What are meridians or channels?
Within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), channels , also called meridians , describe how different areas and functions of the body are related. They have described pathways along muscles, joints and other tissues, among other areas. Acupuncture points lie along these pathways.
Channels are an important part of how an acupuncturist approaches complaints. They help explain, for example, why shoulder pain may be treated using not only points around the shoulder, but sometimes also points on the arm or hand.
A network of connections
You can compare the channel network to a system of rivers and tributaries. On a map, you see clear lines, but those lines mainly serve to make a larger network understandable.
Similarly, meridians are often drawn as lines on the body. This does not mean that beneath each line lies a separate tube through which Qi flows. The lines show which areas are connected according to TCM and how complaints in different places may be related.
This network concerns circulation, communication and regulation . Body parts and functions continually influence one another. When this coordination is impeded according to TCM, it may manifest as pain, stiffness or a change in function, for example.
What is the role of Qi?
Qi is a concept used in various contexts within Chinese medicine. In relation to channels, it mainly concerns movement and the regulation of bodily functions . Qi is not confined to a line on a meridian chart: the concept is also used to describe organ and tissue functions.
The common translation life energy can give a misleading impression. With shoulder pain, for example, a disturbance of Qi does not mean that something is wrong with your ‘life energy’. The practitioner considers where the pain is, which movements are restricted and which channels and tissues are involved, among other things. Treatment aims to regulate the disturbed function as effectively as possible.
Channels and organ systems
TCM has twelve main channels. Each main channel is connected to a TCM organ system , such as the Stomach, Lung or Liver system. In TCM, an organ system has a broader meaning than the physical organ with the same name.
A channel also passes through areas beyond the location of that organ. The Stomach channel , for example, follows a pathway along the face, trunk and leg. Acupuncture points on the Stomach channel lie at different places along this pathway. Within TCM, a practitioner may therefore choose a point on the leg or foot for a complaint around the head.
When choosing points, the practitioner considers the channel's pathway, the tissues involved and the overall presentation. A point is therefore not chosen on the basis of the channel's name alone.
What happens when circulation is impeded?
According to TCM, movement and regulation within a channel / organ system can become disturbed. When the movement of Qi is impeded, this is called Qi stagnation . Factors described within TCM as Cold, Heat, Damp or Wind may also play a role, depending on the presentation.
A disturbance may manifest as, for example:
- pain or stiffness;
- a heavy, numb or tingling sensation;
- restricted movement;
- complaints in several places along a channel's pathway.
Not every complaint along the same channel or within the same organ system has the same cause or requires the same treatment. An acupuncturist therefore also considers other symptoms and findings.
Are meridians anatomical structures?
No separate anatomical structure has been demonstrated that corresponds exactly to meridians as described in TCM. Some authors investigate possible relationships with fascia (connective tissue), the nervous system or circulation, for example. These structures are not the same as the meridian system.
For this website, it is best to view a channel as a functional model : a way in which TCM describes relationships between areas of the body, tissues and functions. The drawn lines help make that model visible and usable.
How does an acupuncturist use the channels?
During your initial consultation, the practitioner examines where your complaints are located and how they manifest. With pain, for example, they consider its precise location, type and the movements that provoke it. Other symptoms and findings may also be important.
The practitioner chooses acupuncture points accordingly. These may be near the complaint, but also farther away on a channel associated with the affected area. The aim is to reduce pain and restricted movement and regulate the functions involved. The points chosen vary from person to person and may change during the course of treatment.