Acupuncture points and meridians

Qi (simplified Chinese: 气; Traditional Chinese: 气) or Ki (Japanese: 気), pronounced tchee, is a key concept of oriental culture which identifies a fundamental principle forming and animating the universe and life.

Chinese texts describe the Qi as a vital breath with alternating traffic yin & yang.

In this spiritual approach, Qi encompasses the whole universe and connects people and things together.

In a living organism, it circulates within the body through meridians that intersect all in chakras.

Qi causes different sensations when circulating in the body, in the form of heat or tingling. It is focusing attention on these sensations, by empiricism, traditional Chinese doctors have been able to establish over the centuries a network traffic traversing the body.

There are about 400 acupuncture points (not counting bilateral points twice) most of which are situated along the major 20 pathways (i.e. 12 primary & 8 extraordinary channels).

 There are 12 standard meridians, also called principal meridians, each

 Yin meridian (organ) is associated with a Yang meridian (viscus) :

• Lung (Yin) - Large Intestine (Yang)
• Stomach (Yang) - Spleen (Yin)
• Heart (Yin) - Small Intestine (Yang)
• Bladder (Yang) - Kidney (Yin)
• Pericardium (Yin) - Triple Burner (Yang)
• Gall Bladder (Yang) - Liver (Yin)

There are also 8 extraordinary channels, also called  extraordinary

meridians, two of which have their own sets of points :

• Governing Vessel - Du Mai (Yang)
• Conception Vessel - Ren Mai (Yin)

Taoist masters have discovered the existence of the microcosmic orbit, or small heavenly cycle, a main energetic circuit, consisting of the governing channel (Governing Vessel meridian) and the function channel (Conception Vessel meridian).

The Governing Vessel, located in the spine, corresponds to Sushumna the main channel through which flows  Kundalini, a primary energy which evolves in the center of the spinal cord from the sacrum to the top of the head, and which passes through the chakras (centers of Energy).

A good circulation of Qi in the different energy circuits of the body promotes awakening and self-awareness.

It is very important to regularly practice relaxation, walking, yoga and meditation as these activities improve and increase the energy circulation throughout the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on acupuncture and other therapies (Tui Na, Qi Gong...) by seeking to understand the causes of diseases and the biological and psychic mechanisms which are the consequences.