✨The pathways and connection patterns of the twelve meridians in the human body
(1) Pathway Patterns:
The three Yin meridians of the hands originate from the organs and travel to the hands; the three Yang meridians of the hands travel from the hands to the head;
The three Yang meridians of the feet travel from the head to the feet; the three Yin meridians of the feet travel from the feet to the abdomen (chest).
The Shou San Yin Jing (Three Yin Meridians of the Hands) starts from the chest and follows the inner side of the upper limbs to the fingertips;
The Shou San Yang Jing (Three Yang Meridians of the Hands) starts from the fingertips and follows the outer side of the upper limbs to the head and face;
The Zu San Yang Jing (Three Yang Meridians of the Feet) starts from the head and descends through the trunk along the outer side of the lower limbs to the toes;
The Zu San Yin Jing (Three Yin Meridians of the Feet) starts from the toes and travels up the inner side of the lower limbs to the abdomen and chest.
(2) Connection Patterns:
1. The Yin meridians and Yang meridians that are mutually related connect at the ends of the limbs.
The Shou Tai Yin Fei Jing (Hand Tai Yin Lung Meridian) and Shou Yang Ming Da Chang Jing (Hand Yang Ming Large Intestine Meridian) connect at the tip of the index finger;
The Shou Shao Yin Xin Jing (Hand Shao Yin Heart Meridian) and Shou Tai Yang Xiao Chang Jing (Hand Tai Yang Small Intestine Meridian) connect at the tip of the little finger;
The Shou Jue Yin Xin Bao Jing (Hand Jue Yin Pericardium Meridian) and Shou Shao Yang San Jiao Jing (Hand Shao Yang San Jiao Meridian) connect at the tip of the ring finger;
The Zu Yang Ming Wei Jing (Foot Yang Ming Stomach Meridian) and Zu Tai Yin Pi Jing (Foot Tai Yin Spleen Meridian) connect at the tip of the big toe;
The Zu Tai Yang Pang Guang Jing (Foot Tai Yang Bladder Meridian) and Zu Shao Yin Shen Jing (Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian) connect at the tip of the little toe;
The Zu Shao Yang Dan Jing (Foot Shao Yang Gallbladder Meridian) and Zu Jue Yin Gan Jing (Foot Jue Yin Liver Meridian) connect behind the toenail of the big toe.
2. The same named hand and foot Yang meridians connect at the head and face.
The Shou Yang Ming Da Chang Jing connects with the Zu Yang Ming Wei Jing at the side of the nose;
The Shou Tai Yang Xiao Chang Jing connects with the Zu Tai Yang Pang Guang Jing at the inner canthus of the eye;
The Shou Shao Yang San Jiao Jing connects with the Zu Shao Yang Dan Jing at the outer canthus of the eye.
3. The Yin meridians of the feet and hands connect in the chest.
The Zu Tai Yin Pi Jing (Foot Tai Yin Spleen Meridian) connects with the Shou Shao Yin Xin Jing in the heart;
The Zu Shao Yin Shen Jing (Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian) connects with the Shou Jue Yin Xin Bao Jing in the chest;
The Zu Jue Yin Gan Jing (Foot Jue Yin Liver Meridian) connects with the Shou Tai Yin Fei Jing in the lungs.
The distribution patterns of the twelve meridians
The twelve meridians are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the body. Although each meridian may have twists and turns or cross over, they generally run vertically, either from top to bottom or from bottom to top.
(1) Distribution in the head and face
The three Yang meridians of the hands terminate at the head, while the three Yang meridians of the feet originate from the head.
“The head is the meeting point of all Yang”: the six Yang meridians of the hands and feet converge at the head and face.
The distribution characteristics of the Yang meridians are:
Yang Ming is in front, Shao Yang is on the side, and Tai Yang is at the back.
The Yang Ming Jing runs along the face and forehead;
The Shao Yang Jing runs along the sides of the head;
The Tai Yang Jing runs along the cheeks, the top of the head, and the back of the head.
The Yin meridians do not originate or terminate at the head and face, but some Yin meridians or their branches can reach the head and face:
The branches of the Shou Shao Yin Xin Jing reach the eye system; the Zu Jue Yin Gan Jing meets with the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) at the top of the head; the branches of the Zu Shao Yin Shen Jing reach the root of the tongue; the Zu Tai Yin Pi Jing connects to the base of the tongue and spreads under the tongue.
(2) Distribution in the trunk
The three Yin meridians of the hands all run from the chest to the armpits,
The three Yang meridians of the hands run along the shoulder and scapular regions.
The three Yang meridians of the feet run from top to bottom,
The Zu Yang Ming Jing runs in front (chest and abdomen),
The Zu Tai Yang Jing runs in the back (lower back),
The Zu Shao Yang Jing runs along the sides of the body.
The three Yin meridians of the feet run from bottom to top along the abdomen and chest.
The distribution pattern of the twelve meridians in the abdomen and chest:
From the inside out, they are: Zu Shao Yin Shen Jing ~ Zu Yang Ming Wei Jing ~ Zu Tai Yin Pi Jing ~ Zu Jue Yin Gan Jing.
(3) Distribution in the limbs
The hand meridians run along the upper limbs, while the foot meridians run along the lower limbs;
The Yin meridians run along the inner sides, while the Yang meridians run along the outer sides.
In an upright position, with arms naturally hanging down and thumbs facing forward, the distribution pattern of the limbs is:
The Yin meridians of the hands and feet are: Tai Yin at the front edge, Jue Yin at the midline, Shao Yin at the back edge;
The Yang meridians of the hands and feet are: Yang Ming at the front edge, Shao Yang at the midline, Tai Yang at the back edge.
However, the Zu Jue Yin Gan Jing has an exception, where below 8 cun above the inner ankle tip, the Jue Yin runs in front, Tai Yin runs in the middle, and Shao Yin remains at the back.
The relationship between the twelve meridians
Six pairs of “interior-exterior” relationships:
The Shou Tai Yang and Shou Shao Yin are interior-exterior, the Shou Shao Yang and Xin Bao Jing are interior-exterior,
The Zu Yang Ming and Zu Tai Yin are interior-exterior, which is the Yin and Yang of the hands.
The Zu Tai Yang and Zu Shao Yin are interior-exterior, the Zu Shao Yang and Zu Jue Yin are interior-exterior,
The Zu Yang Ming and Zu Tai Yin are interior-exterior, which is the Yin and Yang of the feet.
The two meridians that are mutually interior-exterior connect at the ends of the limbs, respectively running along the inner and outer sides of the limbs corresponding to their positions; they belong to the organs and bowels that are mutually interior-exterior; there are also connections between the meridian branches and collateral channels, forming the relationship of interior-exterior of the organ meridians.
The interior-exterior meridians not only have a connection in terms of meridian belonging but also mutually correspond to the organs and bowels, cooperating in physiological functions and influencing each other in pathological changes.
For example, the spleen and stomach may have the same disease leading to abnormalities in digestion and absorption, lung heat may transfer to the large intestine causing constipation. According to the principle of mutual communication of Qi between the interior-exterior meridians, in clinical treatment, the acupoints of the interior-exterior meridians are often used in combination.
The order of Qi and blood flow in the twelve meridians
The twelve meridians are the main channels for the circulation of Qi and blood. The twelve meridians connect end to end, with Qi and blood being transformed from the essence of food and water in the middle burner, ascending to the lungs, starting from the Shou Tai Yin Fei Jing, and then flowing sequentially through each meridian, finally entering the Zu Jue Yin Gan Jing, and then flowing back to the Shou Tai Yin Fei Jing, forming a system of Qi and blood flow in the twelve meridians that is “Yin and Yang interpenetrating, like a ring without end”.
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