The meridian system emerged from ancient China 3000 years ago. Proof of this can be found in the Han Ma- Wang Burial Mound Silk Books dating back to the Han dynasty around the 2nd century.
There are twelve bilateral meridians (Jing meridians), that are invisible channels that act as pathways that transport Qi, blood and fluids around the body, there are an additional eight extraordinary vessels, however, only the Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel are regarded as major because they have independent points not on any of the others. Meridians have a relationship with the organs they are named after and are connected to a partner meridian so each has a yin and yang pairing. The meridians make up the superficial and reachable part of a much larger network that has the best therapeutic effect when pressure is applied to acu-points a long the channel. Through superficial meridians practitioners can gain insight to what is happening internally to organs and structures within the body. The yin channels are located in the interior softer areas of the body and run upwards, the yang on the external harder outer areas and run downwards.
Qi moves within the meridians 24 times a day and 24 times a night, flowing between organs. Each meridian has a two hour peak of energy flow time when the corresponding organ functions at its best and a two hour trough of energy flow when that organ is resting. Disease can be treated best when particular organs are receiving peak energy flow patterns. The best time to treat asthma is at peak lung time, between 3-5 am, however, this may not be practical. If no meridian energy blockages are present there should be no illness of the body, mind or spirit. The meridian cycle starts at the lungs because this is the Qi entry point. The Qi from food digestion leaves the stomach, travels to the spleen and goes directly to the lungs so that so that Qi can be dispersed in a particular order.
The purpose of meridians is to sustain the health of the human organism. They allow communication throughout the body by connecting every part of it to each other on all levels. Meridians connect the interior to the exterior of the body and are necessary for the conservation of the equilibrium of yin and yang, thus keeping the energetic system of the body harmonised. These channels allow movement of Qi between organs allowing them to function and can be assessed upon palpation to discover normal, excess or deficient energy patterns. The Nei Jing details the importance of meridians in moving blood, moistening tendons, ligaments, muscles, sinews, joints and bones and nourishing all tissues.
Around 2500 BC the Chinese divided the body into longitudinal meridians. Fitzgerald’s zone therapy was not born until the 1900’s. Fitzgerald divided the body into ten longitudinal zones running head to toe, with each finger and toe having its own zone. The theory is that body areas in a certain zone are connected via energy in that zone, therefore different body parts can influence others. Zone theory is at the heart of contemporary reflexology.
Meridian theory and zone theory agree that vital energy is channelled through the zones and meridians. Both claim that energy blockages cause disease and that congestion can be eliminated by applying pressure and various massage techniques to particular areas. There are six meridians that begin or end in the feet, three yin and three yang, this is also true of the hands. The feet meridians penetrate the organs, the hand ones do not, however, these are stimulated circuitously as meridian energy flows as a constant cycle. Both therapies are concerned with balancing energy flow holistically, thus aiding the healing process of the body.
Meridians are based on Oriental Philosophy shaped by Taoism and Confucianism that understands the cosmos is a whole, everything is connected and related to everything else because of yin and yang and humans are a microcosm within a macrocosm. Organ systems have inter-reliant association between them, a change in one has an effect on all. Meridians function holistically as they are connected via interior (yin) and exterior ( yang) relationships, are linked with their associated organ and through hand and foot channel communication. Within meridian practice there is huge scope for holistic practice when applying it to reflexology as long as care is taken not to treat symptomatically.
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Meridian channels (2009) [Internet] available at: http://theamt.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=211 [last accessed 22/05/08]
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