| Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine | Authors | Articles & Readings | Bach Flowers | Body Systems | Chakras | Cosmetics & Perfumes | Diet & Weight Management | Herbal Medicine | Homoeopathy | Iridology | Kinesiology | Meridian Therapy | Mineral Therapy | Models Galleries | Naturopathy | Nutrition | Paramedical Tattooing | Photographers | Purple Healer | SkinCare

This Chapter should be read in conjunction with the information provided in the internal link
to Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine

References:
Listowska A., & Nicholson, M.A., (2011) Complementary Medicine, Beauty and Modelling, Xlibris Corporation, USA.
Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, et al, (1980) Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, China.
Nicholson, M.A., (2008) Purple Healer, Principles of Advanced Natural Medicine Diagnostics, Intype Libra, Wimbledon, London UK.
Deng Liangyue, et al, (2002) Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Revised Edition), Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, China.

THE 12 MERIDIANS (CHANNELS)

In Chinese medicine theory, there are pathways for movement of qi (energy), called “regular channels” (i.e. the 12 main Meridians), together with eight “extra channels”. In addition to these channels, there are many other pathways through which energy (qi) flows.
The twelve meridians, together with the Ren Channel (Central Vessel) and the Du Channel (Governing Vessel), make up the fourteen channels along which acupuncture points are found. [Listowska & Nicholson, Complementary Medicine, Beauty and Modelling at p.293, citing Beijing College, et al, 1980 at 31]

Energy movement begins the day with the Lung Meridian at 3am, being the time generally regarded as the conventional starting point. The direction of energy flowing continually through the 12 meridians is therefore accepted to occur at this time (3am) via the Lung Meridian, then to the Large Intestine (5am), Stomach (7am), Spleen (9am), Heart (11am), Small Intestine (1pm), Urinary Bladder (3pm), Kidney (5pm), Pericardium (7pm), Sanjiao (9pm), Gall Bladder (11pm), and Liver (1am), returning to the Lung at 3am as the cycle repeats itself.

Once energy has passed through the Liver meridian, it flows again through the Lung meridian to start the cycle again, and so on in 2-hourly periods (called ‘horary periods’) during the 24 hours of each day.  Horary ‘points’ in a meridian are extremely active acupuncture points at the particular time of day when the meridian is at its highest level of energy during its horary period.
For instance, between 1pm and 3pm, the Small Intestine Meridian is at its highest energy level, and bears the Horary Point of SI‐5 (Small Intestine 5). At the same time of day, the Liver is at its lowest energy level, but nonetheless not completely devoid of energy since every meridian must have some energy at any time in the day and night over every 24‐hour period.

The Horary periods, each of 2-hours, relate to each meridian within a relevant Element. The meridian times run in the following order as depicted by the numbers 1-12 shown in the 5-Element diagram provided in the intrnal link to Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In meridian therapy, if a person has an energy deficit or excess in a meridian during a particular horary period, the various dysfunctions that can occur will generally be specific to that meridian. Additionally, the actual physical location of a person in any country, as well as genetic and cultural differences, will often be vital to understand the whole person, since people moving from above and below the equator will have to contend with not only substantial time differences but also differing seasonal changes, food and water, etc, as their location changes. These can disrupt the balance if sudden changes are substantial. However, notwithstanding any time differences, people will undoubtedly adapt to their environments, with biorhythmic influences being set accordingly. Everything in life fluctuates, and human body components are no different. Hence the need to recall that body activities are not static but in a continuous state of ‘relative balance’. The left side must be balanced with the right side; the top with the bottom; and the outside with the inside.

Yet not everyone manifests his or her dysfunctions in the same manner, and this is an important distinction to be made. Nothing should be taken as conclusive, just as nothing in the body should be assessed without some form of variation according to the uniqueness and individuality of the person concerned.
This is one of the cardinal tenets of natural medicine (remedial individualization), as it is for traditional Chinese medicine, to “restore the balance” of Yin, Yang, qi and blood. However, having said that, one must recall that ‘balance’ referred to here is a ‘relative balance’.

In meridian therapy following “muscle energy testing” different correction points are used, combinations of points being used to balance energies in meridians, as shown in the Table below.

MERIDIAN THERAPY

Meridian Diagnostic Therapy, referred to as ‘Meridian Diagnostic Assessment and Meridian Therapy’, is based on a system that was originally developed by Dr. Yoshio Nakatani and on the theoretical principles of acupuncture together with the principles of Japanese Ryodoraku.

Similar to Ryodoraku, Meridian Diagnostics and Therapy reflect a form of assessment and management that deals with the human body’s energy system having a controlling influence over our state of health. It embodies complementary medicine and meridian theories with pathophysiology and is seen as a holistic system that reviews all aspects of dysfunction.

MERIDIAN TESTING AND TREATMENTS

In Meridian Diagnostic Testing there are two Tests that are conducted to achieve complete indication of meridian energies flowing through the body:
1. a ‘visceral‐meridian test’, and
2. a ‘musculo‐meridian test’;
each with testing points differing according to the particular test conducted.

TREATMENT POINTS

Treatment points in meridian therapy following visceral test results are the ‘sedation’ or ‘tonification’ points; used when meridians in excess (shi) or deficiency (xu) need to be balanced. The points used following musculo‐meridian tests are those known as ‘musculo treatment points’.

The human body is an electrically controlled system rather than a chemically controlled one, and although chemistry plays a crucial part in physiology, the body acts through a neurological system that is nonetheless electrical in nature. True early diagnosis means identifying a problem at its early stage of functional/energetic imbalance, and before the imbalance has time to cause serious physiological or pathological changes.

Treatment points are selected after the meridian diagnostic assessment has been completed. Treatment will therefore vary according to the resultant energy levels (shi-excess, or xu-deficiency) that are evident. In meridian therapy following “muscle energy testing” different correction points are used, with combinations of points being utilised to balance energies in meridians, and with acupuncture point Stomach 12 (ST-12) used frequently.

The reason why point ST‐12 is used on so many occasions is that it has an internal connection with seven different meridians.

Correction Points BL-10, and DU-14 (also referred to as GV‐14, Governing Vessel 14), are shown in the picture, although greatly enlarged. However, because the man’s back is slightly misaligned, GV14 acupuncture point does not appear to be centred relative to the Urinary Bladder 10 acupuncture points.

TABLE FOR MUSCLE CORRECTION POINTS

TABLE FOR 'MOTHER-SON' CORRECTION POINTS

Mother and Son points are used to ‘raise’ or ‘lower’ energies through the respective meridians.
They are the preferred correction points used in meridian therapy following “organ energy testing”.

Points for each of the meridians are shown in the Table below.

Treatment points following visceral test results are the ‘sedation’ or ‘tonification’ points.
Treatment points following musculo‐meridian diagnostic tests are those shown as ‘musculo treatment points’.

VISCERAL (ORGAN) TREATMENT POINTS: HANDS & FEET

Sedation Points

Tonification Points

MUSCULO TREATMENT POINTS: HANDS & FEET

Active Elements Mineral Therapy | Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine | Authors | Articles & Readings | Bach Flowers | Body Systems | Chakras | Cosmetics & Perfumes | Diet & Weight Management | Herbal Medicine | Homoeopathy | Iridology | Kinesiology | Meridian Therapy | Models Galleries | Naturopathy | Nutrition | Paramedical Tattooing | Photographers | Purple Healer | SkinCare