Eight Extraordinary Meridians are significant pathways in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), essential for understanding their circulation, physiological functions, and eight representative acupuncture points. Today, let’s explore the diagram of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians together! You can click above to follow and save!
Eight Extraordinary Meridians
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians refer to the Ren Mai (Ren Meridian), Du Mai (Governing Meridian), Chong Mai (Penetrating Meridian), Dai Mai (Belt Meridian), Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Meridian), Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Meridian), Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Meridian), and Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Meridian). Unlike the twelve regular meridians, they do not directly connect to the organs and do not have a paired relationship, hence their unique pathways are termed extraordinary.
Functions include:
1. Connecting the twelve meridians;
2. Regulating the accumulation and distribution of qi and blood in the twelve meridians.
Eight Meridians
The Ren Mai runs along the midline of the abdomen, frequently intersecting with the three Yin meridians of the hands and feet, as well as the Yin Wei Mai, thus it is known as the “Sea of Yin Meridians.” The Ren Mai originates from the uterus and is related to women’s pregnancy, hence the saying “Ren governs the uterus and fetus.”
The Du Mai runs along the midline of the back, frequently intersecting with the three Yang meridians of the hands and feet, as well as the Yang Wei Mai, thus it is known as the “Sea of Yang Meridians.” The Du Mai travels along the spine, ascending into the brain, and branches off to connect with the kidneys, establishing a close relationship with the brain, spinal cord, and kidneys.
The Chong Mai ascends to the head and descends to the feet, traversing the entire body; it serves as a crucial junction for qi and blood, regulating the twelve meridians, hence it is called the “Sea of Twelve Meridians” or “Sea of Blood.” It is also related to women’s menstruation.
The Dai Mai originates from the lateral costal region, descending obliquely to the Dai Mai point, encircling the body like a belt, thus it can restrain the meridians that run vertically.
Yin Qiao Mai and Yang Qiao Mai: “Qiao” implies agility and quickness. They nourish the eyes, control eyelid movements, and facilitate lower limb movements.
Yin Wei Mai and Yang Wei Mai: “Wei” implies connection. The function of Yin Wei Mai is to “link the Yin meridians”; the function of Yang Wei Mai is to “link the Yang meridians.”
Du Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
1. Pathway: The Du Mai originates from the lower abdomen, exits at the perineum, travels to the tailbone at the Changqiang point, ascends along the spine, passes through the nape to the Fengfu point, enters the brain, connects with the brain, travels along the midline of the head, ascends to the Baihui point at the crown, descends through the forehead to the Su Liao point at the tip of the nose, passes through the philtrum, and reaches the Ging Jiao point at the center of the upper gums.
2. Branches:
The first branch originates with the Chong and Ren meridians from the uterus, exits at the perineum, and meets the Kidney Meridian (Shen) and Bladder Meridian (Pang) at the tailbone, traversing the spine and connecting with the kidneys.
The second branch ascends directly from the lower abdomen through the navel, travels upward to the heart, reaches the throat where it meets the Chong and Ren meridians, and encircles the lips, reaching the center below the eyes.
The third branch originates from the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead, intersects at the crown, connects with the brain, then branches down the back of the neck, along the scapula, and reaches the lumbar region, entering the muscles on both sides of the spine, connecting with the kidneys.
Physiological Functions
1) Regulates the qi and blood of the Yang meridians, serving as the “Sea of Yang Meridians”: The Du Mai runs along the back, which is Yang, indicating its role in overseeing and regulating the qi of all Yang meridians. Additionally, all six Yang meridians intersect with the Du Mai at the Dazhui point, thus it has a regulatory function over the Yang meridians, hence the saying “oversees all Yang meridians.”
2) Reflects the functions of the brain, kidneys, and spinal cord: The Du Mai runs along the spine, connects with the brain, and links with the kidneys. The kidneys produce marrow, and the brain is the sea of marrow. The relationship between the Du Mai and the brain, kidneys, and spinal cord is very close.
3) Governs reproductive functions: The Du Mai connects with the kidneys, and since the kidneys govern reproduction, the Du Mai is related to reproductive functions.
Ren Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
1. Pathway: The Ren Mai originates from the uterus, exits at the perineum, travels through the Yin Palace, ascends along the midline of the abdomen, passes through the throat (Tiantu point), reaches the lower lip, divides to encircle the lips, intersects at the Ging Jiao point with the Du Mai, and then separately ascends along both sides of the nose to the lower eye socket (Chengqi point), connecting with the Yangming Meridian.
2. Branches: It traverses the spine from the uterus upward along the back.
Physiological Functions
1) Regulates the qi and blood of the Yin meridians, serving as the “Sea of Yin Meridians”: The Ren Mai runs along the midline of the abdomen, which is Yin, indicating its role in overseeing and regulating the qi of all Yin meridians. Additionally, the three Yin meridians of the feet intersect with the Ren Mai in the lower abdomen, and the three Yin meridians of the hands connect with the Ren Mai through the three Yin meridians of the feet, thus it has a regulatory function over the Yin meridians, hence the saying “oversees all Yin meridians.”
2) Regulates menstruation and nourishes the fetus: The Ren Mai originates from the uterus, thus it has the function of regulating menstruation and promoting women’s reproductive functions, hence the saying “Ren governs the uterus and fetus.”
Chong Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
Pathway: It originates from the uterus, exits at the perineum, and divides into two branches. The ascending branch (the main part of the Chong Mai) runs along the anterior abdominal wall, near the navel (five fen from the navel), ascends, connects with the Kidney Meridian, spreads in the chest, then ascends through the throat, encircling the lips; the descending branch runs along the posterior abdominal wall, ascending within the spine. The descending branch exits from the perineum, travels down the inner thigh to the space between the big toe.
Physiological Functions
1) Regulates the qi and blood of the twelve meridians: The Chong Mai ascends to the head and descends to the feet, traversing the entire body, serving as a crucial junction for the qi and blood of all meridians. When the qi and blood of the organs are abundant, the Chong Mai can store and accumulate them; when they are deficient, the Chong Mai can provide infusion and supplementation to maintain the normal physiological activities of the body’s tissues and organs. Hence it is referred to as the “Sea of Twelve Meridians,” “Sea of Five Zang and Six Fu,” and “Sea of Blood.”
2) Governs reproductive functions: The Chong Mai originates from the uterus, also known as the “Blood Chamber” or “Blood Sea.” It has a role in regulating menstruation. The Chong Mai is closely related to reproductive functions; for women, “when the Chong Mai is abundant, menstruation occurs regularly, thus one can conceive.” Conversely, if the Chong Mai is deficient, it can lead to reproductive dysfunction.
3) Regulates the ascending and descending of qi: The Chong Mai connects with the Kidney Meridian, belongs to the Yangming, and communicates with the Jueyin and Taiyang. The Chong Mai has the function of regulating the ascending and descending of qi in certain organs (mainly the liver, kidneys, and stomach).
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Physiological Functions
Physiological functions: It restrains the vertical flow of all meridians and governs women’s discharges.
Yin Qiao Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
Pathway: The Yin Qiao Mai originates from the inner side of the heel of the foot, at the Zhaohai point of the Kidney Meridian, ascends along the inner ankle, travels up the inner thigh to the front genital area, ascends along the anterior trunk to the chest, enters the Xuepen, ascends beside the Adam’s apple to the Ren Mai’s Tian Tu point, reaches the side of the nose, connects with the inner canthus of the eye, and ascends along with the Yang Qiao Mai.
Physiological Functions
Physiological functions: It controls the opening and closing of the eyes and the movement of muscles.
Yang Qiao Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
Pathway: The Yang Qiao Mai originates from the outer side of the heel of the foot, at the Shen Mai point of the Bladder Meridian, ascends along the outer ankle, travels up the outer edge of the lower limb, along the hip, ribs, shoulder, neck, and reaches the corner of the mouth, then ascends to the inner canthus of the eye. It connects with the Yangming Meridian and the Yin Qiao Mai, then ascends along the Yangming Meridian to meet the Shaoyang Meridian at the Fengchi point behind the neck.
Physiological Functions
Physiological functions: It controls the opening and closing of the eyes and muscle movements.
Yin Wei Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
Pathway: The Yin Wei Mai originates from the five cun above the inner ankle of the foot, at the Zhubin point of the Kidney Meridian, ascends along the inner edge of the lower limb, reaches the abdomen, travels alongside the Spleen Meridian to the lateral costal region, connects with the Liver Meridian, ascends to meet the Tian Tu point of the Ren Mai, and reaches the Lianquan point at the throat, connecting with the Ren Mai at the neck.
Physiological Functions
Physiological functions: The “Wei” in Wei Mai implies connection. The Yin Wei has the function of linking the Yin meridians.
Yang Wei Mai’s Pathway and Physiological Functions
Pathway: The Yang Wei Mai originates from the Jinmen point of the Bladder Meridian, passes over the outer ankle, ascends alongside the Shaoyang Meridian, travels up the outer edge of the trunk, from the back of the armpit to the shoulder, neck, and moves forward to the forehead, distributing along the side of the head and back to the forehead, then connects with the Du Mai.
Physiological Functions
Physiological functions: It links the Yang meridians.
Summary of the Characteristics of the Eight Extraordinary MeridiansThe physiological characteristics of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are threefold
① The Eight Extraordinary Meridians have no direct connection to the organs.
② There is no paired relationship among the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
③ The distribution of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians is not as widespread as that of the twelve meridians; there are no Eight Extraordinary Meridians in the upper limbs.
Their pathways also differ from the twelve meridians, except for the Dai Mai, the others all ascend from below.
Common Physiological Functions of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians
1. Further strengthen the connections between the twelve meridians: For example, the Du Mai oversees all Yang meridians; the Ren Mai governs all Yin meridians; the Dai Mai restrains the vertical flow of the meridians. The two Qiao meridians govern the left and right Yin and Yang; the two Wei meridians link the Yin and Yang of the body. Thus, the Eight Extraordinary Meridians further enhance the connections among various parts of the body.
2. Regulate the qi and blood of the twelve meridians: When the qi of the twelve meridians is abundant, it is stored in the Eight Extraordinary Meridians; when the qi and blood are deficient, the Eight Extraordinary Meridians can “overflow” to provide timely supplementation.
3. The Eight Extraordinary Meridians have a close relationship with the liver, kidneys, and other organs, as well as with the uterus, brain, and marrow, establishing certain physiological and pathological connections.
Eight Representative Acupuncture Points
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians regulate the accumulation and infusion of qi and blood in the twelve meridians, with representative acupuncture points such as Gongsun, Neiguan, Zukui, Wagu, Shenmai, Houxi, Lijian, and Zhao Hai, each point’s effect is akin to a “nuclear reactor,” capable of treating large areas in a single session.
Neiguan Point: Nourishes the Heart and Enhances Beauty
Many women aged 40 to 50 often experience symptoms such as panic, shortness of breath, and sweating. Hospitals may not identify this condition, often labeling it as menopausal syndrome or sub-health.
In fact, according to ancient wisdom, women at this age are generally in a state of decline, with aging beginning from the Yangming Meridian, gradually leading to a decline in the qi and blood of the three Yang meridians. The head is where Yang converges; if qi and blood do not reach the face, wrinkles and spots will appear. A person’s beauty is closely related to qi and blood. The heart of the divine is reflected on the face. The divine heart relies on qi and blood for fullness; when qi and blood are abundant, it naturally reflects on the face, thus women must first nourish the heart.
The Neiguan point belongs to the Pericardium Meridian, connecting with the Yin Wei Mai, and is one of the eight meridian intersection points. The true wonder of the Neiguan point lies in its ability to open the body’s organs, providing functions of tonifying qi and blood, calming the spirit, and enhancing beauty. The Neiguan point is also easy to locate, situated two inches above the wrist crease on the inner side of the arm. When locating the point, raise a virtual fist, and with the other hand, place the index, middle, and ring fingers at the wrist level; the point where the index finger touches is the Neiguan point. The benefits of this point for health are that it can be stimulated anytime and anywhere, providing a slight sensation of soreness.
Waiguan Point: “Clever Ear Point”
Traditional Taoist medicine believes that temporary hearing issues are manifestations of insufficient Yang energy in the body. So what role does the Waiguan point play at this moment? Massaging the Waiguan point can enrich the Yuan Yang energy of the Sanjiao and guide the Yuan Qi to circulate throughout the body. When this point is blocked, it can cause the eardrum to relax and fail to return to its normal state.
Clinically, the Waiguan point can also be used to treat acute lumbar sprains. A patient around 40 years old experienced severe pain after bending down quickly to pick something up. After acupuncture and massage treatment at both Waiguan points, while performing gentle twisting movements of the waist, the pain completely disappeared within minutes, and normal activity was restored. The Waiguan point is a Luo point of the Sanjiao Meridian, located two inches above the wrist crease on the dorsal side, opposite the Neiguan point. The Waiguan point connects with the Yang Wei point, providing functions of dispelling exterior pathogens, relieving wind, and alleviating pain. It is not only effective for acute lumbar sprains but also has good effects on arthritis and cervical spondylosis.
Lieque Point: Special Treatment for Stiff Neck and Migraine
Stiff neck is an experience almost everyone has gone through, often causing great discomfort. A stiff neck can also be an early signal of cervical spine issues. Those who frequently experience stiff necks should take preventive measures, as it can lead to cervical spondylosis. The Lieque point has unique effects in preventing cervical spondylosis. On the human body, the Lieque point serves as a tool for repairing head-related ailments.
The “Huangdi Neijing” records that the Lieque point primarily treats migraines, headaches, and stiff necks. In the “Great Compendium of Acupuncture,” there is a famous verse stating: “Seek Lieque for ailments above the neck,” indicating that this point can be used to treat and regulate all conditions above the neck. The Lieque point is easy to locate, situated 1.5 cun above the wrist crease, just above the radial styloid process. When locating the point, cross the thumbs of both hands; the depression where the fingertips touch is the Lieque point. The technique for using the Lieque point mainly involves flicking.
Houxi Point: Treats Cervical and Lumbar Issues
How to locate the Houxi point? Make a fist, and the point is located at the distal end of the transverse wrist crease behind the fifth finger joint (i.e., the end of the transverse crease behind the fist).
If you are sitting in front of a computer, you can place the Houxi point on the edge of the table, using the wrist joint to roll your hands back and forth, achieving a stimulating effect. During the rolling, you will feel a slight soreness. Spending just three to five minutes daily to stimulate this point can yield excellent results for cervical and lumbar health.
Zhaohai Point: Treats Throat Pain
Massaging the Zhaohai point can yield excellent results for throat pain, as it belongs to the Yin Qiao Mai and intersects with the Kidney Meridian, being one of the key intersection points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. It has the functions of nourishing the kidneys, clearing heat, and regulating the Sanjiao, providing both tonifying and heat-clearing effects.
Sun Simiao in the “Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold” referred to this point as “Leaking Yin,” indicating that if this point is problematic, it can lead to a decrease in kidney water, resulting in kidney Yin deficiency and causing deficiency heat to rise. Therefore, whenever we feel discomfort in the chest, dry throat, hoarseness, or even chronic pharyngitis, we can massage this point, which not only has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and clearing heat but also helps to smooth the functions of the Sanjiao.
When massaging this point, one should keep the mouth closed and refrain from speaking, feeling the production of saliva in the mouth, which should be swallowed down. Generally, after pressing for 3 to 5 minutes, one will feel saliva in the throat, and the pain will immediately alleviate. Keeping the mouth closed is to facilitate the upward movement of saliva to moisten the throat, which is what the ancients referred to as the method of swallowing saliva. Massaging the Zhaohai point stimulates the essence and qi in the kidneys, promoting the upward movement of fluids to moisten the throat, thus alleviating throat pain as the “water reaches the illness.”
Shenmai Point: A Pure Yang Remedy for Coldness
”Stiffness in the waist and back, leg pain” is a clear sign of the bladder meridian being affected by cold evil. Since the Yang Qiao connects with the Bladder Meridian, the Shenmai point is an important point of the Bladder Meridian. Using this point can dispel internal cold evil and allow Yang energy to reach the crown, balancing the body and enabling agile movement. It achieves a synergistic effect of mutual resolution between exterior and interior. It helps to expel cold evil from the body quickly while restoring one’s Yang energy, making it a remarkable point for dispelling cold and reviving Yang.
The Shenmai point is a crucial intersection point between the Yang Qiao and the Bladder Meridian, and its location is simple, found in the depression just below the outer ankle bone. When the body is affected by cold evil, it tends to curl up and shiver, which in TCM is referred to as “contraction and pulling back,” while the Shenmai point has the meaning of extending the meridians, quickly mobilizing the body’s Yang energy; when Yang energy is sufficient, the cold evil disperses.
Gongsun Point: Alleviates Dysmenorrhea and Spleen-Stomach Disorders
Gongsun is the Luo point of the Spleen Meridian, belonging to the spleen, connecting with the stomach, and directly communicating with the Chong Mai located in the chest and abdomen, thus it has the effect of treating various disorders of the spleen, stomach, and abdominal region.
In medicine, it is believed that treating all gynecological diseases should start with the spleen and stomach, especially for menstrual irregularities, where the stomach should be prioritized. The spleen governs blood and is responsible for transformation. If the spleen and stomach are deficient and cold, they cannot transform and transport fluids, leading to dysmenorrhea, which may also be accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and headaches.
Women with dysmenorrhea can frequently massage the Gongsun point. The Gongsun point is located on the inner edge of the foot; I generally consider the Gongsun point as a region, located behind the big toe, along a large metatarsal bone on the inner side of the foot. Pressing along this bone until you feel a significant sensation of soreness or pain indicates your own Gongsun point.
Comprehensive Summary of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Their Functions (Share and Save)
Zulinqi Point: Elevates the Yang Qi of the Body
The Zulinqi point is one of the main points on the Gallbladder Meridian, connecting with the Dai Mai, and serves as a remarkable point for regulating two meridians. The Dai Mai encircles the body around the navel, like a jade belt, restraining the vertical flow of the meridians and enhancing the connection of qi and blood flow between the meridians, making it a crucial health meridian for the body. When using this point, a curled leg sitting posture can be adopted; it is located on the outer side of the foot, in the gap between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones. The Zulinqi point primarily elevates the Yang Qi of the body and disperses the stagnant qi of the liver and gallbladder. Regular pressing can yield better results than professional foot therapy.
(Warm Reminder: This article is for reference only. TCM emphasizes differentiation and treatment; do not consider dietary therapy as a universal remedy. Alleviating symptoms does not have shortcuts, and individual conditions vary. Patients should consult a physician to find the most suitable treatment method for themselves.
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