12 Major Meridians

Vital to your Health...

Healing the meridians is based on the concept that an insufficient supply of ki, chi or life force makes a person vulnerable to disease.

Ki flows continuously from one meridian to another and any break in the flow is an indication of imbalance.

If a person's vitality or energy is recognizably diminished it is an indication that the body's organs or tissues are functioning poorly, therefore the Ki flow is inadequate.

In my "Human Energy Body Course" the 12 major energy channels are explained and discussed in depth as well as how to unblock energy to balance the flow of Ki.

Your Organs and Meridians...

The twelve major meridians correspond to specific human organs: kidneys, liver, spleen, hearth, lungs, pericardium, bladder, gall bladder, stomach, small and large intestines, and the triple burner (body temperature regulator).

The information given below is not a guide to the meridians, it should also not be relied upon as an exclusive source for diagnosis (a qualified medical practitioner must always be approached for any diagnosis).

Lungs (Yin) and Large Intestine (Yang)

Lung:

The lungs govern respiration and Ki intake. Deficient lung Ki leaves the body open to viral or bacterial infections such as colds and flu. Coughing and congestive diseases are due to Rebellious Ki - Ki which is flowing upwards, rather than downwards to the kidneys.

Other problems associated with the lungs include:

• abnormal sweating and inflammations in the upper part of the body
• problems with the nose and sense of smell
• all skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis (this is because the
• lungs control the metabolic system which distributes liquid to the skin)

Your lungs are connected with emotional sensitivity too as they relate to our ability to cope with grieving, to how isolated from or connected with the world around us we feel. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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The Large Intestine:

The large intestine extracts water from waste material passed on to it by the small intestine before excreting it as solid matter. All abdominal pains are connected with this organ and meridian (which can be a symptom of blocked Ki).

Any problems of holding on or letting go in life also relate to the large intestine. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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Spleen (Yin) and Stomach (Yang)

The Spleen:

The spleen governs several different bodily processes:

• it regulates digestion
• it helps to control the flow of blood within blood vessels
• it affects muscle and limb tone (because it helps distribute nutrients containing purified Ki around the body)

Some of the problems which can be related to an imbalanced spleen or Spleen Meridian:

• general fatigue
• abdominal problems (pain, distension or bloating, an uncomfortable feeling of fullness, diarrhea)
• lack of appetite
• prolapsed internal organs
• weak or flabby muscles

Deficient spleen Ki can cause a muzzy feeling in the head, or a scatterbrained mentality. Properly balanced spleen Ki is believed to ensure a long, healthy and happy life. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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The Stomach:

The stomach is responsible for digesting food, extracting Ki from the food and passing it on to the spleen and the intestines. All digestive problems can be traced back to the stomach. On an emotional level this organ is concerned with worry, with nervousness (feeling of butterfly's in the stomach), and also with acceptance (either being able or not able to "stomach" someone or something). For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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Heart (Yin) and Small Intestine (Yang)

The Heart:

Your heart pumps blood around your body, and any imbalance or blockage here can show up in a number of ways:

• palpitations
• short or shallow breathing
• chest pains
• problems with temperature regulation (hot flushes, cold sweats or a constant feeling of cold)
• dizziness
• irritability
• insomnia

The heart is related to feeling joy. It also regulates a form of Ki called Shen (this does not translate easily into English it means "Ki" which is energy, "brain" and "spirit" all at once). Imbalanced Shen can cause psychological problems. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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The Small Intestine:

The small intestine extracts nourishment and Ki from digested food, which it receives from the stomach, and distributes it through the body. It then passes waste material on to the large intestine.

Problems associated with the small intestine include:

• abdominal distension and poor digestion
• neuralgia
• acne
• swollen lymph glands (especially in the throat)
• sore or stiff shoulders
• poor circulation or weakness in the legs
• constant feelings of cold. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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Kidneys (Yin) and Bladder (Yang)

The Kidneys:

Production of bone marrow and blood are both controlled by the kidneys. The kidneys also regulate growth and the development of the reproductive functions (because they store sexual energy). They also play a part in regulating the body's Yin/Yang balance.

Kidney problems include:

• Backache
• genital-urinary disorders
• asthma (due to deficient kidney Ki)
• tinnitus (due to deficient kidney Ki)

Emotionally, the kidneys are related to willpower and determination, and the ability to cope with life. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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Bladder:

The bladder is responsible for excreting liquid waste from the body.

Problems associated with it include:

• all urinary dis-eases
• back pains
• stiffness in the neck and shoulders
• headaches

On an emotional level, the bladder relates literally to feeling "pissed off". Blocked bladder Ki can also relate to an inability to express emotions (emotional problems are a major cause of bed wetting in children). For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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Pericardium (Yin) and Triple Warmer (Yang)

Pericardium:

The pericardium is a muscular, fluid-filled sac which surrounds, lubricates and protects the heart. It also draws off excess energy from the heart and dissipates it from the body through an energy point in the palm of the hand. This is an important point to remember, as concentrating energy in your heart centre then directing it out through the hands is a fundamental technique in most forms of energy healing and vibrational medicine. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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The Triple Warmer:

This is certainly the least familiar and most difficult concept in Chinese Medicine for Westerners to understand. San Jiao (Triple Heater) is a Chinese description of a metabolism rather than any particular organ: it is a system which coordinates and controls the body's heat/moisture balance, and has "...a name, but no form...".

Each of the three Warmers relates to a different area of the body:

• Upper Warmer: the upper part of the body, including the head, neck, chest, heart and lungs, ... the Upper Burner has been compared to a mist which spreads the blood and Ki.
• Middle Warmer: the middle of the body between the chest and the navel, including the solar plexus, the stomach, the liver and spleen, ... the Middle Burner is like a foam which churns up food in the process of digestion.
• Lower Warmer: the lower abdomen, including the liver (again!), kidneys and bladder, ... the Lower Burner resembles a swamp where all impure substances are excreted.

Because the Triple Warmer covers such a wide range of organs, a wide range of disorders are associated with it which includes:

• hearing problems (including deafness and tinnitus)
• fatigue
• breathing difficulties
• urinary disorders

I believe it is fair to say that the triple Warmer will be involved with any problem associated with any other organ. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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Liver (Yin) and Gall Bladder (Yang)

The Liver:

The liver is a major organ for storing Ki and regulating its' flow throughout the body. It also governs menstruation and the female sexual cycle and ensures the flexibility of ligaments and tendons.

Physical problems associated with the liver include:

• PMS
• PMT and any menstrual disorders
• jaundice
• dry skin
• stiff joints
• vertigo
• dry eyes and blurred vision
• headaches

There are a range of emotional problems which can be caused by imbalanced or blocked Liver Ki for example:

• depression
• lack of emotional flexibility
• bad temper and irritability
• a lack of control in your life. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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The Gall Bladder:

As its' name suggests, the gall bladder stores and excretes bile (also known as "gall") which is produced by the liver.

Problems with this organ include:

• liver pains
• uncomfortable "bloated" sensations in the abdomen
• a yellowish tinge to the tongue, skin and urine. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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The Extraordinary Meridians

These act as reservoirs of Ki for the Major Meridians, and help it to circulate through the body. They also regulate the cycle of complete change which our body undergoes every seven years.

For most general healing purposes including Reiki Healing, you need to know about only three (all of which are used in exercises to help you learn how to circulate Ki), although there are eight in total (the last five are rarely used or encountered, even in the most advanced healing and esoteric work).

Du Mai - The Governing Meridian.

Starting at the coccyx, this meridian runs up the spine and terminates at the mouth's upper palate, just behind the teeth. It is the main channel for Defensive Ki, and controls all of the Yang meridians.

Ren Mai - The Conception Meridian.

This meridian governs all Yin meridians. It starts at the tip of the tongue and runs down the front of the body to the centre of the perineum.

Dai Mai - The Girdle Meridian.

This meridian governs our sense of horizontal balance. It runs in a ring around the body, on a plane roughly parallel with the navel and the kidneys. For more information go to "The Human Energy Body Course"

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