About Meridians
Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Chinese discovered a subtle energy in the body that can't be seen, felt or found with the normal senses. Energy disturbances in the subtle bodies precede the manifestation of abnormal patterns of cellular organization and growth. Matter and energy are two different manifestations of the same primary energetic substance of which everything in the universe is composed, including our physical and subtle bodies. Matter, which vibrates at a very slow frequency, is referred to as physical matter. That which vibrates at speeds exceeding light velocity is known as subtle matter. Subtle matter is as real as dense matter; its vibratory rate is simply faster. It is believed that two opposite ends of the spectrum: yin, the energy of earth and yang, and the energy of heaven, combined with humans to create this vital force.
The Chinese discovered and identified twelve acupuncture meridians along which this energy travels in the human body. Acupuncture meridians are like copper traces on an electronic circuit board, running throughout the body. They were named by the life function associated with them.
| Central Vessel | Governing Vessel |
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Meridians connect specific teeth, organs, tissues, in fact, everything in the body. These have been measured and mapped by modern technological methods - electronically, thermatically and radioactively. Normal skin resistance over a healthy point is 100,000 Ohms. With practice and awareness they can be felt. Through these meridians passes an invisible nutritive energy known to the Chinese as Ch'i. The Ch'i energy enters the body through specific acupuncture points and flows to deeper organ structures, bringing life-giving nourishment of a subtle energetic nature. Acupuncture points have unique electrical characteristics, which distinguish them from surrounding skin. These acupuncture points exist along the meridians. These points are electro-magnetic in character and consist of small palpable spots, which can be located by hand, with micro-electrical voltage meters and with muscle testing, when they are abnormally functioning.
Yin Meridians
Heart
Pericardium
Lungs
Liver
Spleen
Kidney
Some 500 points, mapped and used for centuries to optimise human performance, are connections between the meridians and functions of the body, including internal organs and muscles. These points are useful not only used in treatment, but also in diagnosis of disease states. Subtle magnetic Ch'i currents flowing through the acupuncture meridians are not electrical in nature, but they are able to induce secondary electrical fields that create measurable changes at the physical cellular level through the induction of secondary electrical fields. These induced electrical fields are translated into DC-current interactions from the higher energy meridians into the physical body and affect primary bio-electronic processes, which provide and maintain coherence within the physical-cellular structure. When the flow of life energy to a particular organ is deficient or unbalanced, patterns of cellular disruption occur. Imbalances in the meridians can be detected by feeling the pulses, but this can take many years to develop proficiently. Whereas, manual muscle testing (kinesiology) will detect these same imbalances, utilising the body's intelligence to non-invasively let us know what is going on inside with relatively little practice.
Yang Meridians
Large Intestine
Small Intestine
Triple Warmer/Burner
Stomach
Gall Bladder
Bladder
The Meridian Cycle
Meridians are classified yin or yang on the basis of the direction in which they flow on the surface of the body. Meridians interconnect deep within the torso, but we will work with the part that is on the surface and is accessible to touch techniques.
Yang energy flows from the sun, and yang meridians run from the fingers to the face or from the face to the feet.
Yin energy, from the earth, flows from the feet to the torso, and from the torso along the inside of the arms to the fingertips.
Since the meridian flow is actually one continuous, unbroken flow, the energy flows in one definite direction, and from one meridian to another in a well determined order. Since there is no beginning or end to this flow, the order can be represented as a wheel.
Ch’i
The word Ch'i has many translations. Nearly every culture in the world has a word to express this concept, but it can be thought of as the activating energy of the universe. Ch'i is the pure, harmonising and free-flowing energy that sustains all of life. Chi condenses and disperses in alternating cycles of negative and positive (Yin and Yang) energy, materialising in different ways, forms, and shapes. It can be neither created nor destroyed. Instead, Ch'i transforms itself and reappears in new states of existence. All states of existence, therefore, are temporary manifestations of Ch'i, especially those of physical matter.
Chi holds the organs, glands, blood vessels, and other bodily parts in place. When the body's Ch'i becomes weak, a loosening of the organs can occur in which they drop from their normal positions, leading to poor functioning and ill health.
Movement Of Ch'i
Ch'i circulates along acupuncture meridians or energy channels in the human body in a similar way that radio waves travel through space. These radiate to and resonate with all cells in the body. Although imperceptible, like radio waves, electricity moving faster than the speed of light continuously charges the body. When this energy flow is unrestricted, the body harmonises the flow to optimise body functioning. When we abuse or cause stress to our bodies, sometimes the stress is so intense or so constant that, in effect it "overloads" the circuit. The "circuit breaker" pops and needs to be reset before energy can flow properly. The indication of whether this has occurred is the muscle test. The energy of each meridian system can be thought of as a circuit connecting joints, muscle areas and organs.
The major meridians connect to one another deep inside the body. On the surface, the meridians circulate closely, within a half-inch to an inch of connecting with each other. Each meridian runs on both sides of the body, mirroring itself. The Chinese were especially concerned with eliminating energy blockages in the energetic body channels. They created intricate maps of the body's energy system, and used acupuncture needles to draw awareness to specific areas where energy blockages occurred, rebalancing the channels.