Acupuncture Meridians

Acupuncture Meridians

• Most people are only familiar with the 12 Primary plus 2 of the Extraordinary Meridians
• Those 14 Meridians all have their own unique acupuncture points
• Other Meridians either have no points or “borrow” points from other Meridians
• There are 72 Meridians in all

12 Primary Meridians

• Internal and external pathways
• 6 yin and 6 yangs
• Bilaterally symmetrical
• Circulation of qi and blood throughout is cyclical

12 Divergent Meridians

• Named after and related to the Primary Meridians
• Provide deeper connections in the body, to the organs, head, and face, and to the yang Meridians of each yin/yang pair

12 Tendinomuscular Meridians

• Named after and related to the Primary Meridians
• Broader areas than the Primary Meridians
• Circulation of qi and blood to the muscles, tissues, joints, and the body surface

12 Cutaneous Regions

• Named after and related to the Primary Meridians
• Broader areas than the Primary Meridians
• Circulation of qi and blood to the skin and tissues of the body surface
• No internal distribution

8 Extraordinary Meridians

• Distributed throughout body except in the upper extremities
• Store qi and blood and distribute to the 12 Primary Meridians
• Control and supplement the 12 Primary Meridians
• Only 2 of the Extraordinary Meridians have their own points
  • Du (Governing) Meridian—midline of the back of the body
  • Ren (Conception) Meridian—midline of the front of the body

16 Major Luo (Collateral) Meridians

• 12 are named after and related to the 12 Primary Meridians
• The Spleen and Stomach Meridians each have an extra Major Luo Meridian
• 2 are named after and related to 2 of the Extraordinary Meridians: Du, Ren
• Distribution is mainly to the surface of the body and between yin/yang paired Meridians
• Many Small Luo Meridians
  • Minute, blood, grandson, and superficial
• Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao Meridians
  • 2 of the 8 Extraordinary Meridians
  • They “borrow” Acupuncture points from other Meridians