The Meridians

Meridians are the passageways of Qi and blood flow through the body. It is an important component in the TCM about physiology and pathology. Though Meridians have not yet been found by modern science, plenty of clinical practice and research clearly show Meridians are an objective existence in the human body.

Meridian is a general term of the channels and their collaterals. Jing (channels) in Chinese means "route". They are the longitudinal main lines. Luo (collaterals) in Chinese means the network, the branches of the channels reaching every part of the body. Meridians act as the important route for circulating Qi and blood, connecting viscera with extremities, communication of the upper with the lower and the interior with the exterior. Channels take a definite course in the body while collaterals crisscross and are distributed all over the body, connecting and joining the tissues, organs, orifices, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones of the whole body which build up an organic entity.

1. Governing Vessel 2. Large Intestine 3. Conception Vessel 4. Kidney 5. Pericardium 6. Heart 7. Stomach 8. Kidney 9. Spleen 10. Liver 11. Lung 12. Gall Bladder 13. Bladder 14. Governing Vessel 15. Bladder (inner line) 16. Bladder (outer line) 17. Small Intestine 18. San Jiao