoyin Heart Channel of Hand (手少阴心经) or Hand's Minor Yin Heart Meridian Lesser Yin (shaoyin, 少阴) Hand () Fire () Heart () ; ; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Hand (手厥阴心包经) or Hand's Absolute Yin Heart Protector Meridian Faint Yin (jueyin – 厥阴) Hand () Fire () Pericardium (心包) ; ; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand (手少阳三焦经) or Hand's Minor Yang Triple Burner Meridian Lesser Yang (shaoyang, 少阳) Hand () Fire () Triple Burner (三焦) ; hài; 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Taiyang Small Intestine Channel of Hand (手太阳小肠经) or Hand's Major Yang Small Intestine Meridian Greater Yang (taiyang, 太阳) Hand () Fire () Small Intestine (小肠) ; wèi; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Yangming Large Intestine Channel of Hand (手阳明大肠经) or Hand's Yang Supreme Large Intestine Meridian Yang Bright (yangming, 阳明) Hand () Metal () Large Intestine (大腸) ; mǎo; 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot (足太阴脾经) or Foot's Major Yin Spleen Meridian Greater Yin (taiyin, 太阴) Foot () Earth () Spleen () ; ; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Foot (足少阴肾经) or Foot's Minor Yin Kidney Meridian Lesser Yin (shaoyin, 少阴) Foot () Water () Kidney () ; yǒu; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot (足厥阴肝经) or Foot's Absolute Yin Liver Meridian Faint Yin (jueyin, 厥阴) Foot () Wood () Liver () ; chǒu; 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel of Foot (足少阳胆经) or Foot's Minor Yang Gallbladder Meridian Lesser Yang (shaoyang, 少阳) Foot () Wood () Gall Bladder () ; ; 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Taiyang Bladder Channel of Foot (足太阳膀胱经) or Foot's Major Yang Urinary Bladder Meridian Greater Yang (taiyang, 太阳) Foot () Water () Urinary bladder (膀胱) ; shēn; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Yangming Stomach Channel of Foot (足阳明胃经) or Foot's Yang Supreme Stomach Meridian Yang Bright (yangming, 阳明) Foot () Earth () Stomach () ; chén; 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Eight extraordinary meridians edit

The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance to the study of Traditional Chinese medicine that incorporates the modalities and practices of Qigong, Taijiquan and Chinese alchemy.[8] These eight extra meridians differ from the standard twelve organ meridians in that they are considered to be storage vessels likened to oceans, fields, or reservoirs of energy that are not associated directly with the Zang Fu, i.e. internal organs but have a general influence upon them. Within Traditional Chinese medicine they are thought to bring about large functional and physiological changes within clinical practice. 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.[9]

The eight extraordinary vessels are (奇經八脈; qí jīng bā mài):[10]

  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 edit

Scientists have found no evidence that supports their existence.[2] The historian of medicine in China Paul U. Unschuld adds that there "is no evidence of a concept of 'energy' -- either in the strictly physical sense or even in the more colloquial sense -- anywhere in Chinese medical theory." [11]

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.[12]

Some proponents of the Primo Vascular System propose that the putative primo vessels, very thin (less than 30 μm wide) conduits found in many mammals, may be a factor explaining some of the suggested effects of the meridian system.[13][14]

According to Steven Novella, neurologist involved in the Skeptical movement, "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, phlogiston, 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."[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Novella, Steven (25 January 2012). "What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?". sciencebasedmedicine.org. Society for Science-Based Medicine. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b Singh, S.; Ernst, E. (2008). Trick Or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine. Norton paperback. W. W. Norton. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-393-06661-6. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  3. ^ Unschuld, Paul U. (2018). Traditional Chinese medicine : heritage and adaptation. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 125. ISBN 9780231175005.
  4. ^ Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature 2006-03-18 at the Wayback Machine, World Health Organization
  5. ^ Needham, Joseph; Lu Gwei-Djen (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-521-21513-7.
  6. ^ Dillman, George and Chris, Thomas. Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo. A Dillman Karate International Book, 1994. ISBN 0-9631996-3-3
  7. ^ Peter Deadman and Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. "A Manual of Acupuncture" Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9510546-5-9
  8. ^ T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation by Da Liu, pages 35–41 – Routledge and Keegan Paul 1987 ISBN 0-14-019217-4
  9. ^ Ceurvels, Will (2021). An Archaeology of the Qiao Vessels. Purple Cloud Press. ISBN 979-8505103401.
  10. ^ The foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia, pages 355–365 – Churchill Livingstone 1989. ISBN 0-443-03980-1
  11. ^ Unschuld (2018), p. 125.
  12. ^ 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". Bioelectromagnetics. 29 (4): 245–256. doi:10.1002/bem.20403. ISSN 1521-186X. PMID 18240287. S2CID 7001749.
  13. ^ Stefanov, Miroslav; Potroz, Michael; Kim, Jungdae; Lim, Jake; Cha, Richard; Nam, Min-Ho (24 October 2013). "The Primo Vascular System as a New Anatomical System". Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 6 (6): 331–338. doi:10.1016/j.jams.2013.10.001. ISSN 2005-2901. PMID 24290797.
  14. ^ Chikly, Bruno; Roberts, Paul; Quaghebeur, Jörgen (January 2016). "Primo Vascular System: A Unique Biological System Shifting a Medical Paradigm". The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 116 (1): 12–21. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2016.002. PMID 26745560. S2CID 3809039.
  15. ^ "NCAHF Position Paper on Acupuncture (1990)". National Council Against Health Fraud. 16 September 1990. Retrieved 13 May 2015.

meridian, chinese, medicine, this, article, about, concept, traditional, chinese, medicine, other, uses, meridian, disambiguation, meridian, system, simplified, chinese, 经络, traditional, chinese, 經絡, pinyin, jīngluò, also, called, channel, network, traditional. This article is about the concept in traditional Chinese medicine For other uses see meridian disambiguation The meridian system simplified Chinese 经络 traditional Chinese 經絡 pinyin jingluo also called channel network is a traditional Chinese medicine TCM concept that alleges meridians are paths through which the life energy known as qi ch i flows 1 Meridian systemMeridians are not real anatomical structures scientists have found no evidence that supports their existence 2 One historian of medicine in China says that the term is completely unsuitable and misguided but nonetheless it has become a standard translation 3 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 1 History 2 Main concepts 2 1 12 standard meridians 2 2 Eight extraordinary meridians 3 Scientific view of meridian theory 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Zubi Shiyi Mai Jiǔjing and the Cauterization Canon of the Eleven Yin and Yang Channels 陰陽十一脈灸經 Yinyang Shiyi Mai Jiǔjing In the texts the meridians are referenced as mai 脈 rather than jingmai Main concepts editThe 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 Zung Fu 臟腑 organs and other related internal structures The collateral system also 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 4 5 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 edit 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 6 The table below gives a more systematic list of the 12 standard meridians 7 Meridian name Chinese Quality of Yin or Yang Extremity Five Elements Organ Time of DayTaiyin Lung Channel of Hand 手太阴肺经 or Hand s Major Yin Lung Meridian Greater Yin taiyin 太阴 Hand 手 Metal 金 Lung 肺 寅 yin 3 a m to 5 a m Shaoyin Heart Channel of Hand 手少阴心经 or Hand s Minor Yin Heart Meridian Lesser Yin shaoyin 少阴 Hand 手 Fire 火 Heart 心 午 wǔ 11 a m to 1 p m Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Hand 手厥阴心包经 or Hand s Absolute Yin Heart Protector Meridian Faint Yin jueyin 厥阴 Hand 手 Fire 火 Pericardium 心包 戌 xu 7 p m to 9 p m Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand 手少阳三焦经 or Hand s Minor Yang Triple Burner Meridian Lesser Yang shaoyang 少阳 Hand 手 Fire 火 Triple Burner 三焦 亥 hai 9 p m to 11 p m Taiyang Small Intestine Channel of Hand 手太阳小肠经 or Hand s Major Yang Small Intestine Meridian Greater Yang taiyang 太阳 Hand 手 Fire 火 Small Intestine 小肠 未 wei 1 p m to 3 p m Yangming Large Intestine Channel of Hand 手阳明大肠经 or Hand s Yang Supreme Large Intestine Meridian Yang Bright yangming 阳明 Hand 手 Metal 金 Large Intestine 大腸 卯 mǎo 5 a m to 7 a m Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot 足太阴脾经 or Foot s Major Yin Spleen Meridian Greater Yin taiyin 太阴 Foot 足 Earth 土 Spleen 脾 巳 si 9 a m to 11 a m Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Foot 足少阴肾经 or Foot s Minor Yin Kidney Meridian Lesser Yin shaoyin 少阴 Foot 足 Water 水 Kidney 腎 酉 yǒu 5 p m to 7 p m Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot 足厥阴肝经 or Foot s Absolute Yin Liver Meridian Faint Yin jueyin 厥阴 Foot 足 Wood 木 Liver 肝 丑 chǒu 1 a m to 3 a m Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel of Foot 足少阳胆经 or Foot s Minor Yang Gallbladder Meridian Lesser Yang shaoyang 少阳 Foot 足 Wood 木 Gall Bladder 膽 子 zǐ 11 p m to 1 a m Taiyang Bladder Channel of Foot 足太阳膀胱经 or Foot s Major Yang Urinary Bladder Meridian Greater Yang taiyang 太阳 Foot 足 Water 水 Urinary bladder 膀胱 申 shen 3 p m to 5 p m Yangming Stomach Channel of Foot 足阳明胃经 or Foot s Yang Supreme Stomach Meridian Yang Bright yangming 阳明 Foot 足 Earth 土 Stomach 胃 辰 chen 7 a m to 9 a m Eight extraordinary meridians edit The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance to the study of Traditional Chinese medicine that incorporates the modalities and practices of Qigong Taijiquan and Chinese alchemy 8 These eight extra meridians differ from the standard twelve organ meridians in that they are considered to be storage vessels likened to oceans fields or reservoirs of energy that are not associated directly with the Zang Fu i e internal organs but have a general influence upon them Within Traditional Chinese medicine they are thought to bring about large functional and physiological changes within clinical practice 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 9 The eight extraordinary vessels are 奇經八脈 qi jing ba mai 10 Conception Vessel Ren Mai 任脈 ren mai Governing Vessel Du Mai 督脈 du mai Penetrating Vessel Chong Mai 衝脈 chōng mai Girdle Vessel Dai Mai 帶脈 dai mai Yin linking vessel Yin Wei Mai 陰維脈 yin wei mai Yang linking vessel Yang Wei Mai 陽維脈 yang wei mai Yin Heel Vessel Yin Qiao Mai 陰蹻脈 yin qiao mai Yang Heel Vessel Yang Qiao Mai 陽蹻脈 yang qiao maiScientific view of meridian theory editScientists have found no evidence that supports their existence 2 The historian of medicine in China Paul U Unschuld adds that there is no evidence of a concept of energy either in the strictly physical sense or even in the more colloquial sense anywhere in Chinese medical theory 11 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 12 Some proponents of the Primo Vascular System propose that the putative primo vessels very thin less than 30 mm wide conduits found in many mammals may be a factor explaining some of the suggested effects of the meridian system 13 14 According to Steven Novella neurologist involved in the Skeptical movement 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 phlogiston 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 15 See also edit nbsp China portal nbsp Medicine portalAcupuncture point Chakra List of acupuncture points Marma adi Nadi yoga Pressure points Glossary of alternative medicineReferences edit a b Novella Steven 25 January 2012 What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine sciencebasedmedicine org Society for Science Based Medicine Retrieved 13 May 2015 a b Singh S Ernst E 2008 Trick Or Treatment The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine Norton paperback W W Norton p 42 ISBN 978 0 393 06661 6 Retrieved July 21 2015 Unschuld Paul U 2018 Traditional Chinese medicine heritage and adaptation New York Columbia University Press p 125 ISBN 9780231175005 Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature Archived 2006 03 18 at the Wayback Machine World Health Organization Needham Joseph Lu Gwei Djen 1980 Celestial Lancets Cambridge University Press p 100 ISBN 0 521 21513 7 Dillman George and Chris Thomas Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo A Dillman Karate International Book 1994 ISBN 0 9631996 3 3 Peter Deadman and Mazin Al Khafaji with Kevin Baker A Manual of Acupuncture Journal of Chinese Medicine 2007 ISBN 978 0 9510546 5 9 T ai Chi Ch uan and Meditation by Da Liu pages 35 41 Routledge and Keegan Paul 1987 ISBN 0 14 019217 4 Ceurvels Will 2021 An Archaeology of the Qiao Vessels Purple Cloud Press ISBN 979 8505103401 The foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia pages 355 365 Churchill Livingstone 1989 ISBN 0 443 03980 1 Unschuld 2018 p 125 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 Bioelectromagnetics 29 4 245 256 doi 10 1002 bem 20403 ISSN 1521 186X PMID 18240287 S2CID 7001749 Stefanov Miroslav Potroz Michael Kim Jungdae Lim Jake Cha Richard Nam Min Ho 24 October 2013 The Primo Vascular System as a New Anatomical System Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies 6 6 331 338 doi 10 1016 j jams 2013 10 001 ISSN 2005 2901 PMID 24290797 Chikly Bruno Roberts Paul Quaghebeur Jorgen January 2016 Primo Vascular System A Unique Biological System Shifting a Medical Paradigm The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 116 1 12 21 doi 10 7556 jaoa 2016 002 PMID 26745560 S2CID 3809039 NCAHF Position Paper on Acupuncture 1990 National Council Against Health Fraud 16 September 1990 Retrieved 13 May 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meridian Chinese medicine amp oldid 1189331844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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