Organs of the Ether Meridian

8/13/2019 Organs of the Ether Meridian

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Organs Of The Ether Meridian

Lung: Metal-energy yin organ

Known as the 'Prime Minister', the lungs control breath and energy and assist the 'King'

heart with the circulation of blood. The Internal Medicine Classic states: 'Energy is thecommander of blood when energy mo!es, blood follows. "lood is the mother of energy

where blood goes, energy follows.' This intimate relationshi# between breath and #ulse,

blood and energy, is the basis of Chinese breathing e$ercises.

"reathing controls cellular res#iration, and shallow irregular breathing is therefore ama%or cause of low !itality and insufficient metabolism. The lungs also control the s&in,

which 'breathes' !ia the o#ening and closing of #ores and is res#onsible for ad%usting

body tem#erature through #ers#iration and shi!ering.

The s&in is where the radiant energy of resistance emanates, forming the first line of

defense against no$ious en!ironmental energies such as heat and cold. lu and thecommon cold are caused by im#airment of radiant s&in energy's ca#acity to resist

e$ternal in!asion, and sym#toms of these diseases usually settle in the lungs andbronchial tract.

Pallid s&in and #oor com#le$ion are common indications of wea& lungs. The nose is the

e$ternal a#erture of the lungs and the gate of breath. ( clogged or runny nose is another

indicator of ailing lungs.

"reathing directly controls the autonomous ner!ous system, and this relationshi# is thebasis for almost e!ery system of yoga and meditation. "y regulating the autonomous

ner!ous system and go!erning energy and #ulse, breathing forms a direct bridge betweenbody and mind and may be utili)ed to &ee# the two in balance.

Lung Paired *rgan : +arge Intestine

Color : #ure white

Pea& ours : -am/am

Physical "ranches : nose, s&in, body hair, mucus

unctions : acce#ts #ure fluids from s#leen, which are then mi$ed with air, and

circulated through the meridians, circulates 0ei 1i

+oo&ing at the branches of a tree it can be seen that each larger branch s#lits in

two. Each smaller branch then s#lits in two, and so and so on until the branches becomelea!es. Each leaf, then, begins with a single !ein, then s#lits, by two, into smaller and

smaller !eins, until they reach the indi!idual cells are e$#osed to the air. This is the same

way the lungs are formed. E!en more interesting is the relationshi# between trees and

humans. Plants breathe in C*2 and breathe out *2, while humans and animals breathe in*2 and breathe out C*2. Thus trees can be considered, the lungs of the earth.


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Lungs: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

It is said that the +ungs are 3the #riest3 or The Minister of ea!en and are res#onsible for

establishing the foundation of 1i for the entire body. The +ungs house the body's 4e!en

Cor#oreal 4ouls 5Po6 and are res#onsible for self#rotection and self#reser!ation. The+ungs #ositi!e #sychoemotional attributes are righteousness, dignity, integrity, and high

selfesteem their negati!e attributes are disa##ointment, sadness, grief, des#air, an$iety,shame, and sorrow.

The Lung Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories


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The lung channel begins dee# in the solar #le$us region 5middle burner6 and descends to

meet the large intestine. 0inding u# #ast the stomach, it crosses the dia#hragm, di!ides,

and enters the lungs. It then reunites, #asses u# the middle of the wind#i#e to the throatand di!ides again, surfacing in the hollow region near the front of the shoulder 5+786.

rom here it #asses o!er the shoulder and down the anterior 5front6 as#ect of the arm

along the outer border of the bice#s muscle. It reaches the outside of the bice#s tendon inthe elbow crease 5+7/6, and continues down the forearm to the wrist %ust abo!e the base

of the thumb 5+796. The channel crosses the height of the thumb muscle to finish at the

corner of the thumbnail.

nternal Tra!ectories of the Lung Meridian


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The +ing 4hu describes the internal tra%ectories of the lung meridian thus:

The !essel of the lungs, hand tai yin, starts at the middle warmer. It comes down and then

s#irally wra#s the large intestine. It then returns to and circles the entrance of thestomach, coming u#, and #ermeates the lungs, then going to and coming out at the sides.

0e may inter#ret this descri#tion in the following manner: The starting #lace is seen as

C82 5middle of the stomach6: from here it #asses to C8; 5e$it of the stomach6, then

u# to C8- 5entrance of the stomach6 then down to C9 5di!iding #lace of water6.


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Large intestine: Metal-energy yang organ

The large intestine is called the 'Minister of Trans#ortation'. It controls the transformationof digesti!e wastes from li=uid to solid state and trans#orts the solids onwards and

outwards for e$cretion through the rectum. It #lays a ma%or role in the balance and #urity

of bodily fluids and assists the lungs in controlling the s&in's #ores and #ers#iration.

Cou#led with the lungs by Metal energy, the large intestine de#ends on the lungs formo!ement !ia the e$#ansion and contraction of the dia#hragm, which wor&s li&e a #um#

to gi!e im#etus to #eristalsis by regulating abdominal #ressure. Thus sluggish bowelsmay be stimulated and consti#ation cured by dee# dia#hragmic breathing and bytonifying lung energy. Con!ersely, congested lungs and clogged bronchial #assages may

be cleared by #urging the bowels.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the Large ntestine Meridian

The +ing 4hu describes the internal tra%ectories of the +arge Intestine meridian thus:

It comes into 4T82, down to and s#irally wra##ing the lungs, then down to the

dia#hragm, and then #ermeates the large intestine.


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0e may inter#ret this descri#tion in the following manner: rom 4T82 the tra%ectory

#asses to and s#irally wra#s the lungs then, following the aorta, it #asses downward

through the dia#hragm. ere it s#lits to #ermeate the large intestine. 4e!eralcommentators, including ua 4huo, thin& that this tra%ectory in!ol!es 4T2/.


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"tomach Meridian: Earth-energy yang organ

The stomach is called the 'Minister of the Mill' and is also &nown as the '4ea of


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thigh, #assing %ust to the outside of the &neeca#. (t 4T-, below the &nee, the channel

di!ides again. The surface branch runs down the leg beside the shinbone, ending on the

outside of the second toe. The dee#er branch descends to the middle toe. rom the to# ofthe foot a connection runs to the s#leen channel.

nternal Tra!ectories Of The "tomach Meridian

The +ing 4hu tells us that at 4T82, the 3main3 meridian #asses down along the chest and

abdomen to 4T-;, while the branch:


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...#asses down to the dia#hragm 5from 4T826, #ermeates the stomach, and s#irally wra#s

the s#leen. another branch starting at the e$it of the stomach #asses down through the

lining of the abdomen to 4T-;.

Most commentaries agree with this sim#le tra%ectory, the notable

e$ce#tion being the +ei Ding 5The Classic of Categories6, which

tells us that the branch comes down through the lining of theabdomen to 4T-;, comes down slightly lateral to the &idney

meridian, starting at the same le!el as KI8.

"pleen-Pancreas: Earth-Energy #in Organ

In Chinese medicine, the function of the s#leen organenergy system includes the

#ancreas. Called the 'Minister of the ?ranary', the s#leen and #ancreas control e$tractionand assimilation of nutrients from food and fluids by #ro!iding the digesti!e en)ymes and

energy re=uired by the stomach and small intestine. They regulate the =uantity and

=uality of blood in circulation and coordinate with the &idneys to control fluid balancethroughout the system. 4#leen energy commands e$traction of energy from stomach to

lungs, where it is blended with energy from air to form True uman Energy. The s#leen

directly influences and is reflected by the tone and condition of muscle tissue. 0ea&

limbs and muscular atro#hy are indications of deficient s#leen energy.

4#leen and #ancreas condition is reflected e$ternally by the color and tone of the li#s:

reddish moist li#s indicate strong s#leen function #ale dry li#s are a sign of wea& s#leen

function. The mouth is the s#leen's e$ternal a#erture, and tem#eramental moodiness is itsassociated emotion. The Chinese term for 'bad tem#er' is 'bad s#leen energy', a

#sycho#hysiological association also reflected in the English term 's#lenetic'.

"pleen-Pancreas

Paired *rgan : 4tomach

Color : *range yellow

Pea& ours : 9am88am

Physical "ranches : Muscles, li#s, mouth, sali!a, lym#hatic system


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unctions : Cleanses and 'modifies' the blood

Meridian energy : Earth

Cha&ra : irstB "ase Cha&ra

"pleen: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The 4#leen houses the body's thoughts and intentions 5i6, and is res#onsible for

analytical thin&ing, memory, cognition, intelligence, and ideas. The 4#leen is res#onsiblefor directing memories to the Kidneys for shortterm memory storage. The Kidneys will

later transfer these memories to the eart for longterm memory storage. The 4#leen's

#ositi!e #sychoemotional attributes are trust, honesty, o#enness, acce#tance, e=uanimity,balance, and im#artiality its negati!e attributes are worry, e$cessi!e thin&ing,

#ensi!eness, obsessi!eness, remorse, regret, obsessions, and selfdoubt.

The "pleen Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories


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"eginning on the inside ti# of the big toe, the s#leen channel follows the inner as#ect of

the foot to the arch, then turns u# in front of the inner an&le to 4P. It continues u# the

leg, %ust behind the bone, crossing the &nee and ascending the anterior thigh from theinner border of the &neeca#. rom the groin it enters the lower abdomen, meets the

conce#tion !essel, then resurfaces briefly before #enetrating the s#leen and stomach. The

main channel then ascends through the dia#hragm, o!er the chest, and crosses the lungchannel at +78. It continues u# to the eso#hagus and under the tongue. (n inner branch

from the stomach region trans#orts =i u# to the heart.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the "pleen Meridian

The 4#leen !essel comes into the abdomen, #ermeates thes#leen, and s#irally wra#s the stomach, comes u# #ast the

dia#hragm, surrounds the throat, ma&es contact with anddis#erses into the base of the tongue. This #assage is

inter#reted to mean that the s#leen meridian rises u# the

leg to 4P82 on the abdomen, thence to 4P8-, to C-,to C@, to 4P8@, to 4P8/, to C8;, to 4P8, to ?"

2@ to +8@, to C82.

There is also some suggestion of a downward connection to

C8; from here, which would create a cyclic #attern.?enerally, howe!er, the internal tra%ectory starts from C82,

#asses inside to and #ermeates the s#leen, then comes to and

s#irally wra#s the stomach. There it comes u# through or alongthe eso#hagus to the base of the tongue. rom this tra%ectory a

branch #asses to the heart.


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$eart: %ire energy yin organ

The heart is called the 'King' of the organs. The Internal Medicine Classic states: 'The

heart commands all of the organs and !iscera, houses the s#irit, and controls theemotions.' In Chinese, the word for 'heart' 5shin6 is also used to denote 'mind'. 0hen the

heart is strong and steady, it controls the emotions when it is wea& and wa!ering, the

emotions rebel and #rey u#on the heart mind, which then loses its command o!er the

body.

Physiologically, the heart controls the circulation and distribution of blood, and therefore

all the other organs de#end u#on it for sustenance. Thoughts and emotions influence the

function of !arious organs !ia #ulse and blood #ressure, which are controlled by theheart, where emotions arise.

Internally, the heart is functionally associated with the thymus gland, which is located inthe same ca!ity and forms a mainstay of the immune system. E$treme emotions such as

grief and anger ha!e an immediate su##ressi!e effect on the immune system by inhibitingthymus function, a #henomenon that has long been obser!ed but little understood in

0estern medicine.

E$ternally, the heart is related to the tongue, to which it is connected by the heart muscle.

The color and te$ture of the tongue thus reflect the condition of the heart. 4#eechim#ediments such as stuttering and mutism are often caused by dysfunction or imbalance

in heart energy. acial com#le$ion, which is a direct reflection of blood circulation, is

also a ma%or e$ternal indicator of heart function. ire energy ma&es the heart the

dominant organ of summer, during which season the heart must increase circulation tothe surface in order to dissi#ate e$cess body heat.

$eart&Mind

Paired *rgan: 4mall Intestine

Color: red with slight blue tint

Pea& ours: 88am8#m

Physical "ranches: blood, tongue, throat, sweat, facial com#le$ion, adrenals,

thyroid, #rostate, #ituitary unctions: #ulseBcirculation, house of the s#irit

$eart: Psycho Emotional Aspects

The eart's associated organ is the 4mall Intestine its element is ire. +ongterm

memory, thin&ing, emotions, intimacy, cognition, intelligence, and ideas are all

dominated by the function of the eart. The eart is sometimes called The Em#eror, or


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3su#reme controller of all in and ang organs3. The eart houses the body's s#irit

54hen6.

The eart dominates slee# if the eart is strong the #atient will fall aslee# easily andslee# soundly. If the eart is wea&, the #atient's mind will 3float,3 resulting in an inability

to fall aslee#, disturbed slee#, or e$cessi!e dreaming. The eart's #ositi!e #sychoemotional attributes are lo!e, %oy, #eace, contentment, #ro#riety, insight, wisdom,

orderliness, forgi!eness, and courtesy. Its negati!e attributes are hate, guilt, shoc&,ner!ousness, e$citement, longing, and cra!ing.

... It is only recently that the intelligence system of the heart has been disco!ered. The

heart is not %ust a #um#ing machine. It is an intelligence system. It is in fact the mostintelligent system of all our brains, with its own rece#tors, its own electromagnetic force,

from @/ to >; times more #owerful than the brains of the neocorte$, and the only force

ca#able of changing our own F


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terrors, the un&nown reason why we do what we done e!en when we do not &now why

we do it.

This is the reason why there is &arma, and why we s#ea& of #re!ious li!es, and we create,those !engeful gods waiting to destroy us around e!ery corner, and the faces of the gods

are so distorted and our bodies are #araly)ed with fear and inaction. (nd this is why thereis yoga. Can we destroy these nightmares to which we ha!e no access to, can we change

those distorted faces of the gods, can we dissol!e our conditioningH The answer is, ofcourse, yes, and the #ath is *?(. (nd this, whyH "ecause the conditioning of the

amygdala can only be remo!ed by the intelligence system #re!ious to it, and this is the

heart, with its electromagnetic force and its #ower of transformation. *therwise, theamygdala can act on its own by #assing the intelligence centers of the neocorte$. The

gunas &ee# acting in s#ite of our good intentions. 0e li!e in !ain tied to the wheel of

samsara.

The $eart Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories

This channel begins at the heart and emerges !ia the surrounding blood !essels to #ass

down through the dia#hragm to the small intestine. (nother internal branch e$tends

through the throat to the eye, and a connecting channel goes to the tongue. ( third branchgoes first to the lung before surfacing at the center of the arm#it. rom here the channel

descends along the inner as#ect of the arm on the o##osite side of the bice#s to the lung

channel, #assing the inner end of the elbow crease. It continues down to the ti# of thelittle finger by the corner of the nail on the thumb side.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the $eart Meridian

The heart, hand shao yin !essel, starts at the center of the heart, comes out and #ermeates

the su##orter of the heart, goes down to and s#irally wra#s the small intestine. ( branchfollowing the su##orter of the heart surrounds the throat and #asses u# to and ma&escontact with the su##orter of the eye. The main meridian following the su##orter of the

heart goes u# to the lungs, comes out below the arm#it, and then starts at T8.

The heart meridian has its origin in the heart itself, but does not #ermeate the heart, rather

it #ermeates the 3su##orter of the heart3, #robably the aorta and other ma%or blood !esselsentering and e$iting the heart. ollowing the descending abdominal aorta, the descending


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#art of the small intestine, s#irally wra##ing the small intestine. The branch that #asses

u#wards, surrounding the throat, and going to the 3su##orter of the eyes3 5the o#tic

ner!e6, #robably follows the blood !essels #assing u# into the head, i.e., the carotidartery. The main meridian #asses from the 3su##orter of the heart,3 #robably along the

#ulmonary artery, to the lungs and thence to the side of the body, e$iting at T8. (

#assage from the 4u 0en tells us how the heart and uterus are related:

0hen the menstruation doesn't come, it means that the blood !essel of the uterus isstagnant. The !essel of the uterus, belonging to the heart 5meridian6, s#irally wra#s the

inside of the uterus. In this case, =i rises u# and #resses the lungs from the lower #arts.

The heart =i cannot #ass down smoothly, therefore the menses do not come.

There are se!eral im#ortant distinctions regarding the heart meridian tra%ectory. The heart

meridian does not #ermeate the heart itself, rather it #ermeates the 3su##orter of the

heart3, which becomes the descending abdominal aorta. This !essel is #al#able as the

mo!ing =i between the &idneys. The energetic conse=uences of this distinction are

enormously im#ortant. 0e feel that this is ma&ing a !ery direct statement about theenergetic nature of the heart, es#ecially about the relation of the heart to the blood and to

the 4hen.

(s we shall see later in this te$t this has a ma%or influence on how we understand thenature of the source, the source =i, the mo!ing =i between the &idneys, and ultimately the

way in which the authors of the +ing 4hu understood the origins of life. The relationshi#

between the heart and the uterus is !ery significant. 4ome authors see the uterus as the#lace where the mo!ing =i between the &idneys resides. This tends to reinforce the

energetic connections that the heart has to this source. urther, it is the su#erficial

tra%ectory of the su##orter of the heart that is the main meridian. This is #ossibly one

reason why many great #ractitioners ha!e consistently refused to treat the heart meridiandirectly.

"mall ntestine: %ire-energy yang organ

Known as the 'Minister of Aece#tion', the small intestine recei!es #artially digested food

from the stomach and further refines it, se#arating 'the #ure from the im#ure', thenassimilating the #urified nutrients and mo!ing the im#ure wastes onwards to the large

intestine for elimination. (ssociated with the heart by ire energy, the small intestine

controls the more basic emotions, as reflected in the Chinese term duan chang 5'bro&en

intestines'6, which is e=ui!alent to the English term 'bro&en heart'. Its energy meridian

runs into the head, where it influences the function of the #ituitary gland, the 'mastergland' whose secretions regulate growth, metabolism, immunity, se$uality, and the entire

endocrine system.


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"mall ntestine

Paired *rgan: eart

Color: #in&

Pea& ours: 8#m-#m

Physical "ranches: blood, tongue, throat, sweat, facial com#le$ion unctions:absorbs nutrients, digestion and elimination

"mall ntestine: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The 4mall Intestine influences the #atient's mental clarity, %udgment, and #owers ofdiscernment. The ability to distinguish rele!ant issues with clarity before ma&ing a

decision is attributed to the 4mall Intestine.

The 4mall Intestine Channel Pathway, (cu#uncture Points, and Internal Tra%ectories

This channel starts on the other corner of the little fingernail from the heart channel andfollows the edge of the hand to the wrist, where it turns slightly to flow u# the forearm,

close to the outer edge of the 5ulna6 bone. Passing the elbow at the 3funny bone3, it

continues u# the bac& of the arm, behind the shoulder %oint.

It then cur!es across the shoulder blade to connect with the go!erning !essel at ?8@ asdo all yang channels. It crosses forward to the hollow abo!e the collarbone where the

internal branch #enetrates, first to the heart, then along the eso#hagus to the stomach,

before connecting with its own organ, the small intestine. rom the collarbone region the

su#erficial #ath continues u# behind the muscle on the side of the nec& 5sternocleidomastoid6, then o!er the chee& to the ear. Two internal branches se#arate on the chee&.

They lead to the gallbladder channel on the outer corner of the eye, and to the bladderchannel at "+8 on the inner corner.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the "mall ntestine Meridian


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(fter rising u# the arm from 4I

8, a tra%ectory #asses to 4T82: ...then it enters, 4T82,

#asses down toJ and s#irallywra#s the heart. It circles downand around the throat and

eso#hagusJ, #asses through the

dia#hragm to the stomach, then#ermeates the small intestine.

This tra%ectory is generally acce#ted and uncom#licated. The +ei Ding author comments

that C8; is the 3#lace of the small intestine3. Thus, it may be reflecti!e of the small

intestine.

Pericardium: %ire-energy yin organ

Known as the 'King's "odyguard', the #ericardium is the heart's #rotecti!e sac&. (lthoughit is not recogni)ed as an organ in 0estern #hysiology, it is regarded in Chinese medicine

as a ireenergy organ whose s#ecial function is to #rotect the heart.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the Pericardium Meridian


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The !essel of the master of the heart, hand %ue yin, heart

wra##ing luo #ericardiumJ, starts at the inside of the chest,

comes out and #ermeates the heartwra##ing luo, #assesdown through the dia#hragm, then timelessly s#irals down

through the tri#le warmers.

The 3inside of the chest3 is commonly !iewed as C8>. The

internal tra%ectory starts at C8>, then #asses to the#ericardium. rom here it #asses downwards, #robably along

the aorta or the eso#hagus, through the dia#hragm, then

3timelessly3 s#irally wra#s the tri#le warmers.

The idea of timelessness offers fascinating insights intothe nature of the tri#le warmers. The character we

translate as timeless is li . This character has a number ofdifferent meanings, including 3to #ass through3 and3successi!ely.3 *ur selection of 3timeless3 is based on

the


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The idea of no form does not sim#ly refer to absence of material substance. It refers to

the essential change of state between matter and energy, to the basic underlying substrate

of material substance. Much li&e the conce#t of the atom in #rerelati!istic #hysics, or=uar&s and multidinous subatomic #articles of current #hysics, it is the theoretical

smallest #article of matter. The 3absolute %ing3 is the #recursor of matter or form. 0hile it

is always delightful to find an idea of such so#histication in an ancient medical te$t which0estern scientific #re%udice has o!erloo&ed, this is not such a rare idea. *ther classical

te$ts ha!e referred to the conce#t of no form in similar terms and we will meet this idea

again in our studies. or now, howe!er, the essential information that we must relate tothe interior energetics from classical descri#tion is the sense that rather than the

attachments of so many imaginary wires, the connections indicated are the confluence of

=uintessential forces. 0hat occurs at this intersection is not com#letely described by a

terminology that allows us to thin& of the connection of sim#le electrical currents. It ismore li&e the o##osed coils of a generator or transformer where the currents create a

change of state or a cyclotron where matter becomes energy.

0hile admitting that the 3#assing through3 translation of the character li is sufficient forthe descri#tion of the body's interior 3wiring diagram,3 and certainly less sub%ect to the

criticism of orthodo$ translation, it lac&s the recognition of the #rofound relati!ism of the

classical idea of energy. It is not %ust that the tra%ectory of the #ericardium intersects the

tri#le warmer. The #ericardium and tri#le warmer intertwine and become identical. It isnot %ust that both the tri#le warmer and #ericardium ha!e no material organ. "oth are

gateways to an energetic en!ironment that is not limited by the boundaries of form.

4#ace, matter, and time are not descri#tions that suit the 3tiny absolute %ing.3 These arethe dimensions of form, not the boundaries of energy.


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0e feel at least #oetically %ustified to allow the conce#t of timelessness to indicate that

this dee#, interior connection re#resented for the classical authors a boundary where the

#articular human energies of the body meet and become the more absolute energies of

cosmology

Aegardless of our reader's willingness to acce#t our feelings that there is a tremendous

relati!ism in the ideas, the fact remains that the master of the heart, the heartwra##ing

luo 5#ericardium6 is intimately connected to the tri#le warmer. It carries out similarfunctions. There are effecti!ely three distinct as#ects of this meridian. The first is the

branch, arm %ue yin, which emerges at PC8 and #asses down the arms to PC9. The

second is the heartwra##ing luo which is a tra%ectory that #asses only around the heart,in normal usage, the #ericardium. The third is the master of the heart. There are many

#laces 5for instance +ing 4hu6 where these three names are used in reference to the one

meridian.

Fiagrammatically these three as#ects can be seen as follows: The master of the heartmost logically relates to the aorta. It is an e$tension of the heart branching from this is

the heartwra##ing luo and the arm %ue yin. That arm %ue yin branches from the master of

the heart is something we can deri!e by inference from an understanding of how the othermeridians branch from their main #athways, and from the te$t of the +ing 4hu:


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The heartwra##ing luo is the !essel of the master of the heart.

The master of the heart is li&ely the main #athway, with both arm %ue yin and the heart

wra##ing luo as branches.

The master of the heart carries out the functions of the shen the heart stores the shen. The

#ericardium, heartwra##ing luo, functions to #rotect the heart from all ty#es ofdisturbance. If the heart is in%ured, the shen will be disturbed and this will result in death

or an incurable disease. The master of the heart functions energetically as acommunicati!e #athway for the shen between the heart and the mo!ing =i between the

&idneys. In conce#tuali)ing these #athways and functions, it is e!en #ossible to see this

#athway as the meridian of the 3small heart3 or ming men:

The 4u 0en says, 3(T the sides of the se!enth !ertebra on the inside, is the small heart.3

Mr. ang, the writer of the Tai 4u, says, 3There are twentyone !ertebrae in the #erson.

Counting u#wards from the lower #arts, to the sides of the se!enth !ertebra, on the left is

the &idney, on the right is ming men. Ming men is the small heart.3 The thus PC> belongs to arm %ue yin. 0ra##ingluo, hel#ing fire, this is the meridian of the small heart.3

This #articular #assage from +iu 0an 4u gi!es us a significant descri#tion of the

#ericardium meridian, as it is commonly called, and its !arious internal tra%ectories. Thissignificance will become clearer in later cha#ters. or now, howe!er, we may e$#and our

diagrammatic re#resentation of the internal tra%ectories to the &idney 5see last figure6.

Triple 'urner: %ire-energy yang organ

This organenergy system, which is not recogni)ed in 0estern #hysiology, is called the

'Minister of Fy&es and Fredges' and is res#onsible for the mo!ement and transformationof !arious solids and fluids throughout the system, as well as for the #roduction and

circulation of nourishing energy 5ying chee6 and #rotecti!e energy 5wei chee6. It is not a

single selfcontained organ, but rather a functional energy system in!ol!ed in regulatingthe acti!ities of other organs. It is com#osed of three #arts, &nown as 'burners', each

associated with one of the body's three main ca!ities: thora$, abdomen, and #el!is. (n

ancient Chinese medical te$t states: 'The 7##er "urner controls inta&e, the Middle"urner controls transformation, the +ower "urner controls elimination.'

The 7##er "urner runs from the base of the tongue to the entrance to the stomach and

controls the inta&e of air, food, and fluids. It harmoni)es the functions of heart and lungs,

go!erns res#iration, and regulates the distribution of #rotecti!e energy to the body'se$ternal surfaces.

The Middle "urner runs from the entrance to the stomach down to its e$it at the #yloric

!al!e and controls digestion by harmoni)ing the functions of stomach, s#leen, and

#ancreas. It is res#onsible for e$tracting nourishing energy from food and fluids anddistributing it !ia the meridian system to the lungs and other #arts of the body.


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The +ower "urner runs from the #yloric !al!e down to the anus and urinary tract and is

res#onsible for se#arating the #ure from the im#ure #roducts of digestion, absorbing

nutrients, and eliminating solid and li=uid wastes. It harmoni)es the functions of li!er,&idney, bladder, and large and small intestines and also regulates se$ual and re#roducti!e

functions.

4ome medical researchers belie!e that the Tri#le "urner is associated with the

hy#othalamus, the #art of the brain which regulates a##etite, digestion, fluid balance,body tem#erature, heartbeat, blood #ressure, and other basic autonomous functions.

Triple 'urner

Paired *rgan: Pericardium

Color: orange red

Pea& ours: 9#m88#m

Physical "ranches: blood, tongue, throat, sweat, facial com#le$ion

unctions:regulates transformation and trans#ortation of bodily fluids, and...

It's originally referred to as the 'Tri#le "urner', but 'Tri#le 0armer' and 'Tri#le eater' are

also commonly used.

Triple (urner: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The Tri#le "urners are considered the (mbassadors or 3intermediaries3 for the body's

uan 5*riginal6 1i. *n a #sychological le!el, they can be used to mo!e 1i and liftde#ression deri!ed from stagnation of +i!er 1i. 0hen the Tri#le "urners, which regulate

the consciousness, are full, the consciousness becomes stable and the Mind's intent is

bene!olent and &indhearted. The Tri#le "urners are also lin&ed with the eart andPericardium and are affected by the emotion of %oy. 0hen the energy of the heart isstrong and #ure 5without guilt6, and the desires and thoughts of an indi!idual are at #eace,

then the energy of the boy's se$ual essence 5Ding6 will s#read into the Tri#le "urners, and

the "lood will flourish within the indi!idual's !essels. If the 3fire of desire3 is allowed toeat and combine with the energy of the Tri#le "urners, the energy of the indi!idual's

se$ual essence will o!erflow, mi$ing itself with the energy of the Mingmen and will

lea!e the body !ia the re#roducti!e organs and tissues. This leads to Ding and 1ide#letion.

The Tri#le "urner Channel Pathway, (cu#uncture Points, and Internal Tra%ectories

"eginning on the fourth 5ring6 finger, by the outside corner of the nail, the tri#le burner

channel #asses between the &nuc&les of the fourth and fifth fingers to the wrist. rom

here it ascends between the two bones of the forearm 5radius and ulna6, through the ti# ofthe elbow, and u# the bac& of the arm to the shoulder. "ehind the to# of the shoulder it

%oins the small intestine and the go!erning !essel channels. Then it rises o!er the shoulder

to the collarbone region, descends internally to the #ericardium in the u##er burner, andthen to the abdomen and the middle and lower burners. Aeemerging from the chest at the


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collarbone, the channel ascends the side of the nec& and around the bac& of the ear. *ne

branch rises internally to meet the gallbladder channel on the forehead, then descends to

%oin the small intestine channel on the chee&. The su#erficial branch continues to the frontof the ear and crosses to the outer corner of the eyebrow, where it %oins the gallbladder

channel again.

nternal Tra!ectories of the Triple )armer Meridian

a!ing #assed u# the lateral as#ect of the arm from the ring finger, the tri#le warmer

meridian #asses to 4T82:

ItJ comes in at 4T82, then #asses down to C8>, dis#erses into the chestJ, and dro#sdown into the #ericardium. It then #asses down through the dia#hragm, circles down

through and #ermeates the tri#le warmers. ( branch starting at C8> #asses bac& u# to

4T82.


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0hen the meridian 3dis#erses3 into the chest it is li&e a #er!asi!e s#ray. The stream

widens and becomes less dense, the #icture is one of rain co!ering and moistening rather

than a ri!er #assing through. into the

chest.

This idea hel#s us see the relationshi# of

the tri#le warmer to the breathing

#rocess. Perha#s this relationshi# tobreath and the mo!ement of breath

downward to below the umbilicus is

related to the action of 3dis#ersion into

the chest.3 (ir is drawn into the lungsu#on inhalation once inside the lungs

5inside the chest6, it then mingles withthe tri#le warmer #athway which isdis#ersing into the chest.

Then, it filters down to the the #ericardium. rom there it may circle downward throughthe tri#le warmers. This downward mo!ement through the tri#le warmers may well be the

means by which the =i of breathing arri!es below the umbilicus where it is an im#ortant

ingredient in the formation of the source =i and the nourishment of the source.


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Organs Of The )ater Meridian

(ladder: )ater-energy yang organ

The bladder is called the 'Minister of the Aeser!oir'

and is res#onsible for storing and e$creting theurinary waste fluids #assed down from the &idneys.

(s an organ the bladder has only this function, but as

an energy system the bladder is intimately related tothe functions and balance of the autonomous ner!ous

system. That's because the bladder energy meridian

runs along the bac& of the body from head to heal,

with two #arallel branches flowing along each side ofthe s#inal column. These four branches of the bladder

meridian e$ert a direct influence on the sym#athetic

and #arasym#athetic trun&s of the autonomousner!ous system, whose condition of modern life, o!er

acti!ates the sym#athetic system, causing tension and

#ain along the s#ine and its #eri#hery.

This tension and #ain may be relie!ed by stimulating the flow of energy along the s#inalbranches of the bladder meridian. 4uch stimulation induces total rela$ation by switching

the autonomous ner!ous system o!er to the restful, restorati!e #arasym#athetic mode.

Chinese massage thera#y focuses #rimarily on these four s#inal branches of the bladdermeridian because of their direct influence o!er the autonomous ner!ous system, which

regulates all the body's basic !ital functions.

(ladder Paired *rgan : Kidneys

Color : dee# blue

Pea& ours : -#m/#m

Physical "ranches : autonomous ner!ous system

unctions : stores and eliminates urine

(ladder: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

(n imbalance in the "ladder can cause such #sychological sym#toms as habitual fear,

lac& of decision ma&ing ca#ability and a diminished moral character. If the imbalance

becomes chronic, it results in such emotional res#onses as %ealousy, sus#icion, andholding on to longstanding grudges.

The (ladder Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories


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The bladder channel begins at the inner corner of the eye, rising u# through the eyebrow

5"+26 o!er the forehead and s&ull to %oin the go!erning !essel at ?2;. ere it enters

the brain, reemerging as a su#erficial #ath at the na#e of the nec&. This #ath continueso!er the base of the s&ull 5occi#ut6, where it di!ides again into two branches that descend

#arallel with the s#ine.

The inner branch di!erts briefly to meet ?8@ before continuing to the sacrum, then on

down the bac& of the thigh to the center of the &neefold. (n internal branch connectswith the &idney and then the bladder, after se#arating at the lumbar region. The outer

branch #asses from the occi#ut along the edge of the shoulder blade and descends to the

buttoc&, continuing down the thigh to meet the other branch at the &nee. The singlechannel continues down the center of the calf muscle and #asses behind the outer an&le to

the outer ti# of the little toe.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the (ladder Meridian

The !essel of the bladder, foot tai yang, starts at "+8 and #asses o!er the head. The main

meridian is the first line on the bac&, the shu #oints line. It then: ...comes down the shu

line to the lumbar area and goes into the body, s#irally wra#s the &idneys, then #asses

down to and #ermeates the bladder.

This =uotation is usually understood to mean that after s#irally wra##ing the &idneys, the

tra%ectory descends through or with the ureter to the bladder, to #ermeate the bladder. It is

#ossible that in #assing from the lumbar area to s#irally wra# the &idneys it #assesthrough the renal artery.

The (ssociated #oints, or "ac&4hu #oints, are a set of #oints located along the bladder

meridian running down the sides of the s#ine. These #oints are associated with each ofthe Twel!e organs of the body, !ia the dorsal and !entral ner!es coming out from the

s#ine which su##ly those #articular organs.


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*idney: )ater-energy yin organ

Known as the 'Minister of Power', the &idney is regarded as the body's most im#ortant

reser!oir of essential energy. The original #renatal energy 5yuan chee6 which forms the

basis of life is stored in the &idney organenergy system, which is why the &idneys are

also &nown as the 'Aoot of +ife'. In the Chinese !iew, the &idney organ system alsoincludes the adrenal glands, which consist of the adrenal medulla and the adrenal corte$.

These glands sit li&e hats on to# of the &idneys and secrete a wide range of essential

hormones that regulate metabolism, e$cretion, immunity, se$ual #otency and fertility.Festruction of the adrenal corte$ is fatal. The &idney system also includes what the

Chinese call the 'e$ternal &idneys': the testicles in men and the o!aries in women. Thus

the &idneys control se$ual and re#roducti!e functions and #ro!ide the body's #rime


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source of se$ual !itality, which the Chinese regard as a ma%or indicator of health and

immunity.

The &idneys themsel!es are res#onsible for filtering waste metabolites from the bloodand mo!ing them onwards to the bladder for e$cretion in urine. (long with the large

intestine, the &idneys control the balance of fluids in the body. In addition, they regulatethe body's acidal&aline balance 5#6 by selecti!ely filtering out or retaining !arious

minerals.

The &idneys, #articularly the adrenal glands, are es#ecially !ulnerable to damage from

e$cessi!e stress and se$ual abuse. In the Chinese !iew, such damage is a ma%or cause of

immune deficiency, low !itality, and se$ual im#otence.

The &idneys control the growth and de!elo#ment of bones and nourish the marrow,which is the body's source of red and white blood cells. 0ea& &idney energy is therefore

a #rime cause of anemia and immune deficiency. The Chinese !iew the s#inal cord and

the brain as forms of marrow, and therefore #oor memory, inability to thin& clearly, andbac&ache are all regarded as indicators of im#aired &idney function and deficient &idney

energy.

Kidney !itality is reflected e$ternally by the condition of head and body hair and is

associated with the a#erture of the ears. Tinnitus 5ringing ears6 is thus a sign of &idneydysfunction. The &idneys are the seat of courage and will#ower, and therefore any

im#airment in &idney energy results in feelings of fear and #aranoia. Intense fear can

cause in!oluntary urination, a #henomenon also &nown to 0estern medicine.

*idney

Paired *rgan : "ladder Color : light flame blue

Pea& ours : /#m>#m

Mental 1ualities : fear, #aranoia

Physical "ranches : ears, bones, urine, head and #ubic hair, brain, marrow

unctions : stores #renatal essence, filters the blood

*idney: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The Marrow #roduced from the Kidney Ding flows into the brain. The thin&ing ability isstrengthened when 1i and "lood in the cerebral corte$ are abundant. 0ith the increase of

thin&ing acti!ity, a circle of light de!elo#s within the body's Tai%i Pole. The indi!idual'sinnate intelligence 5uan 4hen6 is re#resented by the intensity of light. The degree ofaccumulated s#iritual energy is reflected by the number of light circles de!elo#ed within

the Tai%i Pole.

These circles of light can be best obser!ed when first wa&ing. "y #lacing slight #ressure

of the e$ternal eye lids the inner light of the Tai%i Pole is #ro%ected onto the o#tic ner!es,reflecting an image of the circle of light. If the circle of light is com#lete, it reflects a


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strong, healthy condition. If the circle of light is dar& within its center 5similar to a

doughnut6, this reflects a Feficient condition. If the circle of light is bro&en or

interru#ted, it reflects an e$treme Feficiency.

The 3memory )one,3 as well as the 3thought center3 are also located in the cerebral corte$

and will not de!elo# until the Kidney Channels tra!el through the s#ine, along with the+i!er Channels, to reach the corte$. 0hen the 1i of these two channels is abundant, the

memory function is &een.

The Kidneys house the body's will #ower 5hi6. Theycontrol shortterm memory and store data. The Kidneys

#ro!ide the ca#acity and dri!e for strength, s&ill and hard

wor&. ( #atient with strong Kidneys can wor& hard and#ur#osefully for long #eriods of time. Conse=uently,

when the Kidneys are in a state of disharmony, the #atient

can sometimes be dri!en to a state of e$cessi!e

com#ulsi!e wor&ing habits 5a wor&aholic6. ( #atient withwea& Kidneys will lac& strength and endurance.

The Kidney's #ositi!e #sychoemotional attributes are

wisdom, rationality, clear #erce#tion, gentleness, and selfunderstanding. The negati!e attributes are fear, loneliness,

insecurity, and shoc& 5which attac&s the eart first then

descends into the Kidneys to become fear6.

The *idney Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories

This channel begins under the little toe, near the end of the bladder channel, and crosses

through KF8 to the inner edge of the foot. It loo#s behind the inside an&le bone to theheel, then rises along the inner as#ect of the leg, intersecting the s#leen channel at 4P,

before continuing u# the calf and the inner thigh. ere its #athway becomes dee#er and

goes to the base of the s#ine, where it %oins the go!erning !essel.

Aising internally in line with the lumbar s#ine it enters the &idney, descends to thebladder, and surfaces at the #ubic area. It connects with the conce#tion !essel in the lower

abdomen and then rises o!er the body to the collarbone. Internally a branch lea!es the


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rom KI8 an e$ternal meridian #asses u# to KI28. ere, another tra%ectory goes

internally to and through the li!er and u# through the dia#hragm into the lungs. There are

two main inter#retations of the tra%ectory after it reaches the lungs. The first #osits thatfrom the lungs the meridian #asses along the #ulmonary !ein to the heart and s#irally

wra#s the heart. It further tra!els to the 3inside of the chest3, usually seen as C8>. C

8> is the refle$ #oint of the 3inside of the chest3 and may be a synonym for u##er =i hai.( second inter#retation #ro#oses that the internal tra%ectory ends at the lungs and that

from KI28 the e$ternal meridian #asses u# to KI2/. rom this #oint a tra%ectory #asses

inward to s#irally wra# the heart and reach to the 3inside of the chest3, C8>.

4ince oshio Mana&a's research suggests that KI2/ is a better refle$ #oint, or mu #oint,for the heart than the traditional #oint, C8@, the second inter#retation would thus be

better %ustified. Aegardless of inter#retation, it is interesting to note that the &idney

meridian has a tra%ectory that s#irally wra#s the heart, an energetic connection usuallyreser!ed for the cou#led yinyang meridians. These &idney meridian de!iations from the

usual relationshi#s ha!e ma%or energetic conse=uences and ramifications.


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Organs Of The +ature Meridian

all'ladder: )ood-energy yang organ

Known as the 'onorable Minister', the gall bladder is in

charge of the 'Central Clearing Fe#artment'. It secretes the#ure and #otent bile fluids re=uired to digest and

metaboli)e fats and oils, and its energy #ro!ides muscular

strength and !itality.

It wor&s with the lym#hatic system to clear to$ic by#roducts of metabolism from the muscular system,

thereby eliminating muscular aches and fatigue. In the

Chinese system, the common tension headache is caused

by obstruction in the gallbladder meridian, which runs u#o!er the shoulders and bac& of the nec& to the to# of the

head and forehead. ence such headaches are usually

accom#anied by nec& and shoulder tension.

The gall bladder go!erns daring and decisi!eness. In Chinese, the word for 'daring' is da

dan 5'big gall'6. The English language also ac&nowledges this #sycho#hysiological

relationshi# with the #hrase 'a lot of gall'. (n old Chinese adage states: 'The gall bladderis daring, the heart is careful', which reflects the stimulating generati!e influence of

0ood to ire.

all'ladder

Paired *rgan : +i!er

Color : yellow green

Pea& ours : 88#m8am

Mental 1ualities : resentment

Physical "ranches : eyes, tendons, tears, nails

unctions : stores and e$cretes bile, one of the 4i$ E$traordinary *rgans

all (ladder: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The ?all "ladder is res#onsible for ma&ing decisions and %udgments, as well as #ro!iding

courage and initiati!e. This organ is sometimes called the Court of Dustice or The

?eneral's (d!isor. (lthough the Kidneys control dri!e and !itality, the ?all "ladder#ro!ides the ca#acity to turn this dri!e and !itality into decisi!e action. The ?all "ladder

has an influence on the =uality and length of slee#. If the ?all "ladder is Feficient, the

#atient will often wa&e u# suddenly, !ery early in the morning, and be unable to fall


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aslee# again. Patient's who are timid, indecisi!e, and easily discouraged by slight

ad!ersity, are said to ha!e a wea& ?all "ladder con!ersely, decisi!e and determined

#atients are said to ha!e a strong ?all "ladder.

The all'ladder Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories

This channel begins %ust outside the outer corner of the eye, loo#s down and u# to theforehead %ust within the hair line, and descends behind the ear to the corner of the s&ull. It

then returns to the forehead abo!e the center of the eye and contours the head to the

bottom of the s&ull at ?"2;. It continues down the nec& behind the shoulder to connect

with the go!erning !essel at ?8@, then crosses o!er the shoulder. The channeldescends the side of the body along the rib margin to the waist and #el!ic crest before

going dee#er to meet the bladder channel at the sacrum. (t ?"-; it reemerges and

continues down the outside of the leg, in front of the an&le, ending on the outside of the@th toe. Internal branches connect with the stomach channel 5on the %aw6 and the small

intestine channel, and %oin the li!er and gallbladder organs.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the all'ladder Meridian

a!ing come down from the head, a tra%ectory #asses to 4T82.

ThenceJ it #asses to the inside of the chest and then down. It #asses through the

dia#hragm, s#irally wra#s the li!er and #ermeates the gallbladder. Then it circles round

the inside lining of the ribs and the side of the body and comes down to 4T-;

In this case, 3the inside of the chest3 is seen as the sides of the chest, around PC8. In

general, we should be aware that the inside of the chest has a wider meaning which

de#ends on conte$t. It can be inside the chest, C8>, the sides of the chest, as well assome other less common referents. In coming down through the dia#hragm it #robably

#asses through the eso#hagus and then the stomach, before it #asses to and s#irally wra#s

the li!er. (fter this, it #ermeates the gallbladder. In circling around on the inside of thelining of the ribs and the sides of the body it #asses out to +8-, and then to 4T-;.

Lier: )ood-energy yin organ


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The li!er is called the '?eneral' or 'Chief of 4taff' and is res#onsible for filtering,

deto$ifying, nourishing, re#lenishing, and storing blood. The li!er stores large amounts of

sugar in the form of glycogen, which it releases into the blood stream as glucosewhene!er the body re=uires e$tra infusions of metabolic energy. The li!er recei!es all

amino acids e$tracted from food by the small intestine and recombines them to synthesi)e

the !arious forms of #rotein re=uired for growth and re#air of bodily tissues.

The li!er controls the #eri#heral ner!ous system, which regulates muscular acti!ity andtension. The inability to rela$ is often caused by li!er dysfunction or imbalance in 0ood

energy. +i!er energy also controls ligaments and tendons, which together with muscles

regulate motor acti!ity and determine #hysical coordination. +i!er function is reflectede$ternally in the condition of finger and toenails and by the eyes and !ision. "lurry

!ision is often a result of li!er malfunction rather than an eye #roblem, and e!en 0estern

medicine recogni)es the sym#tomatic yellow eyes of li!er %aundice.

Through its association with 0ood energy, the li!er go!erns growth and de!elo#ment,

dri!e and desires, ambitions and creati!ity. *bstruction of li!er energy can cause intensefeelings of frustration, rage, and anger, and these emotions in turn further disru#t li!er

energy and su##ress li!er function, in a !icious selfdestructi!e cycle.

Lier

Paired *rgan : ?allbladder

Color : dee# green

Pea& ours : 8am-am

Physical "ranches : eyes, tendons, tears, nails

unctions : stores the blood, go!erns the free flow of =i

Lier: Psycho-Emotional Aspects


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The +i!er is res#onsible for #lanning and

creati!ity, as well as instantaneous solutions orsudden insights it is therefore considered The

?eneral in Charge of 4trategy. The +i!er

houses the body's un and go!erns fright. Its

#ositi!e #sychoemotional attributes are&indness, bene!olence, com#assion, and

generosity its negati!e attributes are anger,

irritability, frustration, resentment, %ealousy,rage, and de#ression. The +i!er is also called

the 3root of resistance to fatigue.3 0hene!er the

+i!er is not functioning #ro#erly 5stagnate or

e$cessi!ely ot due to su##ressed emotions6the #atient can e$#erience fatigue as well as

#hysical wea&ness.

The Lier Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and nternal

Tra!ectories

"eginning by the inside of the big toenail, the li!er channel crosses the to# of the foot,

#asses in front of the inside an&le and u# the inner as#ect of the leg through 4P close

behind the edge of the bone. It continues #ast the &nee along the inner thigh to the groinand #ubic region, where it circulates the e$ternal genitals. It connects with the conce#tion

!essel in the lower abdomen and continues u# around the stomach to enter both the li!er

and gallbladder. Connecting with two surface #oints on the ribs, the channel then di#sinto the ribcage, runs u# through the throat, o#ening to the eye, and ends at the crown of

the head where it connects with the go!erning !essel. ( branch circles the mouth. rom

within the li!er, another internal branch reaches the lungs, and this restarts the cycle of =i.


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nternal Tra!ectories of the Lier Meridian

The li!er meridian rises u# the medial sides of the legs from the big toes.

It thenJ comes into the yin organs se$ual organsJ and circles around the yin organs.


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Then it #asses through the small abdomen then u# to and surrounding the stomach then

it #ermeates the li!er. and s#irally wra#s the gallbladder. It comes u# and #asses through

the dia#hragm, u# the sides of the ribs, u# behind the trachea, to behind the throat. Then itrises u# the chee&s, comes into the eyes, #asses u# the forehead and meets the du mai at

the to# of the head. . . . ( branch se#arates from the li!er, #asses u# through the

dia#hragm and goes to the lungs.

In this case, 3the inside of the chest3 is seen as the sides of the chest, around PC8. In

general, we should be aware that the inside of the chest has a wider meaning which

de#ends on conte$t. It can be inside the chest, C8>, the sides of the chest, as well assome other less common referents. In coming down through the dia#hragm it #robably

#asses through the eso#hagus and then the stomach, before it #asses to and s#irally wra#sthe li!er. (fter this, it #ermeates the gallbladder. In circling around on the inside of thelining of the ribs and the sides of the body it #asses out to +8-, and then to 4T-;.

(fter circling around the se$ual organs it #asses into the small abdomen, the

&idney refle$ area, and an area below the umbilicus described by or including C2, C-, C@. Then it #asses u# to and surrounds the stomach, #ermeates the li!er, and s#irally

wra#s the gallbladder. 0hen it #asses u# and out to the sides, it surfaces at +8- and re

enters internally at +8@.

The tra%ectory that #asses u# to and meets the du mai 5go!erning !essel6 %oins at ?2;.

The branch #asses u# to the lungs, then comes down to the middles warmer and3surrounds C823. *nce at C82, the cycle of the twel!e meridians is ready to start

again, as the lung meridian has its origin at C82. This inter#retation if the meridiansbeginning at C82 and ending at C82 so that they ma&e a com#lete circuit is one that

comes from the 4hisi Ding a ui.


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The +ing 4hu contains another !ery different idea about the #athways of the li!er

meridian which also brings it bac& full circle to the lung meridian. This inter#retation is#articularly interesting in that the tra%ectory includes the du mai and #asses u# the

abdomen to enter the chest at 4T28.

The li!er meridian #asses u# to the li!er. rom the li!erJ it #asses u# through to thelungs, rises u# to the throat, to the nasal #haryn$, to the nose. ( branch s#lits and rises to

the to# of the forehead, to the to# of the head. It then goes down around the s#ine into the

sacrumcoccy$ this is the du mai. It #asses inside andJ s#irally wra#s the yin organs. It#asses u# to the lining of the abdomen, enters at 4T82, #asses down into the lungs and

comes out at tai yin the lung meridianJ.

This tra%ectory is #aralleled in com#le$ity only by the &idney meridian, and seems to bee!en more inclusi!e, as the du mai is seen as its branch. It is seen to s#irally wra# all theyin organs. It definitely #ro!ides an alternate route by which the =i #asses from the li!er

to the lung meridian to com#lete the circuit. 0hiche!er inter#retation we acce#t, we can

see that the internal connections of the meridians #lay an im#ortant role in the circulationof the =i through the twel!e meridians, beginning at C82 and ending at C82, or

beginning and ending at the lung meridian ready to circle again.

(ccording to the Chinese, the li!er 'stores the blood' and is associated with 0ood energy,

which is an u#ward mo!ing force. This relates !ery much with 0estern #hysiology, as%ust about all the !eins of the gastrointestinal tract flow into the li!er !ia the e#atic

Portal !ein. rom there the blood flows 'u#wards' through the li!er into the Inferior enaCa!a. ere's a schematic of the e#atic Portal system:


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Organs of the Ether Meridian